More than a room with a view!

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Hello!

Sometimes I find us in some very interesting places, and tonight is definitely one of those.  It’s interesting that this morning we got up and repacked in our very, very tiny hotel room in Nafplio. 

Beautiful countryside!

L-o-n-g walk to Mantineia

Mantineia theatre

Had breakfast at 8 am and then out and down with the luggage about 8:30 am.  Fortunately, the receptionist was there to settle the bill, even though she had some major problems with the computer. 

However…we lugged the luggage back to the nice square near the hotel, and loaded up everything for our journey to Sparta (which is known as Sparti in Greece).  The great news is that if we have no further laundry opportunities, with what was done yesterday (and cost us all of 10€), Robert should be able to have clean clothes every day until we’re home!  Yippee!!

So…on the road again, and heading out of Nafplio to find our first site of the day, in Mantineia.  As we headed towards Sparta, we kept getting higher and higher, and as we stopped at a rest area for a few minutes, we actually saw snow flurries coming down.  Mantineia was  a large Arcadian city mentioned by Polivios and Homer and the site of the first Battle of Mantineia (418 BC), the largest land battle of the Peloponnesian War and won be Sparta. 

More of the theatre

Mantineia agora

"Bizarre" Agia Fotini

It contains a small classical theatre, and other ruins, but honestly, the weather was SO cold, and the wind blowing so hard, that it was difficult to stop long enough to enjoy the site! (As well as read all the informational panels that were available.)  The site was located directly across the road from a highly unusual church, Agia Fotini, which looks like it has been made up of a dozen different architectural styles, even though it was only built in the 1970’s.  One of the guidebooks calls it “bizarre” and I think I would agree with that assessment.

We then headed to the town of Alea to see their Temple of Athena Alea (destroyed in 394 BC) remains from ancient Tegea.  For some reason, even about 11 am, the site was locked up, but Robert was able to get a few photographs anyway.  From there we decided to head to Sparta, where we found an Alpha Bank and then went looking for our place for the night – Mazaraki Guesthouse.  Which brings me to my opening statement about interesting places to stay.

The Guesthouse was located in the small town next to Sparta, called Mystras. 

Pieces of Temple of Athena Alea

More Athena Alea

Someone needs to do something here!

And that was up a very large mountain.  We kept heading up and up, and were absolutely certain that Emmy (our GPS) had totally lost her mind as well as her way, when we came upon an actual sign directing us to Mazaraki.  We pulled up in front, and went into reception.  There was no one there, so we called the number provided on the door, and down/up/over came our innkeeper. 

 

She showed us to our apartment – which is beautiful, and SO nice and big after our two days of living in confined spaces.  There is a very large bedroom with balcony, a nice and roomy living room also with balcony, small kitchen and medium-sized bathroom – wow!  We were actually able to get the car to within a few feet of the staircase up to our apartment, which really made things easier.  Honestly, I wish we were staying for longer than one night!

We got settled in the flat, and then decided to head back into Sparta to their Archeological Museum, which, of course, closed at 3 pm.   Nice ride down (it’s always quicker when you know where you’re going) and soon we were at the museum.  Interesting place.  

And of course we're heading up this mountain...

Our car and the steps to our apartment

Bedroom and balcony

Living room and balcony

First of all, there is a main room with entry portico and small office.  This was heated.  Then, there are two wings leading off on either side of the entry, closed off by big glass and wooden doors.  These were, of course, not heated!  In fact, this is the only museum either of us has ever been in that did NOT have bathroom facilities for guests!  What’s that all about?  But back to the collection.

There were several pieces that we both wanted to see – Robert in particular wanted to see a very famous sculpture of a Spartan Hoplite … only to find that like many other artifacts, the Spartan was currently in Chicago on exhibit at the Field Museum until the end of the year!  Bummer!  (So we’re going to have to see about that…)  

Our kitchen!

Walked back to the car through the orange orchard that was the park in front of the museum.  We have seen literally billions of oranges.  They are EVERYWHERE, and it would be interesting to know how many unsuspecting persons are clotted on the head every year by an orange dropping off a branch at just the right moment!  And why isn’t Greece exporting tons of orange juice?

View from our balcony!

By this time, we were getting tired, so decided to once again head back UP the hill and to our apartment.  It’s a bit frosty for my taste, but we are promised a good fire later … and it seems that we have only to go about 200 m UP the road where we have a dinner reservation at 8 pm – which is, of course, when they open.

I’m thinking that I will post this now, and then do dinner sometime tomorrow.  So – more later!

m

xxx