H: Lovely relaxing morning. Added bonus is the cafe has got rob elms on playing music from the 40’s
K: Well meet again some sunny day.. keep smiling thru just like you always do… πΆ – found out why my top has taken so long to arrive, its Ari O that’s delivering so coming by sea! π
H: π hope it fits
K: a must see b4 we go.. the changing of the guard. soldiers with pompom shoes, lots of leg lifting and foot twirling, supposed to be the π π knees
H: Oh yes well remembered π
K: am funking with me pompoms. πΊπΌ
H: And my fustanella is really moving π
K: ππΆ
K: oh my goodness.. what a home coming, they’ve got the flags and bunting out for us.. how exciting.. what a π
H: And singing in the streetsπ
K: someone’s just offered me a glass of champers, π₯ πΎbut I need to find my own glass and pour from 2mts away.. mmmm.. que!! maybe I’ll just get a long straw π₯€
H: Roads v quiet too. Was expecting more traffic on m25
K: Well it getting a bit late, but yes.. maybe more traffic.. hey ho.. its been an exciting end to a fun trip, thank god that horrible blond woman wasn’t there, can’t remember her name, you know the one I mean that had the lovely husband the was totally embarrassed by her behaviour. such a sweet π¨ π
C: Myrtle ππ₯ππ₯ππ₯ππ₯
K: Yes π. Moanin’ Myrtle & Stephen.
So, there we are for another year, another holiday from the Laughing Cavaliers, well -1, but she was with us in ouzo and next year will be with us in person. We have had a lovely time tramping around the Peloponissos, lots of lovely adventures, food, drink and people. Until next year, when we hope to do it all again for real! Thanks for looking.
A chance to re-visit the Temple of Athena at Delphi before the drive back to Athens. The sanctuary of Athena Pronea was particularly important as people coming to ask for an oracle would first offer a sacrifice at the Athena Pronea, the guardian of Pythia.
H: Cant believe it’s the penultimate dayπ. Am thinking I should just call M at Explore for a chat. Wouldnt it be a hoot if she did come on the tripπ K: we’d all have a good giggle.. she may have to share with Carol! K: I’m lloking forward to a bit of athenuan pot banging tonight. H: Good job u packed your Georgian spoon π
K: ooops sorry I’m late, after our stroll to athena I popped down to Hellenic Post to send my dad some Greek chocolate, being as he’s at risk and not supposed to go out.. took longer than I thought, everyone queuing 2ms apart.
K: Athens here we come.. flea market and all that..
H: Do u remember to post your postcard to him and chris & sue?
K: yes did that as well. π
H: π
Monastiraki Flea Market where you can buy souvenirs, depictions of different monuments of Ancient Greece, garments, extra virgin olive oil, organic products, accessories and leather products
H: Look what J bought at the flea market π―
K: π π Omg π±
H: Do u think she’ll put it in her hand luggage tomorrow?
K: Well make sure she doesn’t, can’t have one of those being confiscated by a Greek customs official. lesson learned!
K: bumped into Ilias in the market, haven’t seen him for years.. apparently he’s normally selling honey π― on the roadside up in tbe mountains near Macedonia bbut has ventured down to Athens to pick up a new hive or two.. gave me a large jar of his scummy bee sick. think scummy should be π
H: That will go nicely with my yoghurt π
K: hey.. hands off its mine! π
H: Think we should nip in here ……
K: BTW.. just had an email from Stelios.. he’s delivering my missing pj top tmrw.. typical.. can finally cover my top half and its time to go π‘
K: Turkey! isn’t the border closed..
H: π I’m waiting to hear back from stelios about my deliveryπ
K: this is were I was thinking of heading
H: That was what I was trying to find ππ€£π
H: Thanks for an entertaining 2 weeks. Same again next year π
J: And wasn`t H great with her being so very informative. I was decidedly lax in doing all my classical research, ere setting off from home, so it is great that H took the time and trouble because it really has enhanced my enjoyment of all the sights….well, that and the ouzo, of course!
