Day 5
METHONI CASTLE & VOIDIKILIA BAY HIKE - NESTORS CAVE
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Imagine you are an architect tasked with restoring and/or preserving Methoni castle. What changes would you propose, and why? Please consider the outcomes of preservation vs. modernization!
MYTH that was told to us on the trail : The peculiar name of this enchanting location, Voidokilia, can be traced to an ancient myth about Hermes, (god of trickery), who stole the oxen of his brother, Apollo, (god of sun)and hid them in a cave above the beach. The ox were needed to pull the chariot for Apollo to bring the sun to and from the sky. Feeling remorse, Hermes gave Apollo a lyre made from the shell of a sea turtle, which to this day lays its eggs in the bay.
- First stop Methoni castle: A Fortress by the Sea. Built by the Venetians in the 13th century, Methoni Castle was a key coastal stronghold against Ottoman invasions. Set on a peninsula in the Peloponnese, it features stone walls, a moat, and a striking circular tower. Blending Venetian, Byzantine, and Ottoman styles, the castle also hides underground tunnels once used for storage and escape. Recognized as a monument of national importance, Methoni Castle recently gained fame as a filming location in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey.
- The next stop was voidikilia bay where we hiked up and around Old Castle Navarino, (another filming site for the Christopher Nolan Film). Mme. Pike told us a story about the battle of Navarino as we overlooked the bay. We walked the castle walls, ate lunch and then headed down for a dreamy swim in "mushroom bay".
- The 8s got their letters from home at dinner and spent the evening writing postcards, journalling, playing cards and prepping for the talent show.
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