Hiking Behind Magganitis

Goats
These goats live at the last residence in Magganitis before the trail up into the mountains starts.
Goats Eating
Later in the day, the goats are munching on freshly cut branches of olive tree.
Forest Trail
Steep forest trail
Purple Flowers
These tiny purple flowers have sprouted everywhere.
Purple Flowers on Rock
No exceptions!
Old Oak
This very old oak has the same idea.
Mushroom
Mushrooms are starting to appear in the woods.

Mushroom

Mushroom

Mushroom

Mushroom
Disguised!
Boulders
Kissing Boulders
Rock Formation
Granite rock formations

Hiking

Small Flower
Forest flower
Strawberry Tree
Arbutus Unedo, “Strawberry Tree.”

This shrub is called “Koumaria” by the Greeks. It is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean, and is one of many wild edible foods available in Ikaria. The fruit is ripe when red, and has a sweet soft interior, with slightly tart seeds covering the outside.

Mountain Hut
Old stone huts like this can be found scattered throughout Ikaria’s interior.

Mountain Hut

From the 16th through the 19th centuries, Ikaria was plagued by pirates. As a result, the island’s residents did not inhabit the shores, but instead built many dispersed dwellings in the interior of the island.

Mountain Hut

Stone Constructions

Hut Inside
A scattering of belongings still remain inside the huts: dishes, artwork, incense, bed frames, and old chests.

Hut Inside

Old Oven
The remains of an old outdoor oven attached to one of the stone huts.
Old Oven
This oven is inside a building that is separate from the main house.
Cross
A cross made out of silverware, attached to the outside of one of the stone huts.
Old Cistern
It is common to find stone terracing and old cisterns strewn about near the dwellings.
View while hiking
Ikaria’s landscape is extremely diverse.
Hannah Hiking
This is a lush forest of pine and strawberry trees.

Hiking

Nearing the top
The rocky top of the ridge becomes visible as the vegetation thins out.

The ridge of the mountain Atheras separates the North and South of Ikaria. Magganitis is on the very steep southern slope of this ridge.

Rock lizard
Turkish rock lizard (Lacerta oertzeni). These lizards come out in droves to sun themselves on the rocks.
Lizard and beetle
This lizard, which has lost its tail, is in the process of hunting its next meal.
Lizard catches beetle
Dinner!

One Reply to “Hiking Behind Magganitis”

  1. Looks great, Hannah! Do you have the Strawberry tree back home? We have it hear in SF. It’s in the Heath family along with many other fruits.
    Keep sending the pix!
    Enjoy!

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