J: Oh, and not to mention all the fantastic food that we have found so irresistible. The feta here is so much nicer than the crap that they export to the UK. They obviously keep back all the best stuff for themselves, the sensible Greeks.
K: Well I think that j will be deserting us for a cultural last night. there’s a Greek tradegy, Iphigenia in Aulis, playing at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
K: fancy going to the football after the pot banging? panathinaikos are playing man u in the europeba cup. they seem to be the exciting team to follow.
H: π but as a liverpool fan I would have to support panathinaikos.
K: so would I! when in Greece!
H: Whilst ur watching your greek tragedy I’m going to the university. Pythagoras is lecturing on metempsychosis tonight
K: π π€£ππ€£
K: too big! the words! look like we’re all going our separate ways on our last night.. Will make for an interesting chatter on the flight back tomorrow.
J: Iβve been enjoying all the balcony singing and dancing during the evening
K: Yes the Georgian spoons been out! Thursdays the same all over the world!
H: Where did to say Js heading?
K: the Odeon of heredos Atticus, Greek tragedy!
H: Oh, only I just heard her say that she was jollying along to the Aegean centre of fine arts to give a life drawing course
K: ooo la la. my my.. might add another meaning to tonight’s stifado!
H: π€£ Iβll meet u in the hotel bar later
K: OK π. not much point staying in the TV remote has broken! π Football was nuts, you missed a treat. πβ½π§¨
H: Lovely view of the acropolis. Cheersπ₯
K: beautiful, to think we trudged our way up there on day 1, past all those starving cats in search of a sausage. bright colours from painted houses and flowers were nice. glad we came in spring and looking forward to our next visit. so π to b going home tmrw π’
H: The time has flown by. Back to normality tomorrow π.
K: for you yes, but I have a long journey home.. train should get me back by 3.30 π€. the off to collect the mad πΆ.. life will not be simples til Sunday.. π
H: Bill will be pleased to see you π. He’ll be looking for his ball I’ve no doubt π
H: It’s been an entertaining and informative trip. Good to finally saw some of the places I had read about. And pleased to see that J hasn’t suffered any accidents. Although she has apparently got v sore knees. a result of the cycling she had to do to get the stripper to reveal all
K: and a bad back from pushing that rock up hill, sore legs from the 200m. oh and her cut finger from the plate smashing.. at least no headbanging incidents to date..
H: Little slower getting going but ready for Olympus. Better make sure we get the right bus. Not sure whether I told stelios to bring my white stuff order to Delphi or Olympus π₯΄ Thanks for the card β meant to say yesterday but spending time with Pythagoras rather addled my brain (or was it the retsina!)
K: think he’s already been, found this had been slipped under the door.
Helen: π―π damn. On the back he says he’s taken it back to athena sorting office. So job for tomorrowπ
Kate B: what’s with these delivery men.. telling you one thing and then in the next breath compketely contradicting themsrkves.! π
H: Good news. Stelios has come from athens to Delphi. Bad news think he brought the wrong parcel. Ordered size 6 jumper and trousers. Parcel contained size 14 trousers & size 14 jumperπ
K: with all that rich honey ladened food you’ve been eating the last 10 days I’m surprised they don’t fit! π
H: π how have today’s olives been?
H: I think J has turned into the priestess pythia. Shes uttering strange gabbelings π
K: π π π She seems to think sheβs Sisyphus for some reason, eternally rolling a rock up a hill! the ouzos really gone to her head.
Ano Anglianos – a brief stop here to visit a family tomb with 17 burials.Β So important a place that it cannot be found in any guidebook or encyclopedia and yet again J got waylaid, disoriented and lost in the tomb. Not only did she hold the bus up, but she totally missed it and we drove off without her!!
Olympia β has given its name to the greatest athletics event in the world, the Olympic games, birthplace 776bc, sadly postponed this year, but where the Olympic flame is lit every four years.
Open to all principal Greek cities, and celebrated for 5 days at the August full moon and, at a time when you didnβt have to enter a 72 hour on-line holding queue just to buy a morning ticket for a qualification round!
