Monopati Apartments Monemvasia

... Venice and Turkey over the years before becoming part of modern Greece. By the mid 1900s the town had been almost completely abandoned.<br><br>****side note, many towns on islands and the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece were virtually abandoned in the 1940s and 1950s when over 30% of the population left Greece and immigrated to Australia, the United States, Canada, Britain, etc.<br><br>Anyway, in the 1970s the artists and wealthy Greeks started ...

... play a concert;)), so we were told to meet them at 4pm in order to continue the ride with them. Meanwhile we went for a swim. I read in my guide book that at the island where we went, there had started the romance of Helen and Paris, and at the same time - the Troyan War. We spent 3 hours there, smimming in clear like a crystal and azure water and resting in a shade of trees. And then it was time to move forward, towards Diros Caves...

... Greece. I spent great quality time with Mr. K and his buddy Spiro - another Greek-American, who after living in the US for decades, retired back to the lovely Grecian homeland. Both continue to enjoy life (and break hearts of local Greek lovelies).... FOTOS below are largely of the absolutely STUNNING hamlet of Monemvasia....

... at a waterfront table to enjoy a cold Mythos and frappe. We almost want to stay here for the rest of the day, it is so pleasant. Were it not for me, I'm sure everyone would have foregone the rest of the trip. We walk around the lovely town and harbour. At one point we photograph our dinner, which is line of octopus tentacles hanging out to dry. We stop at a supermarket to purchase our lunch supplies and continue on our way to the heroic city of Sparta .

... complex was built by the Venetians in the early 1700's and is said to be one of the great military fortifications. It sprawls across the top of yet another massive vertical rock outcrop and consists of huge thick stone walls that follow the rock contour at the top of the outcrop (with a virtually sheer drop on the sea side!), with several citadels at strategic points. These citadels are independent of each other and even have arrow and gun slits ...

... in a pension with a great view over the city. Lots of steps however to get there although we did use our car some to get up and down. Today we drove back to Athens and will return to Minneapolis tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing everybody and hopefully have some get-togethers on the deck. & nbsp; Bye for now, Dave and Nancy

... I boarded, paid the fare and was soon on my way through the darkened countryside and villages toward Sparta. Heightened by the sleeplessness-induced dream-like spell, the ride was immediately etched into my memory. Deprivation while traveling has that effect on me. As the dawn gradually brightened, more passengers boarded -- mostly local women who seemed to be headed to market. When we arrived at the Sparta bus terminal, I went to the ticketing and information window to ...

It's now high season and very very very busy. I've just spent a week on watch in the safety tower (no chance of boredom with 60 boats out!) while Andy was out on flotilla as a charter skipper. So there was a loud cheer last night when I went running on to the pontoon just in time to catch 'Avalon's' lines for a rapturous reunion.<br><br>Our week on flotilla holiday was certainly exciting, on board the very smart ...

It is September, and we have decided to visit MANI this time. Our first stop is at GYTHIO, where we have lunch. Gythio is a beautiful port and so our lunch includes my favorite dish which is KALAMARI, sea shells, mussles, and of course my favorite starter OUZO.

Medieval fortress and upper and lower towns situated on a pennisula that's more of a giant rock in the Aegean. The name litterally menas "one entrance" as there is just a tunnel entrace from the causeway leading to the mainland into the lower city. Amazing histoy of habitation and invasion since the 6th C (CE). Trade city historically, but has become a quiet holiday location. Hiked up to the abandoned upper city, built ...