{"id":10413,"date":"2013-05-05T18:20:10","date_gmt":"2013-05-05T17:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ourtour.co.uk\/home\/?p=10413"},"modified":"2018-12-24T12:18:13","modified_gmt":"2018-12-24T12:18:13","slug":"a-banging-easter-loads-of-lamb-and-a-campsite-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourtour.co.uk\/home\/a-banging-easter-loads-of-lamb-and-a-campsite-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"A banging Easter, loads of lamb and a campsite retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dave the motorhome has retreated into a campsite, his drinks \/ laundry cupboard reached a critical point where there was no room for drinks and the door refused to close. As it’s Easter Sunday today and tomorrow is a bank holiday we’ve nipped back to Camping Meltemi <\/a><\/strong>just outside Gythio on Mavrovouni beach for a couple of days (N36.72942 E22.55401).<\/p>\n

Yesterday evening I was feeling much better after a day out of the sun, as it started to cool down we set off in search of the Roman theatre which was once part of a settlement called Laryssion. Laryssion was quite substantial in Roman times enjoying wealth from the export of murex, a purple-pigmented mollusc used to dye imperial togas. The theatre was next to the army barracks, so we took extra care about which way our camera pointed while we snapped away.<\/p>\n

\"Gythio's<\/a>

Gythio’s Roman theatre<\/p><\/div>\n

As we walked around the town\u00a0we spotted several empty roasting spits out\u00a0in the streets,\u00a0one was positioned right outside the cool little taverna<\/strong><\/a> next to the car park we were stopping in, so we nipped in for a drink and to quiz the barman. Over a cool drink in the last of the sun’s rays the air was thick with the smell of honeysuckle, around us were\u00a0numerous nik-naks to keep us constantly asking each other ‘what on earth is THAT?’ (click on the link above to see the place, it’s fab), the barman told us that the lamb would be ready tomorrow from noon – and that we were OK to sleep in the car park next door, winner.<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/a>

Old car on top of the taverna<\/p><\/div>\n

Back in Dave I rustled up some fajitas, a long awaited treat as all through Italy we couldn’t find the right kind of tortillas and we waited. Just after 11pm we set up a den for Charlie using a sleeping bag hung under the table, and headed out armed with our candles to see what Easter Saturday would bring.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The army on their way to church for Easter Mass<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Sorry,<\/a>

Sorry, can’t help it, I love these Easter lights!<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite the fact that it was nearly midnight the town was packed, families wandered around clutching long, thin white candles, some of which were decorated. Hang on a minute though, we only had our candles from last night and they were cream, as they only had around an inch burned off we hid them in shame in our bag until we were somewhere suitably dark enough to light them.<\/p>\n

\"Candles<\/a>

Candles for sale, but we’ve for the wrong ones – oops!<\/p><\/div>\n

The sound of the Anastasis Mass inside the church rose to a crescendo with the priest’s chanting wafting down to the square from the loud speakers. The sea of candles, each lit from its neighbour, surrounded the square\u00a0then suddenly\u00a0all hell broke loose.<\/p>\n