A Trip to Southern Peloponnese

I was in Greece last month, but after coming back I was so tied up with Splinterlands that it is hard to get a travel post out! I was with a team of geologists to do a field trip to understand the geodynamic evolution of external Hellenides. Yes, that is a lot of terminology but in reality what you should care for that it is nice road trip from Athens through Peloponnese peninsula of Greece for 7 days. I was very excited to go on to this trip, because I have never been to this part of Greece and I absolutely love Greece as a travel destination.

Brooks was here! So was Red!

If you catch the reference then you will appreciate that I rarely post my picture while doing a travel post, but this place was so out of the world and so out there, I felt it was perhaps appropriate just to remind myself, yes I was there! I was there at the top of this rock at Panagia Hodegetria, a church quite literally at the edge of the world. Yeah, I was there at the southern tip of Greece, at the walled city of Monemvasia.

Monemvasia was founded in the 6th century AD when inhabitants from the mainland sought refuge from Slavic and Avar invasions. The name, derived from Greek "moni emvasis" (single entrance), reflects its unique geography—a rocky island connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. By 583, a fortified settlement was established, and it became a significant Byzantine stronghold. I was not doing any ancient history there, rather was on a geological field trip in the area. I stayed there for one night only. I wish I could stay there a bit longer. It was a stormy afternoon when we arrived there and stayed in this unique hotel called Hotel Byzantino. I have stayed at many unique hotel all over the world, but this one I will remember for a long time.

Apart from the unique balcony overlooking the Myrtoan Sea, the other cool feature was a spiral stairwell, that I just barely fit, that led to my room upstairs.

I loved the simple decoration of the old building that have been renovated clearly multiple times if various phases. The important part is all that works in harmony without being an eye soar. Even the lamp and the asymmetric front door is something that I will remember for a very long time.

This was the entrance to the my room and the window is the upstairs room I am talking about. There are stairs everywhere. The little walled city has no cars of any vehicles of any kind. You have to walk and carry all your stuff on foot. Yeah, leave those roller bags at home if you decide to come here. Just a backpack is what you need and you will thank me for it.

I probably should have put this map above at the very front, but I decided against it. I have visited many of these town in the 7 days. I will write about them later, especially Navarino, Kalamata and Grand Magne. Hopefully you can see Monemvasia on the east coast.

This is the town square with a sweeping view of the Med. Yes there are olive tree everywhere here. I read somewhere that Greece produce 65% of world's olive and majority of that comes of Peloponnese.

If you turn around, the other side is the towering cliffs of Eocene Limestones, and pass the Bell Tower in the foreground you can see the old city. No one lives up there, but you can climb up a rocky trail to the top where the old Church of Panagia Hodegetria is located. That is the first picture of this post.

Here you can see the beautiful trail to the top and the path is lined by ancient stone walls and flowers. When I visited this in the late afternoon with an approaching storm, there was not a single soul in sight around the entire old city. I had the whole place to myself for hours. Imagine that in Europe!

Here is the money shot when get to the top. You can see the new city down below. If you look carefully you can identify the clock tower and the plaza down below. Up here, especially if you are alone, this is a out of body experience for sure. I wish I can spend more time. I am planning to bring my family here next time, my kids will absolutely love this place.