Looking back at Springtime in Greece

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Peloponnese | April 15th – April 30th

We’ve been in Türkiye for a month now and I’ve not really taken the time to reflect on our first six weeks of the season spent in Greece.  

Having just scrolled through some of my photos it’s shocking how much of what we did I’d already forgotten about, so over the next few posts I’m going to do of a bit a recap.

During our first week back on the water we revisited some favorite spots on the Peloponnese Peninsula from last year.  

We found that going back to places that were somewhat familiar eased us in to the season gently and helped us quickly get back into the groove.  It also gave us the opportunity to do a shakedown so that if we discovered any mechanical or technical problems with Dreams we were close enough to the shipyard to get them fixed before going any great distance. 

But life is short and there are places to see, so knowing Dreams was ship shape we set off on new adventures.

Gytheio was the last major town we visited before moving on from the Peloponnese.  We had a spectacular sail across the Laconian Gulf sailing close hauled in 15-24 knots of wind. Dreams was flying!  

The anchorage, well positioned right in front of the town was shallow with a sandy/muddy bottom, so it offered good holding for the forecasted winds.  The other benefit of being a stones throw from the town was the quick and easy access to the many cafes and restaurants that lined the waterfront.  Swanky cafes and cocktail bars stood shoulder to shoulder with traditional family run tavernas.  We enjoyed a little bit of everything, all in the name of helping the local economy.

While the Neoclassical architecture gave off a sense of grandeur, there was an underlying sense of austerity through the town, visible in the number of abandoned and dilapidated mansions which were being overtaken by creeping fig trees and bougainvillea. 

Once the strong winds passed we rented a death trap of a car from the only rental place open at this time of year. Our bone shaker had definitely seen better days.  

We drove to the ruins of the UNESCO site Mystras, a former Byzantine capital spread over a steep hillside at the foot of Mount Taygetus, the highest mountain on the Peloponnese at 7,890 ft / 2,405 m.

Being a self confessed philistine when it comes to Byzantine history, I saw this outing as an opportunity for a hike in the mountains with some old ruins thrown in for good measure and it was exactly that.  

The ruins are exceptionally well preserved given they are 800 years old and we enjoyed walking around the houses and cobblestone streets, the churches and monasteries, the Palace of the Despots and right at the top with stunning views, the Castle.  On the way back down we stopped in at the Pantanassa Monastery which is still inhabited by a community of nuns.

We got back to the bone shaker just as the heavens opened and torrential rain turned the roads into rivers which made an interesting drive back to Githeio.

We really do like the Peloponnese.  Despite its rugged mountains, ancient ruins, medieval fortresses, and charming villages, it is relatively less crowded than other popular Greek destinations and offers a more authentic experience. We are happy to have the opportunity to return here again at the end of the season to put Dreams to bed for the winter.