Author: Thomas

I am a founder member and currently secretary of the West Norfolk Autism Group and am autistic myself. I am a very keen photographer and almost every blog post I produce will feature some of my own photographs. I am an avidly keen cricket fan and often post about that sport.

Mystra 3: The Metropolis.

Although the museum was closed for lunch, necessitating a return at the end of our circuit round Mystra, the Cathedral provided many excellent photo opportunities. I will be devoting a whole post to the frescos I saw elsewhere, but this place warrants coverage all of its own…

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This double eagle is a Byzantine heraldic device.
This double eagle is a Byzantine heraldic device.

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The inside of the Cupola. In the centre, looking down on his flock from on high is Christ.
The inside of the Cupola. In the centre, looking down on his flock from on high is Christ.

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Mystra 2: From the start to the Metropolis

We parked at the lower of the two car parks for Mystra, ready to go up and then down. The first marked place we reached was the Metropolis (actually the Cathedral), but on the way there we saw plenty of noteworthy (and photo-worthy) things…

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All of Mystra;s streets were built stepped both to prevent carts from having access and for the benefit of mules and donkeys.
All of Mystra;s streets were built stepped both to prevent carts from having access and for the benefit of mules and donkeys.

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The information boards here tell you about Mystra rather than just about the particular thing you are approaching.
The information boards here tell you about Mystra rather than just about the particular thing you are approaching.

A Little Church in Tseria

Just below my parents house in Tseria is a small church, not even the biggest one in the village, and all around its outside are interesting pieces of artwork…

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Versions of this "snowflake" pattern appear in all sorts of contexts in Greece, notably in a very simple version that adorns many a metal gate.
Versions of this “snowflake” pattern appear in all sorts of contexts in Greece, notably in a very simple version that adorns many a metal gate.

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Dimitsana: The Gunpowder Mill

Like the Tannery, this has a video explaining the process of making gunpowder. Most of the gunpowder used by the Greeks in the War of Independence of 1821 was manufactured in Dimitsana, so this is of particular relevance to this museum. Once more it is a story told in pictures…

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These are the mortars - later I will be posting a video of them in action.
These are the mortars – later I will be posting a video of them in action.

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Dimitsana 2: The Tannery

The Tannery is absolutely remarkable. There is a 15 minute video which describes the process of getting from skins to usable leather. The process was painstakingly slow, occupying something in the region of a month per batch of skins. If you are ever fortunate enough to visit this site make sure you watch the video right through – it is good.

Once again, pictures will tell this story better than words…

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These skins are ready for the tanning process to start.
These skins are ready for the tanning process to start.

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Here we are part way through the process.
Here we are part way through the process.

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This leather is ready for use.
This leather is ready for use.

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Karytaina

Our final stop of the day was at Karytaina, where there is an old Frankish fort (from the time of the fourth crusade) which at present you can only see a little of, and a very fine Byzantine church, albeit with far less of the decorative use of Roman style brickwork than the others I have featured.

Enjoy some excellent pictures…

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This is a modern replica of a Byzantine church, though somewhat less ghastly than most of the genre.
This is a modern replica of a Byzantine church, though somewhat less ghastly than most of the genre.

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These little yellow flowers are called Stonebergia.
These little yellow flowers are called Stonebergia.

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A spectacular view of the old and new or high and low (ano- and kato- in Greek) bridges.
A spectacular view of the old and new or high and low (ano- and kato- in Greek) bridges.
The river from on high.
The river from on high.

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The Lousios Gorge and Ayios Andreas

The Lousios, the coldest river in Greece (although as the travel writer of the ancient world, Pausanias, is honest enough to point out, not by any means the coldest in the world), is a tributary of the Alfios, which featured in one of my earlier posts: https://aspiblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/16/leaving-olympia/ and it too flows all year round. The chapel of Ayios Andreas was closed, but there was a missing pane in the glass cross on the door, so I did get some internal pictures. Enjoy these…

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This is a modern monastery - the older ones are concealed from public view.
This is a modern monastery – the older ones are concealed from public view.

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One of the two internal views.
One of the two internal views.

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The Lousios in full spate.
The Lousios in full spate.

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The bridge across the Lousios
The bridge across the Lousios
This memorial is near where we dropped our second hitch-hiker of the day.
This memorial is near where we dropped our second hitch-hiker of the day.
It took a lot of effort to get a good shot of this lake.
It took a lot of effort to get a good shot of this lake.yios