PATMOS.Breaths of freedom...
filled by Giulia e Romeo
Patmos is an island of the Dodecanese which every year welcomes lovers of clean horizons: sky, sea, rolling hills scorched by the summer sun where at times grow fig trees and clumps of prickly pears, watermelons, tomatoes, olives and sometimes ... give the thrill of an essential land near the border with another world.
More than 300 small monasteries dot the island in all its parts, can be glimpsed far from one hill to another, from one curve to another. The motorbike is essential to move here, the beaches are within a few miles and after hairpin curves and at the end of which always appear new and different views.
From Grikos to Lambi, from Petra to Livadi Geraniou, from Kambos to Cancelli to Psili Ammos: there are sandy , gravel and stones beaches for every taste and every time of the day: at Meloi to wait for the break of dawn, at Gricos to enjoy a great octopus stew in the booth of the Caravan, at Vaghia for an unsurpassed tabbouleh, at Petra to see the rocks tinged with red at sunset. A t Psili Ammos to get to the beach with the feeling of just earned the day after half an hour's walk on the path that goes up and down among the rocks. At Cancelli to always feel at the end of the world ... and to watch the archipelago in front reminiscent of constellations of atolls.
The night the starry sky is a sight: the absence of light pollution gives a journey into the firmament. Better yet if you can admire from the highest point of Patmos, where there is a monastery that offers a 360 degree view of the entire island. From here you can see the port of Skala, always animated, and even the Chora, the charming town which stands on a hill in all its candor. Here dominates the monastery of St. John and just below you can also visit the cave where he gave his disciple the book of Revelation, written own here, in exile from Ephesus. In the evening, in the square of Chora chock full of tables, you will think to be in the most exclusive place in the world.
In Patmos freedom-lovers rush to meet: in the isolated beaches or in small taverns set up outside even in the narrow alleys of Skala or Chora. But restaurants where you can have lunch or dinner while enjoying a Greek salad or an octopus with tomato sauce there are all over in the island and it will be fun to find one after the other.
From Patmos depart daily trips to the island of Lipsi, a gem of peace and archaic life, and an excursion by boat to dive in the crystal waters of neighboring islets (Arki Marathi e Tiganakia). The waters of Patmos, however, do not have anything to envy : clean in every point of the island, fresh at the right point and sometimes like those of a calm lake.
In mid-August in the monastery courtyard that lies beyond Gates, right down to the island where the road ends, a big party follows the liturgy celebrated by the Pope. Greeks and tourists celebrate together savoring the taste of the bread that is distributed to all and then dancing, dinner, singing ... in front of the sun that fall down at the horizon and that leaves the scene to the moon and the stars.
You can breath peace and freedom, in Patmos, you can feel in harmony with the whole earth, wrapped in an atmosphere of times gone by.
It is not strange that those who come here for the first time then they return for years and years ... some vip persons too. But in the absolute discretion of the island you might not even notice at Arion’s to be seated next to them, sipping a Racomelos or a glass of Ouzo or starting the day with a yogurt with honey and walnuts. With the beautiful feeling of never be tourists, but guests of a welcoming land and population.
Kalimera, kalispera ... Karistòs to all the Greeks of Patmos that respect their island keep it as natural as thousands of years ago.
(For who dont' like hotels but prefer a comfortable and charming accommodation in the room or in small apartments with sea view, in front of Meloi beach we suggest the romantic solutions offered by FOTINI's STUDIOS. Mrs. Fotini will welcome you and make you feel like at home. Tel 2247031247 / 2247031213/Mob 6945505883 e mail studiosfotini@yahoo.gr)
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