Nafplio and Mystras are today’s targets.
Nafplio is a magnificent fortress overlooking the new expansion of the city. It is only until you get up to the highest of the 9 bastions that you understand why on entry to Nafplio, there is a sign saying ‘Welcome to the first capital city of Greece’. It is an amazing place perched so elegantly on the tip of a mountain, the sides of which slope into the turquoise sea below. The people swimming look like bits of ice in a blue Slush Puppy.
Fortunately there are brown signs to guide you from sector to sector.Sadly the computerised interactive information boxes only provide info in Greek, which is a language I am yet to master. The vistas are stunning though. Even driving away glancing over my shoulder, looking through the palm trees lining the road, I find it an awesome sight.
Mystras won’t mean much to most but Sparta might ring a few bells. Mystras is about 5km from Sparta or, to give its correct name, Sparti. It is up there with being one of the most interesting paces I have visited so far. Sparta and the road leading to Mystras is flat. Even the new town of Mystras is relatively flat. The old town though is prominently poised on the ascent of a large, forbidding mountain, on top of which sits a castle.
The steepness of the climb is sure breath taking and combined with the views and the altitude sure makes for a light head. The first church I come to stands tall and fully restored, around the ruins of other buildings. On entry I realize the painting style I commented on at the Church in Kosovo must be from the same period, it is in a very similar style, frescoes painted on a back background. The church I now find myself in is from the Byzantine era. A young lady religiously crosses herself so many times I loose count. She then moves to the next religious painting and repeats the same ritual. My camera is in my hand but I feel rude about taking pictures. I hear the lens of a camera close by opening and shutting, I look around and see it is the girlfriend’s partner taking photos. I continue about my business, if it is ok with him then it is ok with me.
Apart from numerous, smaller churches, the only other building showing sign of restoration is the palace. I decide to head up the near vertical slope for a closer inspection. On arrival the site around the palace is cordoned off and the journey seems to be a waste, until I turn round and gaze over Sparta in the distance.
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