6/12: day 3

Day 3: Gytheoi to Mystras

Today we left the resort and headed to the coast.

After two days of very short segments and abrupt turns on very rough roads. it was nice to be on some longer stretches and better pavement. My sense is that the route planners prioritized traffic safety over riding enjoyment. It is hard to get into a rhythm when you're constantly checking your devices to see if you missed a turn. 

Here we are near the top of a climb.

One of the sights on this route was an old ship that became unattached and started drifting. It ended up beached here.

Here's another view although Mike is in the way.

We ended up in a little fishing town before getting on a bus to the next hotel in Monemvasia. 

The hotel sits on a rock and is nicknamed the Gibraltar of the East. There are ruins at the top of the rock (the upper castle) and a functioning village below (the lower castle).

You'll see better pictures of the rock and the ruins in tomorrow's post.

It is a quirky hotel (one of the other VBTers called it "funky").  The internet was spotty and it is humbling to realize how much our lives revolve around smart devices that require access to the internet. Some people resorted to using their cell service. I was happy to sit in the "garden".

This is the staircase to my room. Turns out Mike was right next door partying late into the night.

Here's another view of the entrance to our rooms with the rock in the background.

Here's my room. Cute, but Walter and I would have to either get another room or get engaged.

And a hand-held shower made for small people. 

This is the view out of one of my windows.

My first encounter with the staff was when I locked myself out of my room. There are no functional door handles on the outside of the door, so if I didn't have my key, it was all over. The manager was from Tasmania and spoke perfect Australian English, but the rest of the staff did not. The staff spoke to me in Greek like I was an idiot tourist, but maybe that is the way Greeks talk to each other. Or it could be that I am just an idiot tourist.

We had a cultural performance after dinner. Three guys performed traditional folk music on acoustic stringed instruments plus a couple of pop favorites. 

There was the requisite line dancing.

Here's our younger tour guide busting some moves. The older guide said he didn't know!

They played past dark. When I was in my room, they were still going strong.

Here are my stats for the day: https://www.strava.com/activities/9255210301

Nice to get the max HR up there.