There are two things shaping my plans for the next couple of weeks that I hadn’t expected. The first is the unusually hot weather, the second the challenges presented by the bus services in the Peloponnese. They’re not a disaster but, combined, they mean that I’ll be staying put here in Kalamata, rather than venturing further afield.

On the weather, before deciding to come here I’d investigated the average June temperatures. Information published by Tui, the travel and tourism company, indicated average daytime temperatures in Kalamata of 20° to 30°, but that evenings would offer ‘a refreshing break from the daytime heat’ at around 20°. Several other sites said roughly the same thing.

I haven’t kept a precise record but in the time that I’ve been here, it’s occasionally hit 37° and has been in the mid to high 30s every other day. It’s not impeded my enjoyment of the city, but it’s hot enough to think twice about doing anything too strenuous in the afternoons, and I’ve not yet experienced the ‘refreshing break’ from the daytime heat. Evenings are certainly cooler, although they’re perhaps better described as less hot. Without exception, they’ve been in the high 20s. I’ve slept every night with the windows open, never having covered myself with a sheet, sleep punctuated by regular periods of waking and reaching for the water I keep beside my bed.

On buses, the riddle of trying to find out about them, referred to in the last post and my grim experience at the bus station, has finally been solved. There aren’t many. I’m not sure why but they’re few and far between and, although I could get one to the cities of Athens or Thessaloniki easily enough, which I certainly don’t want to do, none go to the places I’d like to visit and those that do are such that I’d have to wait days to get one back. There’s the option to hire a car, but I don’t want to do that either. Although things have improved on previous years, Greece ranks among the top 5–7 most dangerous EU countries for road mortality and, with many of the roads where I’d like to go snaking around high mountains, I’m going to give that option a miss

So, I’m staying put. It’s mildly disappointing but I can’t complain. I like Kalamata. And, having just checked the BBC News website, back home there are flood warnings in the south-west after heavy rain. The Environment Agency is urging people to “act now”. It’s early morning here, currently 29°. I’m off for a swim in the bay pictured above. 

Have a nice day!