Aegean Sunrise

Thank you to our friends and families for following our journey from afar.

Thank you to the beautiful people of Ikaria for opening your hearts and homes to us.

May we meet again someday!

Last Sunrise
The sun rises over the Aegean Sea as we depart from Ikaria.

Leaving From Evdilos

Evdilos Port
The port in Evdilos.

After two months in Magganitis, it is almost time for us to leave Ikaria from the port town of Evdilos.

Evdilos backstreets.
Evdilos backstreets.
Evdilos Jetty
On the Evdilos jetty.

This is where the Nissos Mykonos ferry between Ikaria and Piraeus (Athens area) docks several times a week in the winter.

Nissos Mykonos
The Nissos Mykonos.

This ferry is leaving on a Sunday afternoon for Piraeus, a port outside Athens. We will be taking the same ferry on Tuesday, very early in the morning.

Evdilos Ferry Cars
Cars going to and from the ferry.

This is one of the only times traffic jams occur on Ikaria!

Ferry crowd
A crowd lines up to get on the ferry.

Despite their relaxed attitude about many other things, the Greeks run a punctual and efficient transportation system.

However…

Note #1: When you are waiting for the ferry on a Greek island, do not set your luggage down in the port area unattended. It may not get stolen, but there is a strong possibility a stray dog will pee on it.

Note #2: When you get on the ferry, do not set your luggage down on the floor next to any other luggage. Greek islanders like to transport freshly caught fish, olive oil, and other products that are leaky and messy. You may find, like me, that when you go to get your bag off the floor of the luggage hold at the end of an eight hour ferry ride, that it, and all the contents, are completely soaked with fish juice.

Evdilos Ferry

Evdilos Ferry Leaving
There it goes!
Dmitrios
On the same day, the Dmitrios, another vessel bound for Athens, is getting ready to leave the port.
Dmitrios Rope
Cutting the rope.

Dmitrios

Dmitrios
The people on board are busily getting ready to sail.

Dmitrios Leaving

Dmitrios Leaving

Evdilos Port
A view of Evdilos Port, from town.
Evdilos Hills
A puffy blanket of clouds moves in on top of the mountains.
Evdilos Town
Evdilos during dusk.
Evdilos Steps
The steps leading down to the port.
Evdilos Schoolkids
Schoolchildren sit and talk near the main square.
Evdilos Pawprints
The animals of Evdilos have left their mark.
Feta Barrel
Feta Barrel.
Pallet Bench
Is this bench actually made from a pallet, or was it just designed to look like one?

Evdilod Door

Evdilos Church
As usual, a church is never far away.
Evdilos Street
It doesn’t take long to reach the outskirts of town.

Evdilos Streets

Evdilos Planter

Narcissus
Fragrant narcissus tazetta, a native of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Narcissi have been prized since ancient times for their fragrance. According to Greek mythology, Narcissus was a handsome man who fell in love with his own reflection. He pined away for this unattainable reflection of himself so long that he eventually withered away from longing. A patch of these flowers were found by the water in the place where he died, and ever since have been called Narcissus.

Evdilos Chickens
Some inquisitive chickens wander through the gardens on the side of the road.
Evdilos Streets
Another church in the distance.
Evdilos Beach House
An intriguing pathway down to the beach.

Evdilos Beach

Evdilos Beach Steps

Evdilos Beach
There is a cave-like stone structure on the beach that collects water.
Cave deposits
The drops of water have caused mineral deposits to form on the inside of the stone structure.
Evdilos Spearfisher
A spearfisher gets ready to go into the sea.
Evdilos Spearfishing
Spearfishing is a very popular thing to do on the Greek islands.

There are several ways of spearfishing – with a non-mechanical spear, or with a harpoon gun. The spearfisher pictured above is using a harpoon gun.

Evdilos Fishermen
Some fishermen float by in a small boat.
Evdilos Shore
A view of the coastline outside of Evdilos.
Evdilos Island
A small island off the coast.

