Castles, Retreats and Shining on the Righteous

There cannot be many luckier people than Lynda and I when you consider that after the trials of the weeks running up to Xmas, we were about as strung out as you can get and yet there we were last week arranging what turned out to be an amazing 3 day trip to the Peloponnese with really great friends , and being privileged to see some quite amazing places, that are within most peoples reach.

 

These are the Peloponnese and we went first to Nafpleon and then down to Monemvasia, via Kosmas in the mountains.

Below is the Castle on the mountain above Nafplion and also the fort in the bay.It is remarkable when you see Castles on the top of so many mountains and the mind still boggles that they could build these places in such remote locations with little or no access to get up there to build--and there are many of them-- Nafplion, Monevasia, Argos and many others around Sparta and Tripoli.

 

We stayed in Nafpleon on Friday night and had a great dinner in a restaurant called "Vasilis" that had a small group doing a bit of singing for your supper--they were very good and if anyone know how haunting a women singing traditional greek songs can be well that was what we were hearing--she was very good. It still staggers me at how Greece has managed to maintain their history and culture especially when it comes to preserving their cultural music, and even more so that most Greeks appear to know most of these songs.

 

 

We drove south from Nafpleon and went on the way through a town at around 5000 feet above sea level called Kosmas ---it just happens to be the name of very good friends on Aegina and America--- so you can imagine our interest.

Mountainous views

Still a little Christmas cheer to welcome us

 Tables and chairs laid out all across the square for the daily get together and chat with your pals.

 

We can of course always find somewhere to shop as the girls did below---Having said that , they did sell the most amazing home grown produce from honey to wine

A stunning place and one that was very peaceful , fresh and clean. It also had the wonderful smell of fires burning logs--I love that smell---remember it well from my childhood.

 

From Kosmas we headed south , down the mountain, for Monemvasia with views like these and bumping in to a few 4 legged friends--could be dinner next week or at least the Feta on my salad.

 

 

Below is the island of Monemvisia, with the castle at two levels in the picture---you see the lower enclosure going to the sea edge where the soldiers and poorer folk lived and had to fight and defend it  and also there was a an upper castle encampment, where the rich people and leaders lived slightly protected against the marauding hoardes.

And below are some typical street views from the city of Monemvasia

 

Captured in the arch are two of the nicest people we know and they were great company as well as having a brilliant driver in Michael.

 

 

Out of allthe Companies in the world this lady below is the best Company for me--yeah I know its corny but it is also very true.

This is the entrance arches and I don't think you could get many soldiers in this space without suffering severe losses---and you could block it very easily.

A bit of shopping as we meander through the streets---I tasted the best Rose'i think I have every tasted and they don't export --real shame. Also got a box of Baclava for tonight which are beautiful.

 

Below are the ramparts of the upper castle where the Posh folk were living.

Amazing how much Lions feature in Ancient Greek marbles and statues.

 

Mind your head Mike

Monemvasia goes back to Byzantine times but some say even further back.

 

A bit of maintenance continues as everywhere, and the scaffold was not that bad either.

 

Three of the 4 amegos having a break---well there are a shed load of steps in this place.

Nice bit of lunch from a Café with amazing views--and it was so warm and sunny.

 

The picture below is a little hazy but they say that guy Byron was also here for a while--jesus, that bloke must have had more Avios points than my CEO

 

We stayed in a really nice little hotel in the main town over the causeway from the Monemvasia island called Hotel Pramataris, wit wonderful owner making us feel so welcome and great value.

We headed back to Nafpleon having decided that we would stay there again on sunday night and found a number of reasons to stop and take photos like those below.

 

On the way back we stopped at the Monestary Eloni, just to the east of Kosmas on the way down the mountain.

 

 

How the hell did they build this have no idea but a beautiful place that I felt privileged to be able to walk around

 It is a shame that I was unable to take photos inside the church as it has some of the most amazing carvings and the incense containers were by the thousands.

 

We went to Nafpleon and saw the following amazing views and places.

  We found Harry Potters house where he retired to-- real quality building.

Stunning views of the bay

A bit of map reading by those intrepid explorers Andrews and James--

  And still cant get this stupid  hotel picture round the right way.

 

So we had our last night there and hit the road to Athens yesterday morning---had a conference call to get back to the computer so had to catch an early afternoon ferryboat back to Aegina.

 

I think if nothing else it proved to us that our thoughts about what is out there in Greece for us to go see is real and we have only scratched the surface with what there is to see---this place is amazing --I think the Greeks say-- ELLADA.hellas---and I agree.

 

Roll on Pascaha---Yassou.