Mystras was a large city sprawling over the sloping-to-steep incline, topped by a fort. The Metropolis was entered through a gateway and down several marble steps (not many accessable sites around these parts), and had a church intergrated into the outer wall which was still active. It was easy to imagine a bustling market day in the square around the water trough. Looking up from there, you could see the Monastery, another church, and a palace, plus many other partial buildings. Sturdy shoes were needed on the uneven stone pathways, and a firm resolve to keep going in the heat. The nice bloke at the ticket counter (12 euro admission) recommended that you drive to the castle gate before walking up the remaining section to the fort at the very top. (We followed his wise councel!). The view from the top across to Sparta was worth the extra effort, and helped work up an appetite for a late lunch on the way back to Kalamata.
Thanasis stopped at a little hillside town and ordered some of the local dishes for us to try; crispy broiled pork, eggs and tomatos with cheese, grilled cheese, and a Greek salad with extra olive oil on the side as he said it should be swimming in olive oil. The waiter leaned over and filled a water bottle out of the stream running behind us..we didn’t drink any (bit worried about giardiasis), but enjoyed the coolness and burbling of the spring-fed stream. We were fortunate enough to have live music as well, which was a treat! It turned out to be the a lovely relaxing place to unwind before the last hour and a half drive down the mountain and back to Kalamata..where it was a balmy 99 deg F (37.2 C) on the boat.
