The "big rock" of Greece, Monemvasia

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On to Monemvasia. A most unusual place.
The name means "single entrance".
It is an iceberg of an island, jutting almost straight up out of the sea, connected to the mainland town of Gefyra by way of a causeway. Founded in the 6th century, the town saw most of it's inhabitants leave during the Nazi occupation of WWII, and the Greek Civil War, which ended in 1949.
The lower town of Monemvasia is perched on the seaward side, and cannot be seen from the mainland. Once you pass through the old fortified gate, you find yourself in the maze of extremely narrow passage ways. The 17th century buildings are undergoing careful restoration, since being "rediscovered" in the 70's.

This was the first place we saw mules and horses used for transporting goods, such as building supplies. There is no room for vehicles. We sat down for a snack at the taverna on the village square, it was on the route of the horses bringing bricks to a renovation. So we watched them plod back and forth - with no heavy load on their backs, and then loaded with bricks, back and forth. We saw them later in the day, on our way back into town. We put our feet in the water at a swimming hole, and while we were there we noticed the horses were up on a little hill. A couple of men pulled up with hay bales for them. They had a full day of toting bricks.

The castle ruins, run up along the cliffs, some 650 feet above sea level, to the top of the island. We took most of the afternoon, to walk up, lingering there for the views, and the silence! We were high enough to see the clouds grow dark, and then watch the storm approach. Keith was scoping out a shelter for us in the ruins, but the cloud continued straight without veering in our direction.



Our scenic day ended with a meal by the water. We sampled the drink, retsina. It is a white wine with an aftertaste of pine resin. It gets mixed revues! The ancient Greeks, wanting to keep air out of the amphora containing the wine, put a lid on the urns and sealed it with pine resin. Some of it seeped into the wine, giving it that "taste".



Monemvasia, it is such an unusual, magical "island", that I hope it doesn't become spoiled.

Monemvasia is for watching the world go by. An escape to another time.

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Photos

Gibraltar of Greece
sunrise at Monemvasia

looking to the mainland
on the top of Monemvasia, looking at the Pelopennese coastline

the single entrance
to Monemvasia

Agia Sophia
on the rock island of Monemvasia

retsina
another local drink to enjoy

grave yard entrance
Greece's Monemvasia

grave site
on Monemvasia

the lower town
viewed through the castle walls

looking down at the lower town
on our trek up to the citadel

view through the castle ruins
at the very top of the rock. You can see this silhoutte in the first picture.

whatever
can't believe that someone defaced this rocky coast

Comments

[Dogga]

Good times
Wow, looks like you are both having a great time! Lets catch up soon! Cheers, James C