2015.05.22 Friday - Monemvasia

Another picturesque scene greets us this morning. The island part of Monemvasia, with the old city, is connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. We can see the walls of an old town on the island, sheer cliffs above and some ruins on the flat top above the cliff. There is also a little town on the mainland side of the causeway.

 The old town

Ready to walk across to the old city (behind us, and around the other side of the mountain)

 The "beach"

Crystal clear Mediterranean

Seabourn Odyssey from the walk to the old city

Anne and Bob are off early on their organised tour, which will take in the town of Sparta and the ruins of Mystras. We take the ship's tender to the mainland shore at about 9.30am. There are no other cruise ships in sight but we can see lots of camper vans parked on one side of the causeway. There's a marina but not many vessels are tied up.

There's a bus and taxi service to the old town from the mainland, across the causeway but we decide to walk the1.5km. It's overcast so heat isn't a problem but it is getting more humid as the morning goes on. We are surprised at how pretty the old town is. Narrow stone streets, it is well cared for and restored, and the shops are interesting, not your usual tourist stuff. There are some pretty little cafes overlooking the sea. The old town itself rises in the cliffs above sea level, and there is a small square overlooking some houses and out to sea. There is also the compulsory church with its historic iconography (few Greek churches contain statues, to avoid any sense of idolatry).

The old town lies below a large rocky table top mountain, on top of which is a medieval fortress. There used to be access to the fortress but the path and the fortress are currently under restoration, so we can only climb up the steps for a hundred metres or so (increase in altitude height, that is, not distance. That's about 1/3 of the way to the fortress at the top).

 Building and renovation work must go on

The square in the old city

A view of some of the old city from the square

The walk up, and ...

... the view back down

We head back to the mainland town to look around, but there are, surprisingly, very few shops - the tourist centre is obviously the old city on the island.

Ship's tender back to the Odyssey, and an afternoon rest for Greg and Bob, a swim and outdoor spa session for Val, and a trip to the old town for Anne, in preparation for tonight's Surf and Turf themed dinner on the Patio Grill deck, by the pool.

Before dinner Val enjoyed an Irish themed performance by the Seabourn singers and dancers.

It's orange blankets again for the ladies. The boys just tough it out. The Fillet Mignon and rib- eye steaks are melt in the mouth delicious.