Seven church walk with Ronnie

 Tuesday 4th October - lunchtime, Hora and thereabouts

So last night we had another someone opening the front door again! The guy apologised and said he thought the house was part of the restaurant! I don’t want to lock the door when I am in the house, I also prefer a door that can’t lock me out, like it would at home. It’s quite funny I suppose. In the slow season, this is going to stop I imagine.

This morning the wind has got up again, so I decided to take Ronnie for a short walk this morning and see how the weather pans out. On the way back from the walk we bought a spanakopita. Meant for lunch, it got consumed well beforehand… we said good morning to Marinos, all his customers were inside sheltering from the wind. We saw another lovely sunrise. 

What was nice was is one of the Greeks who we sat with the other day at Marinos’s who we told the Turkey and Ronnie story to ( using Google Translate) drove past us in his car today and he said hello as he went past. 

Yesterday I looked at my map and saw a possible walk. It’s linear which is a pity but it’s got several churches on the way. The start point is 5F6H + HCW Serifos on Google maps. It’s a track, so it should actually exist. We parked not far from the Heliport, where the track joins the road. It was going to be a very windy walk. The first church is called Prophet Elias, these are all going to be small affairs and all locked up. 

The next church was not much further along, we had been climbing and now things had levelled off. The next one is called Agios Mamas. It’s got a lighter shade of blue which is different. This is such a strange island, it’s not rich in lush vegetation, but the mountain’s are green, there are boulders just lying about the place as if someone had thrown or sprinkled them over the island. There are also really what I would call craggy formations, and lastly amazing beaches. In a way where we are walking today, reminds me of the Peak District in the UK. But there is no one around, well almost!

The third church Agios Ionnis Prodromos wasn’t far and near the track. In parts the track is concrete, or sand or small pebbles. It’s quite easy on my feet as I have boots on and Ronnie seems ok on it too. We pass a modern building, bit like a barn. I was going to sit in the porch and rest for a bit but this Springer Spaniel appears from the porch and then it’s owner. It’s unclear what he is doing around here, there is no bike or car nearby, is he doing a walk too? I don’t know if he is homeless?

The fourth  church is truly spectacular. It’s on a small mountain, on the top. Around it there is a ravine and lovely sculptured mountainsides. It’s a bit of a trek up,  but really worth it. Eagle eyed people might have seen concrete tables and chairs and a barbecue by the churches. These are used when they open the churches and have these feasts. I am hoping to go to one, one day. The fourth is called Panagia Thekia.

We have a lovely view of the island of Kithnos. Maybe before Xmas or in the New Year I will have a few days in the islands around her that I don’t know. Ferries will almost certainly be a challenge in the quiet season. The fifth  is downhill and there is meant to be a Mycenaean wall there too. The church is nice it’s in a lovely quiet spot but the path to the wall is blocked, as I expected. I can’t really see any signs of the wall, it’s all covered in vegetation. The fifth church is Panagia Liomatra.

The way back should be quicker as we are not going to stop at every church but we will have drink breaks.  Near where we turn around are loads of snail shells. I did not know the Greeks ate snails, or did these just all die in a murderous extinction in the summer heat? 

On the way back I see a possible fast way to the car. We will get to the main  road earlier and see yet two more churches. But the last bit of the  path down is not as open as I hoped and is not easy for either of us. Down at the road, it seems a bit further on the big road than I hoped, but the road is super quiet. Church six is Agios Marina.

The last church I think is the prettiest on the island. It’s smart and always painted well. It’s Aghios Georgios.

So it’s been a  longer walk than I expected, but that’s what you get when you go up and downhill! Ronnie seems to have liked it, he is asleep now.  Here is Mike’s car. On older cars, the top coat which is like a clear varnish, gets attacked by the sun, wind and the rest of it and flakes off leaving a matt finish.