Making our way to the Mani Peninsula with a climb to Mystra.

Saying goodbye to Dimitsana. Our hotel was charming. Let this serve as acknowledgment of its name, as I can’t begin to spell it or pronounce it myself.
We spied Mystra as we approached.
The Destops Palace from above.
The climb to the castle was intense, but Team Tortoise prevailed! Ed is improving every day🫶🏼
The view looking down on the ruins of the city that the castle protected. As with many historic sites in Greece, this settlement changed hands numerous times. It is best described on the UNESCO site:
Archaeological Site of Mystras
Mystras, the ‘wonder of the Morea’, was built as an amphitheatre around the fortress erected in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William of Villehardouin. Reconquered by the Byzantines, then occupied by the Turks and the Venetians, the city was abandoned in 1832, leaving only the breathtaking medieval ruins, standing in a beautiful landscape.
The Holy Church of Hagia Sophia with its beautiful frescoes and remarkable mosaic tile medallion.
Our first glimpse of the Mediterranean Coast on the Mani Peninsula .
I chose the seaside village of Agios Nikolas for our stay on the Mani coast based on information gleaned from Facebook and Trip Advisor. The advice of others did not lead us in the wrong direction. The village runs along the waterfront and is lined with tavernas and restaurants with outdoor seating. The harbor is full of traditional Greek fishing boats. We are ready to take it all in over the next few days.

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Author: robmin57

We still enjoy planning our own travel (most of the time😉). Using “Third Home”, a home exchange program, has added a new dimension to our travel planning. As Andy Dufresne says “Either get busy living, or get busy dying”

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