Last 48 hours on Astypalea and Journey to Kalymnos
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
Ready to leave Astypalea
I guess following the marathon five hour effort I put in on Tuesday to publish my blog and images, it could be argued that I deserved to be let off my writing for at least one day. As it so happened, during my last 48 hours on the island of Astypalea, I enjoyed the company of some people who expressed a wish not to be identified in any way on my website and naturally, I want to respect their right to privacy.
During those couple of days, I did visit the small, however, very good Archaeological Museum in Pera Yialos with treasures found from across the island. The good breakfasts at Ilios Cafe and evening meals at Taverna Maistrali, following a pre-dinner ouzo at a cafe somewhere on the harbour, continued with copious amounts of house wine magically arriving at the table, compliments of Dimitris.
Fortunately, my 0430 hours ferry departure this morning for Kalymnos, from the Port some 5-6 kilometres away did not eventuate as I learned of another ferry, the Nisos Kalymnos, which was departing from Pera Yialos at 1005 hours, just a few minutes walk from Hotel Paradissos – a far more civilised affair! A three hour journey on yet another spectacular, gloriously sunny day – something I have now become accustomed to and really, take for granted.
With the next two months getting busy with Greek holidaymakers, as well as tourists and travellers, from now on, if at all possible, I need to secure a booking for my accommodation pre-arrival, to make sure I am not left out on the streets. Today I was met at the Port and brought to the family run Hotel Panorama, having secured a room via email from Astypalea. Sitting up on the side of the hill and overlooking Pothia, the capital and main port of the island, the view is awesome! There are many cubed houses, not white washed but rather in shades of cream and caramel, with some terracotta tiled roofs, interspersed with green areas and many palms and pines.
Kalymnos belongs to the Dodekanese group of islands and for many years, the main source of wealth has come from sponge diving. The mountains are quite spectacular and rock climbing the limestone cliffs is now a popular sport for the adventurous. Today I have not ventured too far, taking only a short walk in the mid afternoon heat to the recommended Taverna Xefteris, offering good, wholesome, traditional Greek cuisine.
Tomorrow I hope to be up early to walk the 4.25 kilometre road to Vathys, around the other side of the island.