I departed Filoxenia Hotel and Monemvasia in the direction of Sparta.
Again the roads away from Monemvasia towards Sparta were very enjoyable. Most of the bends were nice and smoothly flowing and it was rather enjoyable keeping up a good pace. On one of the bend,s a dip in the road surface just before hitting the apex, sunk the fully loaded bike lower on its suspension with something scraping on the road while I was well leaned over. I would like to say I scraped the foot-peg but I am not sure what it was…..
I continued to Sparta with the co-ordinates for Mystras as an option if Sparta wasn't too interesting. Thankfully I had the information to get to Mystras because nothing about Sparta, the formerly leading city, region and people of Greece, gave the impression of being worth a stop - even for lunch (sorry Sparta).
I continued the short distance to Mystras, changed out of my hot suit into the slightly more stylish zip-offs, paid the entrance fee and entered the ruins.
I had entered at the bottom gate and the man who sold me the ticket suggested I should see the lower section first, and if time permitted drive to the upper gate to see the upper section.
Frescoes inside the Cathedral of Agios Demetrios
Altar inside Agios Demetrios Church.
Panaghia Odigitria Church.
Frescoes inside Panaghia Odigitria Church.
As I followed the directions on the map I soon found myself climbing higher up the hill for some of the ruins still on the lower circuit. I took a wrong turn and went through the Monemvasia Gate and was now entering the upper section of the ruins. I checked the time and decided I might as well keep going up, see that section of the ruins, and then finish the rest off on the homeward stretch downhill.
The view down to Sparta.
The Palace of Despots - being restored.
The style of this fresco seemed very recent.
At the very top of the ruins is the castle fortress with commanding 360 degree views.
Who's the king of the castle…..?
The view down from the castle.
Pantanassa Monastery Church.
The Monastery of Pantanassa.
Peribleptos Church.
Walking throughout Mystras is an interesting journey giving an insight into the various occupations and populations of this area of Greece over time. For example, during Ottoman rule there were Christians still living, worshiping and building new churches within Mystras.
I returned to the bike and put back on the riding suit and headed for Nafplio.
There were some wonderful stretches of road along the way and I was glad I had made the detour via Sparta to Mystras.
Wind turbines
Valley view
Happy.
I arrived in Nafplio mid-afternoon and had a quick ride through town before starting to find somewhere to stay. I hadn't booked ahead so I quickly referred to the Lonely Planet book to see what suggestions appealed. When I saw the yellow building high on the hillside I made my way towards it in the hope it was Pension Marianna.
I parked on the street at the bottom of the pension and headed off inside to find reception….after many more stairs the reception is located in the uppermost building of the arrangement. I negotiated a room closely rather than back down the bottom again.
I was soon freshened up and ready to relax and enjoy the fading light of Nafplio and some dinner.
Palamidi Castle/Fortress in the fading sunlight
Sun setting Nafplio - Bourtzi Fort in the water.
Bougainvillea petals
The old part of Nafplio is beautiful. Stairs linking upper and lower levels and narrow, pedestrianised lanes with attractive and active shops and cafes/restaurants with bright and colourful bougainvilleas flowering throughout the old town. There is also a spacious town square edged with restaurants.
Bougainvilleas spanning the lane.
Unfortunately I mistook the restaurant with customers as being an indication of its suitability - perhaps they had fallen for it to. The food was only OK so I vowed to seek something better the next day.
The view from Marianna Pension.
Nafplio seemed like a good place to spend a little time before heading to what would surely be a lot situation different in Athens.
(This update is courtesy of the much faster WiFi at Grand Nefeli Hotel - fabulous and wish I'd stayed there…)