Gythion, Greece

A lovely little town with neo-classical buildings along the shore all in colours that made me think of Neapolitan ice cream!  The inhabitants of Gythion claim Hercules and Apollo as its founders, and according to mythology, Paris and Helen of Troy were reputed to have spent their first night together on nearby ancient Kranae.

We took a long hike in ancient Mystras -- a Byzantine monastery (currently a convent housing five Greek Orthodox nuns).  It was a fascinating place to see, with a lot of beautiful architecture and frescoes and some pretty chapels which are still in use today.  The whole complex is scattered up the side of a very steep mountain covered with colourful wildflowers, making it necessary to scramble up many stone steps (all of different heights and in varying stages of disrepair) to get to the top and then down again.  (The fourth extra is a pretty good depiction of the expression on my face as we started the upward trek!)