46 Spring 2018 LOCALadk Magazine
LOCALadk
MONEMVA SÍA
We started our road trip in the old Byzantine fortress city of
Monemvasía. Although invasion is no longer a threat, there is an im-
pressively massive gate at the entrance. The gate blocks all motor-
ized vehicles, which are prohibited in the castle village. This seemed
somewhat an unnecessar y measure, as they wouldn't be able to get
too far any way. Among the ancient buildings draped in bougainvil-
lea, we explored labyrinthian cobbled walkways which twisted and
turned without street names, and without indication of where they
led.
We were delighted that the first light of day came at the reason-
able hour of 7:30am. We teetered out to our oceanfront courtyard in
pajamas to watch the sky change from ink to fire to indigo. We read-
ied ourselves, and set out for the top of the island, motivated by the
promise of caffeine and cheese pies upon our return. The hike was
short but steep. We climbed to another gate, and passed through
the old entrance to the castle ruins above. Given the early hour, we
were the only visitors, and could have easily fooled ourselves that
we were the first to discover these ancient buildings. We followed
the ridge of this ruined island empire from storehouse to dwelling
to church, where we found an artisan perched upon scaffolding, re-
storing one of the faded painted motifs of the domed Agia Sofia.