Theodosius II believed the games to be a pagan festival and closed them in AD 420. Following numerous earthquakes little remains of the temples and athletic facilities, but the remains do give a hint of the sanctuary’s former glory and are one of Greece’s most evocative ancient sites. Wandering amid the tree-shaded ruins, you can picture the blood and the sweaty, oiled-up athletes waiting inside the stadium, the crowds watching from a nearby hill. Calm down J! There are 3 main parts to visit; the sanctuary of Olympia, the archaeological museum, the history of Olympic Games museum.
J: Darlings! Oh there you are, I thought Iβd lost you. Would you credit itβ¦I came here to see the sights but found myself on the starting line in some 200m Olympian race. Fortunately Zeus stopped it by wrestling me to the ground. Oh how I worship that man. Isnβt it wonderful to be the only tourists here.
K: I see Js dumped zorba in favour of Zeus π β₯ apollos not been on her back again has he..β¦?
H: Yes. I think shes becoming one of his muses, In mythology, the Muses were nine goddesses who symbolized the arts and sciences. Today, a muse is a person who serves as an artist’s inspiration
K: strange how meanings adapt over time.. but it would appear that the the lovely j fits both definitions. she can be my muse, full of inspiring inspiration π
J: Carol could always double as one of Apollo`s muses…..but does she have any sandals. I wonder, as those shoes won`t set off her costume to advantage.
H: View from hotel. Reminds me of the one in Armenia. The one where carol slammed the doors π
K: the window less room, door thingy..
K: I’m not sure our chums at home are appreciating our holiday.. π all locked up with nowhere to go.. π
H: I think they’ve got other things on their minds, VE Day holiday on Friday and they’re getting the bunting ready.
K: Blije whats all that din!!
H: Sounds like crockery breaking, J, where are you
J: OO sorry I’m here, just been evicted from Aphrodites pitta bar, got a bit enthusiastic and have been joining in the national culture, smashing plates against a distant wall. How was I to know it was no longer customary. π
K: think we’ll all be exhausted if we’re sharing.. think ill have the one on the right..
H: I’ll take the one on the leftπ
K: Stelios has arrived, now need to unpack him! π
H: π blimey and its not even 9am!
K: Well 11am in the Greek world..
H: I have a new appointment in my diary π―. Hand consultation by video link with epsom hospital. Wonder if she could tell I was abroad! π
K: are they going to be reading your palms… that’s a good service isn’t it, wonder if they’ll do surgery by video link.. π
H: Loving delphi
K: goodness are we there already. its in such a beautiful setting..
H: Well it 4:40pmπ, Sorry 3:40
Delphi – A very scenic drive takes us through olive groves to Delphi, a sanctuary and place of worship, once believed to be the centre of the world. Here Apollo dictated his words to the priestess Pythia, who high on something, gossiped them to whoever cared to listen. Famous sites are temple of Apollo, theatre, stadium, and the museum with its βcharioteerβ.
K: Did you see the label by the dog? ‘4th bc bronze boy‘! Lost in translation!!
H: Greek muffin π & am impressed that they do decent tea with milk in Delphi π I’ve just realised we were on the wrong bus. We should have been at Olympus today not delphiπ
K: hence my question earlier in the day.. hey ho wondered why we hadn’t seen the rest of the group all day. π
H: R we doing a greek sewing b? Might be kaftansπ
K: was about to ask the same, then thought u might still be taking tea on thd lawn.. 9ish.. or a wobbly coffee seeing as it’s your birthday π:
K: I’m having some pre dinner nibbles on the balcony should u care to join me..
K: Nice room, where are you sleeping π΄?π€£
H: πI’m guessing the balcony?!
K: you can take the comfy looking chair if you want. π
H: I’ve got the cheeseπand a glass of grand ballon
K: shouldn’t it be retsina…π
H: When in Rome….well olympus
K: Delphi!
H: What to have for tea π€
H: Birthday pressure from the bossπ
K: Nice bit of chewy π will keep u π€« for a while.. π€ͺ
K: We could sew a chiton or himation tonight
H: Any idea how its pronounced π
K: I’m going for the ch not the SH..
