Yes today we went to Sparta, but we also went to Mystras. We took a three-hour long bus ride to the city. First though we stopped at the Corinth Canal though which is where it cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the mainland of Greece.
After this we stopped off at the rest stop and got us some snacks and this is where a lot of us got introduced to Professor Finitsis's mother. She is a lovely lady who trekked all the way to the top of the ruins on Mount Taygetos with us. The bus took us to the top mountain where the Palace of Mystras was situated and we hiked up to the fortress walking where thousands have walked before. The history behind the Palace is interesting as it is a Byzantine fortified palace and so it has major defenses with something like three walls before you can get into the main part of it. We thoroughly enjoyed walking up through the ruins and scouting out the place. I ventured with Kirsten to the far ends of the Palace and enjoyed the breathtaking 360 degree views.
We all explored around the area, circling the ruins and teetering along the fortified walls trying to imagine what this place would have been like years and years ago. It had the feeling of having been lived in. We began our descent from the Palace and on the way passed five Byzantine churches that looked similar on the outside but each housed frescoes more beautiful than the one before. When the Ottomans took over the place they defaced some of the paintings however by gouging out the eyes of them. To put it lightly, they were very angry. I loved walking down the thousands of cobblestone steps from the mountain because you really got to appreciate the surrounding landscape and how impressive it all was. We met some unlikely creatures on our way down though including a swarm of cats that really wanted my Ritz crackers and a nice donkey that came and visited us when we were by the church that nuns still inhabit.
After we made our way down the mountain completely we got back on the bus and headed to lunch in SPARTA! It was really cool to say that we were in Sparta even though we simply had a delectable lunch and then afterwards some ice cream. I had a pork chop and fries for lunch and then I got bubble gum ice cream which is one of my favorites! Then we of course had to go and take pictures next to the statue of Leonidas. Some people posed while flexing, some smiled, some Sparta-kicked others. Overall it was an eventful day and as always, not quite what I was expecting. I love that about our day trips. Even though we have groups present on the places before we visit them there is still that great element of awe when we end up somewhere like Mystras Palace or in a church with 14th century frescoes.
After this we stopped off at the rest stop and got us some snacks and this is where a lot of us got introduced to Professor Finitsis's mother. She is a lovely lady who trekked all the way to the top of the ruins on Mount Taygetos with us. The bus took us to the top mountain where the Palace of Mystras was situated and we hiked up to the fortress walking where thousands have walked before. The history behind the Palace is interesting as it is a Byzantine fortified palace and so it has major defenses with something like three walls before you can get into the main part of it. We thoroughly enjoyed walking up through the ruins and scouting out the place. I ventured with Kirsten to the far ends of the Palace and enjoyed the breathtaking 360 degree views. 
We all explored around the area, circling the ruins and teetering along the fortified walls trying to imagine what this place would have been like years and years ago. It had the feeling of having been lived in. We began our descent from the Palace and on the way passed five Byzantine churches that looked similar on the outside but each housed frescoes more beautiful than the one before. When the Ottomans took over the place they defaced some of the paintings however by gouging out the eyes of them. To put it lightly, they were very angry. I loved walking down the thousands of cobblestone steps from the mountain because you really got to appreciate the surrounding landscape and how impressive it all was. We met some unlikely creatures on our way down though including a swarm of cats that really wanted my Ritz crackers and a nice donkey that came and visited us when we were by the church that nuns still inhabit. 
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