{"id":6999,"date":"2012-12-16T18:52:15","date_gmt":"2012-12-16T18:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ourtour.co.uk\/home\/?p=6999"},"modified":"2018-12-18T13:15:02","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T13:15:02","slug":"greek-temples-and-buffaloes-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourtour.co.uk\/home\/greek-temples-and-buffaloes-in-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"Greek temples and buffaloes in Italy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dave the motorhome is parked up next to the sea again, tonight we’re not parked on sand, but tarmac in a car park a short stroll from the seaside resort of Santa Maria Castellbate (N40.30069 E14.94848).<\/p>\n

We both slept like logs last night, despite the fact the the sea was so loud and close to us we were both convinced it would be lapping around Dave’s tyres at some point in the night; it didn’t. This morning Jay took it on in a man versus sea challenge – I can’t say for sure but I think the sea might have won, just a bit.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The angry sea makes sure Jay is properly soaked<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Jay<\/a>

Jay resting after a tough morning swim<\/p><\/div>\n

Along the 14km stretch of road from our kipping spot to Paestum we passed many Ladies of the Night and a couple of shepherds, their flocks of sheep munching on the grass near the road bringing back memories of Morocco. This prompted a discussion of whether we remember areas of Spain and Portugal that we travelled through looking this poor (as they are supposed to be some of the poorest areas in Europe) but we weren’t sure. South Italy may look tired, but it still feels very welcoming.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Italians love signs, but in my view you’d never find what you were looking for at this junction<\/p><\/div>\n

Reaching Paestum we found an empty coach park and left Charlie in Dave, expecting to be a couple of hours walking around the Greek ruins here – yes you heard it right, Greek ruins. It seems the Greeks invaded the area around 600 BC and built a city called Poseidonia. Legend says it was Jason and his Argonauts who built it, but we can’t confirm that, or if it was before or after the golden fleece incident! Inside the fortified walls (to keep out those pesky Etruscans who lived on the other side of the river) they built three Doric temples, but the Lucans (inland dwellers) wanted it, so around 400 BC they occupied the place and changed its name.<\/p>\n

\"They<\/a>

They built the fence around part of the Roman amphitheatre, and built a road straight through the entire site!<\/p><\/div>\n