I thought James and I would have visited here. Checked the blog … it seems not. A few coaches when we arrived. 30-40 when we departed. I mostly skipped the museum due to the crowds.
Site had a concrete path to follow with good info boards. Agamemnon and other Greek hero’s ruled here.
Lion GateCopy of the gold mask that may (or may not) have been Agamemnon!The top pix are the Treasury Tholos / tomba little outside the citadel – largest one. Huge dome. Other tholos around the site
Winery No. 5 – Palivou
Another tour. More wines. They are irrigating which the others weren’t. 🙄 Seemed quite commercial with organised tours turning up. However the Estate Nemea was pleasant and worth the €9 each for the 2 boxes I bought. Would have liked to taste the one partly aged in Acacia wood. Not available for tasting and not about to pay €60 for a bottle to identify the nutty notes.
Meal out was fabulous. Walking distance for us all. And taking out salad and pork dishes … cold for us to reheat tomorrow..
Corrie Corinth Canal has undergone a transformation since I was last there. It had closed due to landslide, but reopened in June 2022.
Major construction – new concrete sides and the steep hand cut slopes replaced by some terracingWe circumnavigated the fencing at the top to get some views. Saw a couple of tourist boats … 11,000 a year. Too narrow for commercial traffic
Then went up to Accorinth. We found Corrie there 8.5 years ago. Fortunately no puppies this time. More changes. The cafe is a more permanent structure and the fortress entrance is now by steel staircase to avoid the old slippery stone road.
Views still the same
Onto the house in Nemea. Novices F&E sent the the bakery for a savoury pastry for lunch. Came back with a custard one 😆. We forced it down, trying not to think about the cake calories consumed at Accorinth!
Winery No. 4 – Barafakis
Empty glasses! But not for longMix of oak and clay
A few purchases may have been made.
Jennifer and Chris are in a posh hotel but deigned to join us in our apartment for supper.
The wine tour was conceived at a Chania wine tasting in January. Just as had our previous wine tasting to Heraklion with Nikki & Rob. Where there is good wine … Frances and Edward were up for it during their Crete trip, as were Jennifer and Chris from Crete.
This is my first trip since loosing James 2 months ago.
We were due to cross Kissamos to Gythio at 0815 on Wednesday 30th. Bad weather forecast. So SeaJets messaged, emailed and telephoned to advise the crossing was brought forward to Tuesday at 1930. Maria cancelled for a games night. Corrie’s drop off brought forward. And we were off.
The ferry left on time. It was rough. Frances poorly 🤢. I felt 😫. Neither of us ate. But did managed a glass of the Sekt Jennifer had brought. Docking at 0230
It doesn’t matter how many times I visit, it is still incredibly moving. As reprisals for the resistance, on 13th December 1943, Germans approached from all sides. Killing and burning as they went. Everyone was pushed into the school. Men and boys over 13 one way, women children and old men in another room. The men were taken up the hill and machine gunned. 700 killed. The village was set on fire. The women realised that they were to be burned in the school, so broke down a door. A sole German sentry let them run down the hill. The next day when the women returned, they found their men. Many used bare hands, as their houses had been destroyed to bury their family.
Aged 13Outside the school museum. A mother pulling her dead husband on a blood stained coat whilst the crying children look onPhoto of the male staff and boys, most murderedLiving testimony from a few survivors – then children The front school door, permanently closed
We then slid down the hill for two wine tastings. Amazing scenery on the way up and down.
Winery No. 2 – Mega Spilleo
The winery had been attached to the monastery of the same name. The Germans also burned this and killed some of the monks. Since the war, the vines had been left for the goats and sheep to graze. The land was leased out in 1999 since when the owners had expanded and are making some interesting wines. Given the geographic layout there is no irrigation as they rely on the morning dew.
The premium wine tastingGlass floor to original Monks’ wine vatsThe ancient concrete and clay amphora
Winery No. 3 – Tetramythos
A lovely lady, happy to chat but the wines v poor – a poor comparison to Mega Spilleo.
But we got to see the wines being sorted, crushed and piped into a vat.
SortingGrapes slightly crushed into pipesThe waste stalks used for manurePipes to tanksPine to make retsina
And the lovely girl suggested a fab traditional grill restaurant with views for an early supper. Funnily enough, the others felt wined out! I managed a few gins!
Good buffet breakfast for €8 … drank that in coffee alone.
Mystras is an amazing city. Byzantine architecture. Only did a bit as it is huge.
The monastery still houses nuns. One gave us a piece of Turkish delight, although shouldn’t call it Turkish!
The nuns are obviously green fingered
Motorway to Tselepos Winery. Good wines. Including Amalia Brut sparkling which is our go to at home. €100 for a box of 6 from the dusty cave. €13 a bottle here plus a discount for the volume I purchased. At this rate of purchasing, it will not be long before France’s and Edward are evicted from the car.
Empty glasses!The grape press is unusual in that it has a balloon inside to press the grapes against the outside wall. Interesting use of clay and concrete pots for the grapes.
The house we have for 2 nights is fab. Gorgeous garden and outside kitchen which it is too cold to use.
