Sunday morning and... time to travel again. It was a promise I had given to my dad. It was the first time that we would make such a big trip together.

We had to cover too many kilometers for one day but Vrasidas, my car, and I, wanted to travel and we were ready and for first time... at our time to pick up my father from the apartment he lives in Athens.

Nafpaktos (Latin: Naupactus or Naupactos; Italian, Spanish and Portuguese Lepanto ; modern Greek, Ναύπακτος, rarely Epakto ), is a town in the prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania ,situated on a bay on the north side of the straits of Lepanto. The harbour, once the best on the northern coast of the Corinthian Gulf , is now almost entirely choked up, and is accessible only by small boats. Naupactus is the capital of the province of Nafpaktia. More information about Nafpaktos you can find in one of my previous blogs .

The day was hot and a lot of happy people enjoyed the sun the sea and their coffee under the huge old platan at the main square of Nafpaktos.

After we drunk our coffee it was time to continue our trip. Next destination was the city of Galaxidi.

Galaxidi is a town and a municipality located in the southern part of the prefecture of Phokida . It has a small harbor which connects with the Crisaean Gulf is north of Galaxidi.

Galaxidi has a small port used by small fishing boats and yachts nowadays. During the age of sail (up to late 19th century) had a big local merchant marine fleet. During that time much wealth was accumulated and can be seen by the size and style of local architecture. In the last decades tourism has been increasing. People mostly occupied in merchant marine, tourism and sea farming.

Much of the land is bushy, grassy or rocky and is covered with mountains. There are not as many farms in the area but most of the groves are as far as 3 km within Galaxidi. Pine forests are situated in the southeast over a rocky shoreline.

The existence of Galaxidi dates since 1393 BC . The various events, the inscriptions,the finds, the graves intermingle with the legends and it is very difficult to disentangle them.

The city was originally built 130 m above the sea, on a hill, near the location of today's church of St.Blasius and it was called Oianthi . This church was destroyed by an earthquake and it was rebuilt from preexisting old walls. All the surrounding area is an archeological site. The city was built two centuries before the Trojan war by Locros , a descendant of Defkalion . After his death a monument was erected to his honour by the Oianthians, called "the Locrion".

Many invaders tried to conquer Galaxidi during its history, such as Franks, Catalans, Knights of Rhodes, Turkish pirates. But the city resisted and nowadays it is one of the most attracting Greek resorts. Its sailing vessels traveled across the seas prior to the appearance of the coastal navigation. It was the first nautical force.

Time to start our return trip... ready for our last destination... Loutraki!

Loutraki is situated north of the Corinthian gulf and it is a seaside town having a population of about 10,000 inh. in the southern part of Greece, famous for its natural beauties, spas and mineral water springs.

Recently one of the biggest casinos in Europe has been built in Loutraki. A modern conventional centre is about to open gates and a marina is also expected.

The area is a very important tourist destination for summer & weekend visitors from Athens metropolitan area, due to the proximity (about 80 km) and the clean and sandy beaches surrounding the town of Loutraki and the other seaside settlements.

A rare natural ambient with the sea to constrain the mountain in climatic conditions that is difficult to find. Next to the springs begin the marvelous dance of the waterfalls.

There, where mythology touches the present, it was born Loutraki together with the goddess Hygieia and it grown up into Zeus' hands.

Hygieia in Greek religion, goddess of health. The oldest traces of her cult are at Titane, west of Corinth , where she was worshipped together with Asclepius, the god of medicine. Her sacred snake together with the rod of Asklepios is the symbol for medicine.

We ended this trip there with a nice Greek coffee for my dad and a Fredo coffee for me beside the falls at a magnificent place of Loutraki... at "Kataraktes".

Well my dad looks tired at the photo but I can assure you... he was so happy and has enjoyed this trip a lot. First time for him… the exploration of a huge area and a visit to 3 beautiful Greek cities.

I am sure... a lot of my 360 friends will enjoy also this trip. My photos have tried to be a window to my world and I enjoy sharing all this beauty with you.