K: Apparently there are two types, theΒ DoricΒ chiton and the laterΒ IonicΒ chiton.
K: how did u find all those switchbacks today, my legs are beginning to feel a little tired. Where’s zorba when u need him?
H: Switch backs not too bad. Did do another 10 trips up & down the stairs yesterday in preparation!
K: we’re going to have mega leg muscles by the time we go into rehab!
H: Holiday week. Talk about rubbing it inπ
K: Hey look what esmes handing out tonight
K: you’d have looked lovely strutting the prom in oylis in one of them. pylos.. π
H: π reckon J has a pairπ
K: pilatsos pants π sounds a bit greek. they’d look good with her sunhat π
H: π I think I would have to go plain. Not sure floral would be right for meπ
K: Oh look C’s just texted
C: Hi zorbas explorers, Iβm booked , yesssssss, something to look forward to post lockdown repression. When I rang M she had hardly picked up the phone she started laughing, in fact both of us were in fits of giggles,Β not sure what I said if anything, she knew exactly who I was.
J: Yes. M`s a hoot, isn`t she? She and I laughed so much that she kept forgetting what she was meant to be doing she would love to come on holiday with us.
C: What a lovely person. She thinks we are all a fun bunch and said she would likeΒ to join us on our travels!
J: different flight times….but as M said that she thought that we would like a lie in……
K: seems sad that we’re nearing the end, but at least we’re booked to return.. π
H: π 369 days to go.
C: Lots luv, Greekly excited, Cxx,Phew I need an ouzo now,
J: I thoroughly enjoyed Delphi. Did you?Β The views were absolutely fantastic and haven`t we been lucky with the weather. Not much outdoor swimming though, apart from that fabulous dip in the Gialova Lagoon, which reminded me of our swims in Lake Ohrid, albeit minus the sun umbrella comedy act.
K: brrrrr! water still a bit cold, too early in the season.
J: See you for breakfast. I have a great view from my balcony, do you and Helen?
Pylos – a small picturesque and historically significant seaside town, built amphitheatrically (wow that’s a big word) around a huge natural harbour. The naval battle of Navarino (20/10/1827) between the Allied and Turkish fleet was an historic victory that contributed to the liberation of Greece from the Turks.
In Pylos there are plenty of places to eat and drink, from lovely cold wobbly coffees to local cuisine which includes goat stew, smoked sage sausage, diples, ladokouloura, honey and the world famous Kalamata olives.
H: Should be a nice pleasant day. Not a bad thing as it tourist traps Delphi & Olympus are coming up! π
H: Sounds like u had a productive chat with exploreπ
K: the explore lady was mental.. we had such a laugh. I imagine her sitting there in her pj’s and fluffy slippers so happy that someone had called. π
K: my sketches from mystras.
H: I wondered what u were up to last night by torch light.. Seems u were finishing off your sketches π.
Neokastro β 16th century Turkish Castle built to control the western coast of the Peloponnese. You can walk around its 1.5km battlements. In the 18th and 19th century it served as a prison. Itβs museum houses a late-Roman bronze Diaskouri sculptures of two men, some fine Mycenaean-era ceramics, jewellery, and a stunning glass bowl.
H: Fancy catching a bus to Methoni?
K: re the bus, don’t mind or taxi. next bus is 2.15 I think.. π€ doesn’t come back til 8.30
K: pm that is
H: Shall we get bus to methoni and taxi back?
H: Only costs a couple of quid
K: OK π π π wonder if adonis gataki will be our driver!
H: π Any idea where the bus stop is?
K: no, could try the town square.
H: Yes. Just by Three admirals square I think
K: OK, let’s head down there..πΆββοΈπΆββοΈ
Methoni – Homer described it as βrich in vinesβ. itβs another picturesque seaside town with a castle, a 15th-century Venetian fortress. Enter the inner keep through the mighty gateway to discover a Turkish bath, a cathedral, a house, a cistern and underground passages. A short causeway leads from the fortress to the diminutive octagonal Bourtzi fortress on an adjacent islet. Look! they’ve even got a game you can play!
