Tag: Greece

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: Ancient Gortys

From Dimitsana we descended into the Lousios Gorge, where there is a Byzantine church and the remains of ancient Gortys, not be confused with Gortyn on the island of Crete.

There is not the hugest amount to see at Gortys but I did get some good pictures….

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These stones were referred to as Cyclopean and one can understand why people thought this kind of building was the work of giants.
These stones were referred to as Cyclopean and one can understand why people thought this kind of building was the work of giants.

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This is not properly a mosaic since there is no pattern, but is constructed in the same kind of way.
This is not properly a mosaic since there is no pattern, but is constructed in the same kind of way.

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Dimitsana 1: Before the Tannery

The open air museum of water power at Dimitsana is a remarkable site, worthy of several posts. This post covers the first part of the site, leading up to the tannery, and including some stuff about fulling, and some introductory stuff about water and energy.

Pictures tell this story better than words…

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The information boards at Dimitsana are some of the best I have ever encountered.
The information boards at Dimitsana are some of the best I have ever encountered.

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This is a Raki still.
This is a Raki still.

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Leaving Olympia

A final coda to my post about Olympia (https://aspiblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/ancient-olympia/), a lively and amusing version of the story of how the ancient Olympics got started is told by Tom Holt in the novel Olympia. Any book with his name on the cover will be a good read.

After an excellent stay at the Hotel Europa, we set off as intended just before 10 o’clock. For the next hour things did not go quite as planned…

First we could not find our way on to the road from Olympia to Tripoli as intended, and then having got on to a suitable route we picked up a hitchhiker which delayed things further.

However, we still arrived at our first stop of the day, Dimitsana, in good time to go round the open air museum of water power.

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The Alfios Dam - this river most emphatically does flow all year round.
The Alfios Dam – this river most emphatically does flow all year round.
Part of the station building at Olympia - sadly it served its last customer some years ago.
Part of the station building at Olympia – sadly it served its last customer some years ago.
I think this underplays the excellence of the hotel!
I think this underplays the excellence of the hotel!

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The map of Greece even marks Tseria - nearly as remarkable as Fakenham being marked on a map of Europe!
The map of Greece even marks Tseria – nearly as remarkable as Fakenham being marked on a map of Europe!

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This map shows all of Greece.
This map shows all of Greece.

me pictures from this portion of the day…