This is SPARTA! (and Mystras)

Sparta was quite the town in its heyday. Then it fell and was basically desecrated. Almost everything was removed from the ancient town except a few stones. Alexander the Great didn't really feel the need to invade or conquer Sparta. He was the guy who let you do your own thing as long as you were loyal to him. Sparta was already floundering by the time he came around and he decided it just wasn't worth it. But how can you be so close and not stop by? We took a few photos at what's left of the ancient city. Modern day Sparta is quite bustling. Of course, right outside the ruins is a large statue of a Spartan warrior, so we got some pics with that.

 This really is Sparta.

Six kilometers away is the town of Mystras. Another ancient city/fortress built high on a hill. It again was such an experience stepping back in time and picturing the city life of long ago. Religion was extremely important. In just this small area there were at least four churches/monasteries. You could still see the ornate paintings on the wall.

 Mystras

Another amazing thing was in the museum. They actually had a preserved hair braid and scraps of silk and bits of a shoe heel. In this museum was also a stone carving of A the G ascension.

The views were amazing and you had two entries into the site. You walked through most of the fortress through the lower entrance, then drove up to the top entrance to finish it out. The palace was being restored so we couldnt go inside but still it was quite the site. At the very top it was a straight down to your death drop. Very nerve wracking.

 Just an idea of the drop down. He's inside a little walled area as I'm still freaking out watching him.

 Walls inside one of the churches.