Hotel Pramataris Monemvasia

... the mountains on a series of deserted dirt roads- not paved roads, but dirt roads that were in terrible shape. The problem was that we were already 2 hours into the drive and far away from any alternate route. We had a fairly full gas tank and drove slowly for many miles until finally finding a paved road again. So, what should have taken 3 hours took about 6 hours. However, we finally arrived at Monemvasia. <br><br>Monemvasia is actually a small ...

... 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....

... dates back to the thirteenth century. We are in the Mani region situated in the middle promontory of the southern Peloponnese , physically different from the other two and dominated by the magnificent and daunting 'Taigetos' mountain range. The locals are called Maniots, a fierce people who resisted conversion to Christianity until the tenth century, when they embraced it with such fervour that they built churches everywhere. They also defied the ...

... lived in Monemvasia, mostly in the Upper Town. The fortifications were famous for never being breached and while the town passed from Byzantine, to Venetian, to Ottoman, then finally to Greek control (in the War of Independence), it was never taken by force, only by trickery or prolonged siege. Its late in the afternoon by the time we arrive at Monemvasia, so we find a place to stay (and this time our first choice has plenty of rooms - all with their own ...

... before you. Pray that the road is long. That the summer mornings are many, when, with such pleasure, with such joy you will enter ports seen for the first time; stop at Phoenician markets, and purchase fine merchandise, mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony, and sensual perfumes of all kinds, as many sensual perfumes as you can; visit many Egyptian cities, to learn and learn from scholars. Always keep Ithaca in your mind. To arrive there is your ultimate goal. But do ...

... up the streets to where building is going on. Several of us climbed to the church, Agia Sophia and then went on to the Citadel. From here we could look down across the small bridge to where our purple bus was parked. It really seemed like we were up high. Great view! Water for this city was collected in Cisterns. Even with all the climbing we did, we only walked about five miles. This evening we all ate together at Pierros's restaurant. He is formerly ...

... of the large humped rock. However due to a force 6 and a jetty collapse we couldn't stop, so it was back upwind 10 miles to Ierakas and an excellent late night fish dinner. Oh well, we'll just have to go back via land! We then spent two nights at anchor, at Kiparissi which has the starriest sky ever against toothy cliffs, and finally round the corner from PH at Hinitsa Bay where I discovered that I am ...

... a steep bit. However, my map-maker had been a bit lazy and clearly felt that the inclusion of all the wiggles would be too difficult, so for instance a stretch of road south of Kalamata which descended in a steep switchback from about 500 m to sea-level was shown as a gentle curve......As a result the journey from Kalamata to Githeo turned out to be more savage than I had anticipated and I arrived in Githeo absolutely whacked but luckily found a very comfortable Hotel.

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.