Itisallgreek2me

Thursday, 9 June 2022… Found myself out on the terrace at 06.00 hours or thereabouts to witness the sunrise 🌅 Later a walk up those god forsaken 127 steps to visit the bakery and purchase breakfast goodies for Johanna, Georgios and I.

Stunningly beautiful day, my last full day on Anafi, for now anyway. Established there was a bus (actually a minivan) going to Kleisidi beach at 11.30 hours, returning at 17.15 hours. It was at the stop that I met Josephina from Holland. A lady after my own heart… fearless and determined. Anafi is one of those islands where everyone converses with everyone. Josephina is a super lovely lady, her acquaintance with Greece beginning one year before mine in 1972.

3 hours on Kleisidi beach with the trees for shade when needed, dips in the Aegean when necessary and strolls along the waterline, chatting to whoever came along… Johanna, Georgios and Josephina included. Lunched again at Margarita’s… this time Zucchini Stuffed with Rice and Vegetables… delicious!

Friday, 10 June 2022… early night, alarm set for 03.30 hours. With Johanna and Geórgios, taxi to the Port at 04.15 hours, ferry Blue Star Patmos taking us away from Anafi at 04.50 hours… saying farewell to my newly found friends on arrival at Santorini, from where they would catch a flight later heading home to Northern Greece.

Next stop Ios, then Naxos… arriving 09.10 hours. Near the Port, they wanted E7 to store my trolley case for a couple of hours, however, on principle, I walked to Melímilon for breakfast with my luggage and there, they happily allowed me to leave not only my trolley case, but also my day pack. The family owners of Melímilon started out with a homemade marmalade store. In a quiet garden setting behind the Town Hall, you will find a wide ranging menu of food made with love… well worth the walk from the Port.

Set forth to visit the Portara (Temple of Apollo), before exploring the alleyways beneath the Venetian Castle (Kastro). Retrieved my luggage, leaving Naxos on the ferry Blue Star Naxos at 12.35 hours bound for Astypalea via Donoussa and Amorgos, arriving 17.20 hours.

From the Port of Pera Gialos, I knew I had to make a fairly challenging uphill walk to find my room at Gyrouli Studios, not helped at all by the fact that, at the Port, one wheel of my trolley case became entangled in discarded pieces of fishing net. Eventually made it to my lodgings for 2 nights… a location with amazing views, where I was welcomed by my namesake Eléni.

After settling in and showering, I walked up to Chora… stunningly beautiful with it’s Venetian Castle and traditional Windmills. I should mention, this is not my first time on Astypalea. I have very fond memories from a visit in 2010.

My research indicated Agoni Grammi was the best place to eat in Chora. I found it easily enough, however, they were busy and could not offer a table for one so I moved on to a nearby Restaurant. There I was offered a table but gave up waiting to be served .

During my previous visit to Astypalea, I spent time at Maistrali Restaurant in Pera Gialos and got to know the owners and one or two of their regular visitors. It seemed opportune for me to walk down goodness knows how many steps and reintroduce myself to Dimitris and his wife Efrosini… I even had photographs to share. They remembered me and after enjoying a Greek Salad with Patates Tiganetes and a half kilo of wine, the young waiter arrived with a 1/4 kilo of wine on the house for me, for which I thanked him, however, I also asked the question… how will I navigate the steps tonight?

It has been a long day and an interesting evening.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 11th, 2022 at 5:52 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.