K: loving jβs new sun hat π
H: ππ
K: Broken parasols come to mind π
H: While ur sketching and J is sunbathing I thought I would get my book out….
K: this is where we’ll be ending up next week me thinks.
H: Tonight tea. π€ I like it π
K: gastropub eh!
H: Tonights gastropub!!
K: like the yellow flowerpots or Bush pots
H: I see C is putting her name down for next years hols π
K: yep just replied.. Great that she’s on board so fingers π€
K: the return of the laughing cavaliers ‘all for one.. and one for all’
We have now left the Mani, and are headed north to the UNESCO site of Mystras, an abandoned medieval town, with nuns! So, not so abandoned really!! Apparently, as tourists, we are allowed to start at the upper gate and have a long downhill walk to the exit.
K: looking forward to today unesco treat, it looks very inviting and am hoping we get hours to stroll around rather than the 20 min opportunities we had last year! even the church of panagia. π. seem like a nice place to sit and sketch. π¨ π β
H: So did u make the right choice to spend the evening with me demis nana J and zorba rather than the film that looked like as bad as the flash Gordon movieπ.
K: Well I tried sticking with it, thought it might be a bit mythological but in the end decided it was all a bit greek to me… by the time I got back to the bar you’d all gone to π π΄
H: π we had a cracking night. Lost J for a bit and found her hiding under demis’ kaftan π
K: in the olive trees.. π
H: Looks like u may have a chance to have better olives today π
K: π π I’ve got a shopping slot.. I’ll add olives.. hoorah..got 5 hearty meals out the stifado.. if I’d had more freezer pots I could have prob got 7 reasonable meals.
H: π and bet your freezer is full!
K: yep..I squeazed them in
Mystras – the βwonder of the Moreaβ, lies in the southeast of the Peloponnese. A gangly site, clinging to a steep flank of the Taygetos range, some 150 m above the plain, Mystras is silent and ruined today. With its cobbled alleyways, and sun-bleached palaces, wall paintings, mosaics and decorative sculptures.
The town developed down the hillside from the fortress built in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William II of Villehardouin, at the top of a 620 m high hill overlooking Sparta. The Franks surrendered the castle to the Byzantines in 1262, it was the centre of Byzantine power in southern Greece, first as the base of the military governor and from 1348 as the seat of the Despotate of Morea. Captured by the Turks in 1460, it was occupied thereafter by them and the Venetians.
In the Upper Town is the vast arched hall of the Palace of the Despots, with its two standing towers.
The beautiful Pantanassa Church, still used by a few smiling nuns, combines both Byzantine and Gothic elements and has some rather fine frescoes. Crowning the summit is the original Frankish Castle (Kastro) with its breathtaking overview of the plain of Sparta.
H: Got a feeling of deja vu at mystras. We are becoming experts on Byzantine Frescos π
K: looks a bit Armenia Georgia.
H: Finally we get the room with sea view
H: Is it more stifado tonightπ
K: no stifado all frozen, going noodlez
H: Forgot to tell u I got nana to sign her album for me last night π
K: not really a fan. I prefer this, bit more get up and πΊ. and yes I do own it π
H: ππ is that Salvador Dali on the left!
K: I always think its Gabriel in the white shirt πΊ
K: bumped into Chris and sue when I went out for an ice cream, haven’t heard from them for ages so was nice to catch up. they’re confined to barracks, but busy with ducks, hedges and bonfires and hoping to catch up with Sharon in a bit. they send their love π
H: π it really is a small world! Am almost expecting to bump into Marion at some point. Glad they are both tip top. When is your shopping delivery? Presumably you have a plane chartered?
K: yes it’s coming with Stelios..
K: βStarting an airline with a surname like mine thatβs not easily pronounceable wasnβt such an asset in a consumer-oriented business like flying. In the beginning many people used to confuse me with Harry Enfieldβs TV character called Stavros, who owned a kebab shop!”
