Rick Steves Athens & The Heart of Greece
Μονεμβασιά
Monemvasia Day 8
The name Monemvasia comes from the Greek words mone and emvasia, meaning ‘single entrance’; it is often called "the Gibraltar of the East" and it's easy to see why! The rock was separated from the mainland by an earthquake in 375 AD. Early on there was a moveable wooden bridge constructed to link the rock to the opposite shore; once moved away, the rock was isolated and secure.
As we ride the shuttle to the city gate, we can't even see the lower town, because it's on the backside of the rock. Very strategic location, and completely surrounded with a wall. The rock was a definite fortress! The upper town (on top of the rock) would have been the perfect lookout for invaders from any direction.
People began to move to the rock island in the 6th century, since it was a natural defensive barrier to invaders. Monemvasia has been occupied by Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans dating back to the 13th century and changed hands many times. In the lower town, there were originally 40 Byzantine churches, 24 still survive today. On some of the buildings, you can find the Venetian symbol of the winged lion. And don't forget, the Ottomans are the ones that built the gate into the city!
Views of Monemvasia (Click on photos to enlarge)
It was rainy, blustery day for walking around the Rock; I did attempt to walk up the trail to the upper town, but unfortunately the wind was making my way difficult! Better to be safe than sorry, I turned around and instead, we enjoyed the lower village and the shops.
A cozy little coffee shop
.jpg)
I like anything made of wood, and an Olive wood spoon makes the perfect souvenir, and very light in the suitcase!
Finished with sightseeing and shopping, we crossed back over the causeway and found a perfect place to have lunch and get another delicious Greek beer, with a view as well!
Later in the afternoon we learned how to cook like a real GREEK! Our cook, Rena, asked for volunteers to help out, and 6 of us bravely raised our hands, ready to tackle the Greek recipes of Tzatziki, Chickpea Patties, Eggplant Moussaka with Bechamel Cream and Baklava. It was a hoot to get up there and stir things up! Rena was a gem, very entertaining, and we were all eager to try out our dishes at dinner later that evening.
While we waited for dinner, Apostolos treated us to an Olive Oil tasting! He picked 4 olive oils from 4 different regions of Greece, and had us taste each one, then vote on our favorite.
The regions were Olympia, Kardamyli, Monemvasia and Crete! Except for Crete, all were areas we had visited so far on our tour! Honestly, they ALL were delicious! Or maybe I was just hungry after making that Moussaka dish !!
Our buffet dinner was a success! With a few added dishes to round out the menu, we were stuffed at the end of the meal!
.jpg)