Temple of the Epicurean Apollo of Vasses

Today's day trip from Kalamata was long as in lots of driving and short as we got back a 4:30pm.  It was an overcast dreary day.  And we were in the mountains - so cooler than yesterday.  And we have a larger air-conditioned rental car.  No tortuous device on the passenger seat in the front.  Plenty of space for legs in both front and back seats.  Ah, the joy of comfort!
But first we have to pick up the rental car.  The Avis/Budget car rental place opens up 10 minutes late.  They have a laid back attitude here.  I sat on a bench across the street and took a few photos.

Then, on the road - a few shots of the area through the car window.

Love the dreaminess of the photo below.  Not sure what I did - but suspect I was panning the camera as we went by.  Our guide explains that there are many abandoned  and unfinished buildings because of the crisis.

We stopped for coffee for Mike and our guide.  I took photos.

More abandoned buildings.

A restaurant across the street had these colorful legged tables outside.  Turned out this is where they got their coffee.  I went later to get a snack - after the sudden quick downpour of rain.  Lunch will be late today.

Our first stop was to be to a very picturesque lake.  But, because of the crisis the front gate was locked.  So we had to make due with photos from a distance.  This hotel used to be a thriving enterprise.

A lake picture.

Then we drove past a picturesque village on the side of a mountain.  Did I mention we were driving on very windy, no side rails mountain roads?

Across the street from the views of the village was this memorial.  The tradition of putting up memorials to loved ones who have died on road accidents seems to carry the world over.  The next photo shows a simpler one.  We passed vendors who sold lots of these small memorials. 

About three kilometres from the site for the day we passed these rock walls.  We have seen this before and it always intrigues me.  They are not really high enough to prevent people from getting over them, but must keep animals in.

Not sure, but I think this is a shepherds shelter.

The sign posting nearby.  Note Kalamata is at the top.  The Petra noted is not the one we saw in Jordan!

The usual "no, you can't do this" sign at the site - Temple of Apollo Epikourios.

The temple is completely under a large tent.  This protects it from the elements - the wicked winds they get up on the top of the mountain, the rain and the earthquakes.  Yes, the metal supports are designed to protect during an earthquake.  All around this tent are stones which were used for building - they are just placed in rows as they don't know exactly what their function was.  In the winter they are also covered to protect them from the snow and cold.

Under the tent.  This temple is amazingly well preserved for its location and age.

The supporting cables made an interesting shot.  Sort of like a suspension bridge.

Then on to a small village to have lunch.  We've seen buildings like these in Turkey.

One of the oldest fountains in Greece.

The person sitting way in the back is actually at a second restaurant - we ended up eating there.  Our waitress asked our guide why we were there.  This is not a tourist area.  Simple fare.  Fries not so good - everything way too salty.  But that has been true all over Greece.

More photos of the village.