Maniots

9 days ago

Photo Article: the family visits an entrance to the underworld and scene of a famous battle

It is a long drive from the Greek Hovel in the Northern Mani down to the caves of Diros south of the regional capital of Areopoli. At the start we were delayed on the road into Kambos by a flock of sheep. Thereafter we drove at leisure along the looping roads up past the next village to Kambos and then all the way down to the sea at Karadamili. Then we tracked the sea all the way to Areopoli but the roads were still looping and little Jaya was sick four times.

3085 days ago

The Bridge over the gorge - I date it and Dad & I work out why it is that old

Having visited murder gorge yesterday I showed my photos of the old bridge to the folks in the Kourounis taverna in Kambos and with lovely Eleni translating I asked just how old the stone structure below actually is?

3707 days ago

I sit where Where Greek Independence began in 1821 as the country prepares to go bust

In March 1821 the Greek war of independence began as the folk in the Mani launched an uprising against the accursed Turks. The Mani, where the Greek Hovel is situated, was always quasi independent anyway but its warlike folk started a fire that could not be supressed. The first major triumph was the storming of the Turk held fortress at Kalamata. No Maniots died but the entire Turkish garrison was slaughtered.

Right now I sit opposite that fortress, in Kalamata bus station having just purchased one more ouzo for the road, to Athens. Tomorrow