METHONI

Methoni is girthed by a mighty Venetian castle that marches out to sea to its Pharos (a stone tower lighthouse). It has its own car park and has free admission.

There are several restaurants on the beach or a moment's stroll up the narrow village lanes.

The beach itself is vast, with a sandy car park at its back. By it is a pretty little painted authentic Greek house, with privacy maintained by an 'explosion' of Greek flowering shrubbery.

There is a kiosk on the beach for ice creams, films, magazines, and other useful items for the beach.

If you turn right on reaching the beachfront, you can only go to the Methoni Beach Hotel (picture above and right, which is also link if clicked upon) which has its residents car park at the rear.

This is a small village for a restful holiday.

If you want to be in the countryside away from the beach but still have a splendid sea view then there is La Sapienza apartments, open April to October - Tel: 27230 31880 - Contact direct.

It has a good car park to the front and is on the main road from Finikounda just before the junction turn into Methoni, and therefore only a moment's drive into the village.

Beyond Methoni is the road up to Pylos, 10 Km away, so a nice short drive to visit and tour.

The road continues to be wide and well maintained, although you might come across a morning or afternoon 'rush hour' of the curved horn black and tan goat herds or sheep being moved to different pastures or taking advantage of the road verges under the watchful eye of the village matriarch or Albanian shepherd and his dogs to keep them in some order. Avoid hitting these goats and sheep as they are tall and robust beasts and the hire car company would not like it.

The wide road to Pylos, will also bring you back to Kalamata by the best road route. The scenery is of pretty mountainous countryside, bedecked with Greek wild flowers, olive groves, oranges, and stalls of seasonal fruit and vegetables on the side of the road to buy local produce direct from the farmer, often mature in years and eking out their small farmer's pension.