Monemvasia: A Hidden Gem Behind an Island

A truly special place—Monemvasia! A town hidden behind an island, once designed to escape pirates. Sounds like an adventure, right?

We arrive at the harbor. Nothing too remarkable, but the perfect base for exploring the town. Just as we park, another camper pulls up. Dutch travelers! And not only are they our age, but they also have a child. The girls are thrilled! Ingrid and Koray have been traveling since May with their daughter Mana, and the kids instantly hit it off. After bedtime, we continue chatting in our camper. Before we know it, it’s 1:00 AM. Time flies when you’re having fun!

The next day, we set off to explore Monemvasia. What a breathtaking town—authentic, beautifully maintained, and full of history. Renovations are in full swing; horses carry loads of stones up and down the narrow streets. Suddenly, one of them stumbles out of step, and the handler urgently signals us to step aside. Diede is startled and talks about it for the rest of the day. Well, so much for future horseback riding lessons!

After a relaxing break on a terrace with delicious smoothies and coffee, we head back to the camper. Mirre does some work with Diede’s enthusiastic help. We originally planned to leave today, but we decide to stay and have a BBQ together. Another Dutch couple (probably in their 50s) arrives, and we invite them to join. Just like that, we’ve created a spontaneous Dutch enclave in the Monemvasia harbor—good food, great wine, and lots of laughter.

Then, an unexpected visit from the coast guard. We brace ourselves for a warning about camping regulations, but instead, he advises us to move our camper. The wind will be strong tonight, and waves might wash over your vehicle. We briefly consider testing Tinus’ durability but quickly decide against it.

By morning, it’s clear the warning was justified. The harbor is soaked! But the girls are having a blast splashing around. After some big goodbye hugs, we part ways. But who knows—maybe we’ll reunite with Ingrid, Koray, and Mana in Turkey!