Today was a day off to relax. So, what did I do? I hiked up and down a mountainside for three hours in Kardamyli, Greece…and loved it. This is why traveling at this time of my life is so important to me. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to do something like this but I do know that hiking up that mountainside was glorious. The first part of the hike was to the old town of Kardamyli. May 23, 2015

The old yet modern town of Kardamyli with its seaside village views.(May 23, 2015)

The view from my hike up the mountainside in Kardamyli. May 23, 2015

Vendetta-ville is what we should call the land of the Mani Peninsula in Greece because the violence between clans and neighbors became epidemic and had its part in reducing the population. The peninsula is the rural coast and mountain region of Greece. Although stark, it is also beautifully scenic. The bus ride, on this blue sky, cool but sunny day from Kardamyli to Monemvasia was the most scenic that I’ve seen of Greece’s landscape. May 24, 2015

This is another photo I snapped from the bus of a beach town along the Mani Peninsula of Greece as we were traveling to Monemvasia. May 24, 2015

The beautiful but uninhabited tower village of Vathia, along the Mani Peninsula in Greece, is an extreme example of what can happen when neighbors of rival camps don’t get along. Mani Peninsula olives are considered perfect for producing olive oil. Vendetta-ville is what we should call the land of the Mani Peninsula in Greece because the violence between clans and neighbors became epidemic and had its part in reducing the population. The peninsula is the rural coast and mountain region of Greece. Although stark, it is also beautifully scenic. The bus ride, on this blue sky, cool but sunny day from Kardamyli to Monemvasia was the most scenic that I’ve seen of Greece’s landscape. May 24, 2015

The uninhabited tower village of Vathia along the Mani Peninsula in Greece.
May 24, 2015

The unusual looking cactus grows majestically at the village of Vathia along the Mani Peninsula in Greece.
May 24, 2015

The Marmari restaurant, along the Mani Peninsula in Greece, is perched over this sandy beach and great views of the Greek countryside. It’s where we had our group lunch today. This beach is unusual because it’s sandy instead of rocky. May 24, 2015

Another stop along the way to Monemvasia was at this quaint seaside village named Gythian, along the Mani Peninsula of Greece. Gythian means “Land of the gods” since Hercules and Apollo both wanted to lay claim to this village. Also, according to Homer, this is where Paris, the handsome prince of Troy, who kidnapped the beautiful Helen of Sparta spent their first night together. Outraged at the loss of his bride, Menelaus, the king of Sparta, convinced his brother Agamemnon to launch the Trojan War. May 24, 2015

Just loved this beautiful village of Gythian. May 24, 2015

The restaurant. May 24, 2015

It’s called the Rock and the causeway connects the Rock to the New Town section of Monemvasia, Greece. Its narrow, slippery stoned streets contain a variety of cute shops and eateries at what is called the Lower Town. There is a zigzagging pathway that leads to the Upper Town portion of the Rock for those who care to take the steep climb up. Unfortunately we’re not staying on the gigantic rock of Monemvasia, but on this side of the bridge at the Hotel Panorama in the New Town section, which was up a hill and pretty much a long, but straight shot to the rock. May 24, 2015

This is considered the main square, the center of the rock’s Lower Town portion of Monemvasia. May 25, 2015