H: πhello peeps! Dont forget we are 2 hours ahead.π
K: yes and I thought Stelios did own a kebab π₯ πͺ
H: Owned a shipping company thanks to his dad giving him Β£30 million π―
H: See J has emerged from demis’ kaftan. She looks worn outπ
We then continued to the delightful little harbour town of Pylos. Discussions are also underway about coming back next May
Another day in Areopolis! Upside of staying in the same place is that we have time to wash our smalls and donβt have to worry about re-packing our bag every morning, bit more relaxed, so another day.. not so bad.
Today we are off to explore Cape Tenaro at the southern most point of the Mani Peninsula, have a bite to eat in Gerolimenas and then venture into the hills and to the tower village of Vathia.
K: just opened the fridge.. ππhairy bikers stifado is marinating well..
H: π think I might have to give it a try next week.
Got me pirate outfit onπ. But the π¦ is starting to get on my nerves π
K: r u 3 sheets to the wind again.. time to weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen. All hand hoy! what’s orange and sounds like a parrot?
H: A parrot?
K: π₯ π
H: ππ
K: just realised that agnieszka sikorska made my lovely lamb mousakka yesterday. what ever happened to those days whec cook labels said made by david jones etc..
H: It makes it sound like it’s been made by a local π. Might have a look in cook for one.
K: it was alright, more π₯ than π
Cape Tenaro β Greeceβs Lands End, mentioned in Homerβs βIliadβ, rocky promontory known as the βSanctuary of the Deadβ, where the ancient Greeks believed the souls of the dead entered Hades.
Lots of rubble ruins and evidence of a roman villa with a lovely floor mosaic. A beautiful 30-minute walk on an uneven path, maybe not for H & J, takes you to the lighthouse at the end of the world, maybe built by Palamedes!! Or not! The Lighthouse was built in 1882 by French and it was renovated in 1950.
Gerolimenas – small picturesque fishing pΠΎrt on the Mani peninsula with ΞΏld stone buildings and a bΠ°ckgrΞΏund of fishing bΠΎats and bluΠ΅ seΠ°. Nice spot for lunch with tavernas and cafes. Saw a big fat lizard when wandering around.
H: See we are having a rave afternoon in vatheia πΊπΎπΊπΎ
K: to tell truth I’m lost as to where I am.. so chilled all days are merging into one. feel like I’ve just finished day 5
H: π when does stifado cooking begin?
K: not had lunch yet! π
K: prob in half an hour..
H: π
H: Love the pic of the rusty boat.
K: Yes was a bit fed up with scenery, not sure why there are no, what I call interesting photographic opportunities in Greece, eg: washing, graffiti and drying octopus.
Vathia β A dramatic and photogenic Mani tower village, once famed for its olive oil. The towers are a unique example of folk fortification around the Greece.
Built high up on a hill with panoramic views, Vathia is considered a monument to the regionβs architectural heritage of the 18th and 19th centuries, during which most of Vathiaβs towerhouses, two or three floors of stone buildings, were built. Many had machicolations from which scalding oil or water was thrown over the main door when invaders tried to breech defence. The presence of such towers created an impregnable wall of protection.
Now, mΠ°ny ΠΎf thΠ΅ hΞΏusΠ΅s Π°rΠ΅ Π΅mptΡ or ruinΠ΅d, some rΠ΅stΞΏrΠ΅d ΠΎr built in thΠ΅ sΠ°mΠ΅ stΡlΠ΅ sΞΏ that thΠ΅y lΠΎΞΏΠΊ original, Greek investment opportunities! why not itβs a tourist hot spot waiting to be mined to its full potential! YΠΎu ΡΠ°n wΠ°lΠΊ intΞΏ thΠ΅ Π°bΠ°ndΠΎnΠ΅d hΞΏusΠ΅s, experience the eeriness of silence in the empty wΠ°lls Π°nd the ΡrΠ΅Π°ΞΊing dΠΎΞΏrs. ? mmm maybe tourist hot spot and silence donβt go together.!
