Theodor (Doc) Yemenis - The Creative Journey: THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY

Exploring Poros, Spetses, and Monemvasia

This entry documents the "digital" segment of a photographic travel log from a 7-day sailing expedition in Greece during October 2017. All photographs were captured using a NIKON1 J4 camera. (For the analog segment, please refer to the separate blog entry: GREECE ANALOG IMPRESSIONS)

Sailing in Greece at this time of the year isn't a common practice for me, but this experiment proved to be rewarding. Perhaps luck was on my side. The weather was pleasant, with temperatures above 25°C and gentle winds not exceeding 3-4 Bf.

After spending 4 days in Athens ( see the photographic travel log: ATHENS 2017 - A VISUAL DIARY and ATHENS 2017 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY ) we set sails for the nearby Saronic Islands and the coast of Peloponnese.

Sailing to Poros

Sailing to Spetses

we are the only yacht ... lying along side ...

lying at anchor in Zogeria bay ( Spetses)

Zogeria Bay, Spetses

Sailing from Spetses to Monemvasia

MONEMVASIA

Setting Sail for Monemvasia - Capturing the Visuals

Monemvasia (Greek: Μονεμβασία) is a captivating town and municipality in Laconia, Greece. Situated on a small island off the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, it's connected to the mainland by a short 200m causeway. The area primarily comprises a vast plateau, approximately 100 meters above sea level, stretching up to 300 meters wide and 1 km long. This plateau once housed a formidable medieval fortress. The town walls and numerous Byzantine churches are remnants of its rich medieval history (source: Wikipedia).

Brief Historical Insights

The name "Monemvasia" originates from two Greek words, "mone" and "emvasia," translating to "single entrance." Its Italian form, Malvasia, lent its name to Malmsey wine. Monemvasia is often referred to as "the Gibraltar of the East" or "The Rock."

The town and fortress were established in 583 AD by inhabitants seeking refuge from the Slavic and Avaric invasions in Greece. A vivid history of these invasions and the Peloponnese's occupation was recorded in the medieval Chronicle of Monemvasia.

From the 10th century AD, the town evolved into a significant trade and maritime hub. The fortress successfully withstood Arab and Norman invasions in 1147. It remained a thriving Byzantine outpost until it fell to the Ottomans in 1460. Over the years, it saw varying rules, including a brief Venetian recovery in 1690, followed by Ottoman rule again from 1715 to 1821. The town played a crucial role in commerce until its decline after the Orlov Revolt in 1770 during the Russo-Turkish War.

On July 23, 1821, during the Greek War of Independence, the town was liberated from Ottoman rule by Tzannetakis Grigorakis, marking a pivotal moment in its history.