Gytheio is a beautiful village, with about 3,000 people.  It is the largest town in the Mani. Gytheio wraps itself around the coast, creating a wonderful atmosphere of endless restaurants on the waterfront.  My hotel is about 25 feet from the water.  It is beautiful.  I officially feel like I am overusing the word(beautiful), but I cannot come up with a clearer way to describe it.

Small Church on the Water

I woke up by 9 am, legitimately the latest I have slept in upon arrival.  I had breakfast with a lovely Brit who lives in Athens.  She is on a weekend trip with her partner, who doesn’t feel like its necessary to wake up for free breakfast.  She was quite wonderful to talk to. She gave me travel advice about the area (what I should see, where I should go, restaurants, etc.).  We wished each other safe travels, and I was off on my day.

Beautiful Waters of Gytheio

It was a lazy day at that.  I walked around photographing and sketching.  Later I found the bakery of the town where the owner called me ‘madam’ every time she addressed me.  I tried some local sweets. I ate a baklava donut stuffed with nuts and topped with chocolate.  Tell me that didn’t go straight to my thighs.  It was worth it though, every bite. My choices on cookies weren’t as good.  All in all, half a dozen treats in and I only was down 2 Euro.  Not bad for a mid afternoon snack.

Village of Gytheio

I plan on getting in a couple more sketches before the sun starts to set.  I am hoping to photograph the sun setting or rising, not sure which I’ll be for yet. Until then, Sketch Sketch Sketch.

Categories: Greece Peloponnese and the Saronic Gulf Islands

Tagged as: Baklava Brittish Church Greece Gytheio Lazy Day Local Sweets Peloponnese Photograph Sketching Village

Perriann Hodges

I am not an author. To be quite honest, I always hated English class. I write so I may share my experiences and remember the man I met on a bus who treated me to dinner with his family, paying and booking a hotel only to find out its out of business, fake crying in the Athens airport to get a ticket home, or remember the strangers who looked out for me on a bus. Some live, experience, and are fulfilled by what’s in their backyards. I find there is something truly exhilarating about cramming as many possessions into a bag as possible, only to complain you brought too many. This is my life out of a suitcase, hope you enjoy.