K: am a little worried about J, she’s gone very π€« u don’t think she’s done a bunk with zorba. theodopolis, our lovely guide tells me that she’s had a bit of a bust up with Carol over who gets to sleep near the window.. or was it a πͺ ! with a window thingy in it.. sometimes I struggle to understand his English
H: Theo does tend to mumble at times. Have you noticed he’s been making a lot more hand gestures lately. I heard that Carol makes J sleep on the floor so that she can push the two beds together to make one giant bed.π
K: stufadi slowly cooking but I reckon it needs another hour, tastes very winey. π Odd, but I thought I saw Theo wearing a wendy house on his head! must have been some weird Greek hat or maybe just a bad dream!
H: π happy funky saturday π·
K: not thing much of tonight’s olives. think they’ve been pickled in brine.
H: π₯° π dont like olives even when had a few 2 many sherberts!
K: I know, all the more for me and J π
H: I’ll just had more tzatziki dipπ
K: urghhhh! Nice bit of swing..
H: Well I’ve experience in that dept π. Am trying out my movesπ Been doing a lot of πΊπΎthis evening π
K: was trying my flapper moves out..
H: Yup me too π. This greek bar is groovin tonight. Nice of craig to make the trip
K: just a shame about the olives.. oh well better luck tmrw.
H: This malmsey wine is delicious π
K: ooo hang on I haven’t got to taste that yet.. be with you in a second. mmm OK in small doses, yes does remind me of madeira, James and his mum used to love the stuff..
H: π monemvasia is actually quite impressive the way the geography just lends itself being a good place hide and to defend. Thought the aerial photos showed the layout well π. π this blog is just reaffirming why we picked the peloponnese π Is the stifado ready?
K: it’s ready and delicious.. quite rich mind.. and quite clovey in flavour. maybe I should have taken them out the marinade before I cooked the meat. I did it in the oven HBs say on stove top..
Oh! Just had a text from C, she’s popping around for an aperitif!
Dear Zorbas explorers
I might have not booked a holiday to the Peloponnissos however Iβm with you in spirit. What a giggle and such exciting things have happened in such a short time. Iβm green with envy π€’ π€’ π€’ π€’ π€’π€’π€’ π€’ π€’
I thought we should toast the launch of your new blog with an ouzo, dug out from the back of the cupboard and is probably 20 yrs at least, hopefully it wonβt kill us. Maybe Zorba would like some J?
So yamas! …and to many more mad adventures and giggles.
Cxxx
K: Yasou, Love the 4 shot glasses and I bet the ouzo has aged very well. Your olives look far better than the ones that me and J have been served tonight, am sure they’ve been pickled in brine. Will definitely try another bar for aperitif tomorrow. Love to Skotia.K
K: I see back home they’re off to a 9barrow concert.. much better to be here I π€ πΆ
H: Much cheerier I would say π. Cloves are quite a strong flavour. So how many portions will u get out of it do u reckon?
K: lots.. I reckon 1/2 measures would have been better. maybe 8 portions at most.. I’ll be eating it for weeks to come. such memories of Greece.
HMD: You Greek ladies β not too much oozo!
K: bill πΆ loves the stifado, he’s been hanging out at the dishwasher and now done a pre wash. π jazzy b; …ooops just sent that message to a complete stranger that was looking for seed potatoes π₯
H: This is what J’s has been upto π
K: π π not social distancing then, just watching monsieur zorba take his kit off..
H: Did you know nana and demis have sung together?
K: no.. what did they sing. πΆ
H: To gelakaki. Just found it on you tube π. So it’s a night of nana demis & jazzy b!
K: or valerian and the city of a thousand plants omg… π± π
mmmm..what can I say, it’s been a long day.. reminds me of holidays in a greek beach resort, when a drunken version of ‘tug of war’ or the ‘drunk waiter’ were the way to have fun… To much ouzo, its time for my bed π΄π΄π΄ a real bed.. not a sun bed!!!
What an odd place to have a free day, there’s nothing to do, or are we missing something! The cynic in me thinks that its a way to force a wedge of drachma from our wallets and that there’s some deal going on between Theodopolis (our lovely guide) and Adonis Gataki the towns taxi service.
H: So is a quiet day in areopolisor a trip to the Greek Gibraltar π
……3 hours later, decision was made….
