One of our goals this trip was to visit Delphi. However, for several reasons we didn’t want to stay in Delphi, so we looked around at different towns that would provide access to Delphi and would be interesting to explore on their own. We settled on the town of Galaxidi, and it has been one of the best decisions of the trip so far.
Galaxidi has a long and varied maritime history. For most of the 19th and part of the 20th centuries, Galaxidi was the center of shipping for all of Greece, It is situated on a beautiful harbor which is now used largely for small craft, some fishing vessels, and some private boats. There are no active shipping facilities. Across the bay, the town of Itéa has become the disgorgement point for cruise ships and as such has developed into a tourist Mecca with its attendant souvenir shops and upscale shopping. Galaxidi has thankfully avoided that fate. It’s a laid back town with normal shops, beautifully kept houses interspersed with dilapidated ones, and a population tolerant of and friendly toward tourists but not bowing obsequiously to them. Most shopkeepers—but not all—speak enough English so that you can make your needs known and all seem to enjoying hearing as much Greek as I can muster in response.
I should mention our hotel, the Pension Hirolakas. It’s an old-style European hotel renovated with modern conveniences and offering exceptional service from the family that runs it. Breakfast is included and features Greek yogurt with several homemade jams, homemade bread and cakes, fresh orange juice, and eggs with bacon and tomatoes made for you if you want them. There are only six guest rooms, and they all face the harbor with a view across to Itéa and Delphi in the mountains. It’s a very special spot.
We spent the morning and most of the afternoon exploring Galaxidi with no particular purpose in mind. It has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of the trip so far, and any trip to Greece in my future will certainly include a return visit of at least several days.
Here are a few photos.
Penteoria
With a bit of afternoon left and a desire to see as much as we could, we took a short drive to the mountain village of Penteoria. It doesn’t appear on any tour guides, and that’s likely because there is really not much to see there. (We suggested that the town motto be “Where you can always find ample parking.”) It boasts a small cheese producing plant and is a good example of a mountain farming community. Interesting for a brief diversion, but not necessarily recommended.
