From Byron to Byron - with a taste of Bachus thrown in

So after the catching up on the last blog, we have had the pleasure of the wonderful Stuart and Linda Bryant of Bristol fame -- who I managed to capture under an arch in Monemvasia -- when Lynda and I took them last week to one of our favourite places well 2 actually --- so this is of them in the Tunnel of Love -- not really but it sounds right.

 

But I am getting ahead of myself.

We left Aegina Island in Super Frankie -- those who know us , will know why-- on a ferryboat to Methena on the Peloponnese, before winding our way up over the mountains to the first of the places we love, which is Nafplio, the second capital of Greece after the overthrow of the Ottoman Empire in 1821 to 1828, after Aegina being the first.

This is Lord Byron the poet who faught for the Greeks against then Turks in Monemvasia in this time to the point where he was and still is a hero.

 

 

There is a cleanness and organisation in this city that Aegina Town and Agia Marina could learn a lot from -- so busy , vibrant and clearly enjoying it's summer.

 

At first though after checking in it was a quick drive to Tolo for lunch , a swim and a laydown, and despite a burst of light rain for a short time , a relaxing afternoon.

And very necessary as there was a burst of shopping required  before dinner around these wonderful streets but of course that does come with a certain amount of waiting required, -- ok, so I am being a little generic but experiences tell me on a personal level that this will be the case.

So for those doubters and disbelievers -- see the bag -- and why would that be a problem---

 

 Busy place for a Thursday night

Pretty and clean

Ah , there we are,  original Gucci handbags from Africa

Right , now where is that bargain I need to find---

Probably the smartest shop in the town

That's it , surfeited , shopped out , fed & watered, and now needing the bed-- with the Fortress all lit up in the background --

And so for the wake up on the Friday morning with this view of the Palamidis Fortress in Nafplio before we headed off to Monemvasia via the mountains with Kosmas Village at it's pinnacle -- Literally.

Great way to start the day -- and with that the beautiful drive via the coast road , through Leonadio, past the mountain Monastery on the way to Kosmas for lunch -- below is the mountain pass that goes up to a small village where friends have a retreat-- we know folk everywhere --

 Below is the square where we always stop for lunch outside the church at about 4000 ft up
 

 

 

 

 not much left after we descend on the plates
 

And then on down the mountain to Hotel Pramataris --

 

 They have tidied up the beach with beds , umbrellas and showers with a view of the north side of the headland---

 and then of course there are always folk swanning around when your ready to get gone -- Could have made it a bit clearer that you had a chilled bottle of rose in the fridge ---
 

 

And so the adventure starts for our 2 mates that have never been to the 1000 year old walled city of Monemvasia and all of the charm and character that it holds --

 

these are random shots of the city with a couple of do-er-uppers thrown in---

 
 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 A couple of red hot do-er-uppers, just waiting for the next boutique guest house -- the only problem is whether you can find it when you go back again in this labyrinth.

 
 

Until we finally found the Wine Tasting cellar and it's owner Byron -- no not the Lord , but this wonderful Belgium guy who has settled in this amazing place and follows his passion of wine by introducing very good Greek wines to the rest of the world.

 

 

https://www.xo.gr › Home › Monemvasia › Cafes - Coffee Bars - Bars

 Ok, so not a great selfie but of  course this was after 3 or 4 glasses of what I must say are exceedingly good Greek white wine--
 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 The man himself in his wine cellar, this remarkable chap who settled here from Belgium among other places and if you ever want to spend time there he can be found at Byron & Vivienne Veras

 After the wine tasting we deserved a really good meal and were recommended by Mike & Janet James to the Chrisovoulo -- www.chrisovoulo.gr and the food was excellent, but you know that feeling when maybe the fifth glass with the meal might be the one that is just OTT-- the one that pushes over the edge , well I guess this is what you end up looking like -- beautifully squiffy
 
 

 

Ok , so one of the nicest catch-up's was with this wonderful lady from the shop Kelari, that sells wine among other things and who professes to remember Lynda and Me - well we have been there about 4 times and always come away with some very nice wine -- The red 300 of 2005 fame was pretty outstanding and we ended up importing some to Aegina.

 

Go to -- www.kelari-monemvasia.gr and see what they sell and if nothing else see the wonderful Maria - below in this crap selfie -- but it could never detract from her very warm welcome

 

 So that was it for our visit and at the end gave us a walk down the hill to where we could park super frankie -- a nice stroll in the moonlight

 We drove back the fast route via Sparti, and Tripoli, through the back of Nafplion and over to Epedavros where the  amazing Helen Mirren did a greek play in their huge amphitheatre in the September time that they do night time theatre.

This restaurant was where we were here with Lin & Stuart were at some 8 years ago
 

 

 

 

This was the route with the exception that we went via Methena and not Athens but you kind of get the drift.

--

 

So that was us , a 4 hour drive lunch by the sea and back on Aegina in time to see the mighty Chelsea beating our old friends from over North London way.

 

A really great trip which I have no doubt that we will do again not too far in the future.