K: sorry fell asleep on the bus.. yes monemvasia seems cool for a potter and a sit. Apparently the 5 hour round trip is if you take the scenic route, one of the most spectacular & scenic drives in Greece.
H: It’s an impressive lump of rock
H: Just popped to see the old relics at one of the white houses in the cyclades π
K: π hope u kept your social distancing.
Monemvasia is a Medieval Castle Town constructed to be invisible from the mainland to avoid enemy attacks. It can be seen only from the sea and only a narrow pathway connects it to the mainland. This legendary rock was cut off from the coast of the Peloponnese by an earthquake in 375 AD. As a natural fortress, it was inhabited and soon became a strategic fortress claimed the Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Ottomans. Monemvasia is Europeβs only castle that has never ceased being inhabited. During the Middle Ages the city was renowned for ‘Malvasia’ – a sweet wine.
Malmsey, a sweet dessert wine made from the Malvasia grape, originated in Monemvasia, which exported large quantities of Malmsey to England in the 15th Century. Today, the name “Malmsey” refers to a type of Portuguese Madeira wine grown from the same grape
H: Shame u were too tall to go down some of the streets monemvasia π
H: And it was an ABF day. Another bloody fortress
K: another bloody castle.. π° abc, 123, abc, baby you and me..
H: Lovely view of sunset from the spilius cafe bar π
K:Β I’ve got mousakka.. and a stifado is marinating in the fridge. Shame the view was spoilt by the loud rumblings of Geraldine and her american uterus! Bloody cruise ships!
Someone has released the drone from her handbag to take some lovely shots of this Gibraltar of Greece! and its not me!
H: Slight upper leg muscle ache this morning. Weather looking perfect 23 and sunny π
K: Well built mycenae, rich in gold
K: do you π€ i’ll find π π― in the beehive?
Mycenae – Founded by Perseus, the slayer of Medusa the Gorgon, the one with the snake hair. There are 7 stone beehives monuments with domes as high as 43 feet at the apex. Splendid mechanical skills in masonry work. Enter the acropolis via the Lion Gate, and fine inside the ruins of grave circles, place buildings and underground cisterns. Lots of lovely art and cultural exhibits in the musem.
H: Poor Heinrich Schliemann the archaeologist. Thought he’d discovered the body of the king of agamemnon at mycenae π. Oops. Hope theres no more steps today. Leg muscles letting me know of their existence π
K: maybe you can borrow zorba for a bit if deep massage..
K: still in theory there’s a day off tomorrow. tho areopolis doesn’t look that exciting and the excursion to monemvasia looks like a 5 hour round trip. π€ mmmm or gave I got the wrong place!
H: According to my google map it’s an hour 37 minsπ. At least have had chance to sit on the bus for a whileπ
K: rest your muscles.. πͺ
H: This is described on the hotel website as the double roomπ
K: π π π
K: feel like my floor may look like your photo, which is very blurry.. drunken blurry! before the nights out.. and I wasn’t going to have a drink tonight… oh and there’s π. π¨
H: Too much raki?!
K: ouzo.. raki is Turkish. political faux pas.. π
H: They called it raking in creteπ
H: Raki
Ouzo – Greek aperitif traditionally produced in copper stills, alcohol is mixed with water, aniseed, and other herbs and spices like fennel, cloves, and coriander. When water or ice is added to it, the anise makes it turn a cloudy white colour, which is how most people know it.
Raki – essentially spirits made on the island of Crete carry different names from the ones made in the rest of Greece. The name raki came with the Turks, who used the name for their own traditional spirit to describe the one they found on Crete.
H: How about this restaurant for tea? Mind u the waiters look a bit young π₯΄
K: keep it in the family! π less expenses.. At least these children are not naked photos on the waiters phone!
Areopolis – Inland town on the Mani Peninsular with houses built from local stone and where the only things of interest lie around the main square, which is dominated by an 18thc Church with a 4 storey bell tower. Milia Bakery makes scrummy pies in wood fired ovens. Stunning mountain scenery with wild arid landscapes. Hope its better in the real world than the virtual one!
Zorbas Explorers in the Peloponissos 