Our journey north from the Peloponnese didn't go quite as smoothly as we'd hoped. After crossing the impressive Rio-Antirrio bridge (one of the world's longest cable-stayed bridges), we headed toward Delphi.

Delphi was amazing – the ancient sanctuary of Apollo, the famous oracle, and the stunning mountain setting made it one of our favorite Greek sites. The views over the valley are breathtaking.

But then came the challenges. We had planned to take the ferry from Igoumenitsa to Italy, but the dates didn't work out. Our van also started showing signs of wear – nothing major, but enough small issues to make us a bit nervous.

On the bright side, we treated ourselves to a fantastic experience: a ride on the Odontotos rack railway! This narrow-gauge railway climbs from Diakopto up through the stunning Vouraikos Gorge to the mountain village of Kalavryta. The engineering is impressive, and the scenery is spectacular – steep cliffs, waterfalls, and lush vegetation. The train slowly zigzags its way up, and you can feel the rack-and-pinion system working beneath you.

Kalavryta itself is a charming mountain town with a tragic WWII history. But the train ride alone was worth the detour – it's one of those unique experiences you don't get every day.

Despite the hiccups, we're enjoying Greece immensely. The country has so much to offer beyond the famous islands and beaches. We're now deciding whether to head further north or explore more of central Greece.