I had to get the children ready for leaving at seven am, Dorah, Yannis and Nikos for the yacht, Ya-Ya, Ermioni and myself with Petra, one of the chauffeur's for the car, as we were going overland to a resort called Leonidios, that started off as a holiday from hell! The old Fire-eating Ya-Ya sat in front with Petra, and after shuffling and shaking her huge bulk into a comfortable position, she fastened her beady black eyes first on me, and told me to talk to Ermioni. Poor little girl! She was half asleep, so I shook my head vehemently and told her: Ochi! Ochi! in a very firm voice, as I was damned if I was going to talk the whole trip. Ochi means no, and the old woman exploded into a fit of anger, but I just ignored her and spoke softly to the now cowering child. Then she turned her attention to Petra! I would have stopped and put the old dame out on the sidewalk, as she ramped and raved with waving arms, pointing fingers, and spit escaping from her thin lipped mouth, flying all over the rigid Petra. Then she started directing Petra's every turn and move! At first Petra was trying very hard to keep her calm, and when I caught her stormy eyes in the mirror, I knew that a showdown was looming! That is when we came to a huge and busy crossroads where we had to go onto the road to Corinth, and the old woman tried to grab the wheel, shouting at Petra that she was taking the wrong road, and that is when Petra had enough! She was so cross she stalled the car, and there we sat in the middle of the crossroads, Ya-Ya spitting out words like bullets from a gun, and Petra, her face like thunder, trying to restart the car. Ermioni started crying and I sat like a bally snowman watching as the cars came at us with lightning speed, hands on their tooters, fists shaking and mouths shouting obscenities which I thought would be quite unrepeatable! Luckily Petra was of solid personality, and she regained her calm in what I thought was a miraculous way, and after telling the Ya-ya off good and solid, we were back on track, the two in the front sitting in frozen silence!
The first point of interest we came to was the Isthmus of Corinth, a land bridge made in the seventeenth century. It is quite awesome, as the land had split and came together a few times over time, and the Roman Emperor Nero had already considered a canal in his time. I am sure, thinking about all the wonderful building constructions the Romans built that such a canal would have been spectacular. Nevertheless, the one that was built in the end and is something that boggles the mind. It is beautiful driving over the bridge with the sea far down below. The bridge is only about six and a half metres long and twenty three metres wide, but something to see. Just after crossing the Isthmus Petra drove to the Ancient city of Corinth, and ignoring the Ya-Ya's protests, showed me some of the sights. I was wondering what the next days would bring, but I must say, I was not optimistic! Petra was taking the Flying Dolphin back to Athens, leaving the car for when Yannis and Dorah, who would be docking at Leonidion from time to time could use it, and me with the old battle-axe!