After falling in love with Nafplio, Peloponnese in the late summer of 2016, we knew we’d have to return to this charming seaside town next time we visited Greece, and got the chance to do so this past October. Our friends had suggested we stay at Hotel King Othon, a 100-year-old neoclassical property within walking distance to both the port and the center of town. Visiting Nafplio in the off-season, we had our pick of several rooms and chose a quiet location next to the hotel’s garden.

Situated on a steep hillside under the fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio is known for its terraced streets and connecting steep, stone staircases leading to colorful Venetian houses and neoclassical mansions, cafes, tavernas, boutiques, and hotels and guesthouses. A seaside promenade at the bottom of the hill offers views to the sea, the fortress, and the town above. Our legs got a good workout climbing up and down the steep staircases that connect the port to the top of the town.

Today, a selection of street scenes along the narrow lanes and up the steep stairs of Nafplio for you to view. While I typically capture street scenes without people in them, on this adventure I challenged myself to include people in my photos but in a discreet way. In these photos, you will see from a distance or behind, people going about their daily lives or engaged in tourist activities. Even without seeing their faces, you can get a feel for their mood or actions by their body postures, what they are doing, and where they are heading.

It was late afternoon when we walked the town, a good time of day to avoid running into crowds of people.

The long, steep staircases that climb the hillside of residences were mostly empty. Though I did spot a few souls descending the stairs alongside the pink residence.

Out of the blue, we ran into a small town parade on one of the lower streets near the main town square. Doesn’t this group look sharp in their pristine white uniforms with golden yellow accents?

The town’s medics (I’m guessing) were chatting at the back of the line while waiting their turn to parade down the street.

A few late afternoon patrons at a downtown Cafe looked to be lost in thought while getting their java fix.

One fellow appeared to be a tourist out for a leisurely stroll down the lane filled with boutique shops.

Inspiration: A Face in the Crowd.