After breakfast the coach picked us up and drove to the western end of the island which took about 1 hour.
The bus dropped us off at the small village of Marlas. The settlement all dressed in white appears deserted apart from two barking dogs who resented our presence.
A stiff climb awaits us as we proceed to the tiny chapel of Elijah on the highest peak for miles around. The sun beats down and we move slowly forward in single file. Marg just behind Jonathan continues to witter on. I can’t make out what she says but it doesn’t stop. One thing for certain is that it will be positive.
The journey to the summit lasted about 40 minutes. From the top we could see for miles. The tiny chapel devoted to Elijah who had taken over from the local worship of Apollo according to Jonathan.
I can’t understand how the chapel is maintained. The countryside is devoid of people. No one farms the area. The place is semi-desert. We can see a few goats darting about eating whatever greenery pokes it head above ground.
After taking photos and wandering in and out of the church we set off down the mountain to the coast. The descent is fairly steep and Jonathan is not sure of the way for the first section.
The rock formations are very curious with a green clay type substance inside the rock which has worn away leaving these very odd shapes.
Jonathan discovered the right path and we continued downward. All around us we could see evidence of cultivation, terracing, places for grinding corn and broken huts.
About ⅔ of the way down we passed a house that still had white paint, the home of a bee keeper. We stopped and chatted to him and he told us via Jonathan that this whole area was extremely fertile until 1956 when water became scarcer, they had infestation of rabbits and the younger generation started to move to Athens and further a field.
He told a sad tale but with total resignation to god’s inevitable plan. He had also left the village in his 20s and returned in his 50s to keep bees, but because of the higher temperatures and water shortage the bees are dying.
We moved on down the mountain to the small port of Panormos where we enjoyed probably the best lunch of the trip so far at a taverna called Limanki. They served an anchovy salad with octopus and beautiful buttered beans flavoured perfectly in a tomato sauce plus other small delicacies.
After lunch most of the party walked up to the tourist town of Pyrgos about 90 trek minutes away, while Maggi, Helen Jenny and I stayed in the port. Jenny swam while the rest of us sipped a very nice cup of coffee.
Myriam drove us to Pyrgos and we had a Quick Look around this pretty little village which has become a tourist destination. They have several small museums, plenty of shops and a very popular cafe in the tiny town square.
We left with Myriam while the rest waited for the coach about 45 minutes later.
In the evening we had a very poor meal in the hotel. The only saving grace being the drinks we had beforehand with Matt and Helen on our balcony.
Restaurant for Lunch Limanki, in Panormos