Evdilos Island

Evdilos Sunset
We take one last evening walk down the Evdilos jetty.
Evdilos Masked Cat
This masked cat guards its spot carefully.
Evdilos Dock Cat
A little farther down, there’s a beautiful tri-colored Aegean cat who guards her spot as well.

Evdilos Cat

Evdilos Dock Cat
But there’s always some time to come say hi!
Evdilos Last Sunset
One last sunset on Ikaria.

Twelve Days of Greek Christmas

Bee On Flower
During Christmas in Ikaria, new flowers continue to bloom, and bees continue to work.

Berry Blossom

Blue Berries
These berries (like dry blueberries with a hint of juniper) are just starting to ripen in the middle of winter.
Plane Tree
In other places, where trees have lost their leaves, it is much more reminiscent of our winter season back home.
XMas Tree
At BouBoukakia, BouBou puts out the Christmas tree – a living baby cypress.

Santa

Commercial Western Santa Clauses such as pictured above are becoming more common around Greece, but the Greeks actually have their own version of Santa Claus that is called “Agios Vassilis,” or “Saint Basil.” He is tall and thin, and brings presents for January 1st instead of the 25th of December.

The story of St. Basil is much the same as of St. Nick – he was generous and kind, and helped many poor and needy people throughout his lifetime. He died on the 1st of January, which is why he is celebrated on that day every year.

Vassilopita
Saint Vassilis is honored on New Year’s day with this traditional bread called “Vassilopita” that has a coin baked into it, and is said to bring good luck to the recipient.
XMasRock
BouBou also has some special painted stones that she puts out for the holidays.

In Greece, as in much of Europe, Christmas is a much more quiet and subdued affair than Easter, which is the biggest religious holiday of the year.

Greek Christmas starts on December 25th, and continues until its culmination with “Epiphany” on January 6th – a total of twelve days.

Kallanda
Children in Greece carry on the traditon of “kalanda.”

On several days during the 12 days of Christmas (Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Epiphany Eve), children in Greece go door to door carol singing and wishing people prosperity. The carols are accompanied by simple triangles or sometimes drums. Children are often given small amounts of money or other treats in return. This tradition has been alive since ancient Greece, and many kalanda verses today are comparable to their ancient counterparts.

Christmas at BouBoukakia
We have a Christmas day dinner at BouBoukakia.
Fasolatha
Fasolatha – a white bean soup that is known as the national dish of Greece.

A vegetable and bean soup such as this was prepared in ancient Greece as well. It was used as food, but also as a sacrifice to the god Apollo, who was one of the most widely revered gods in ancient Greece and Rome. But be aware that if you order soup or stew in Greece, it may seem more like drinking olive oil – with a few morsels of food added for flavor!

Bouzouki Orchestra
On television, a bouzouki orchestra plays traditional Greek holiday music.
Bouzouki
A bouzouki – one of the most common Greek folk instruments.
Lyra
A “lyra” or “lyre” looks like a bouzouki, but is played with a bow like a violin, and in an upright position.

There is a plethora of traditional Greek stringed instruments. Bouzoukis are the most common instrument featured on television for holiday performances, but violins, guitars, lyra, and laoto can also be heard from time to time.

Nikki Family Photos
Around the holidays, invitations to peoples’ homes start to stack up.

Going to visit someone’s house around Christmastime is inevitably accompanied by two things: a display of family photos and … finikia.

Finikia
Finikia are traditional cookies prepared during the holiday season.

Finikia appear in massive numbers around the holidays. It is almost certain that you will be force-fed finikia if you go to anyone’s house during Christmas and around the New Year. The cookies are always oval-shaped, dairy-free, and made with very few ingredients – flour, olive oil, baking powder, orange juice, and a little sugar. They have slight variations from house to house; sometimes they are prepared with nuts, or rolled in powdered sugar, but their general flavor is always the same. The Greeks seem to eat finikia not so much with enthusiasm, as with devotion and stamina.

Finikia at Koula's house
Finikia at Koula’s house.
Visiting Koula
Roula (BouBou) joins us for coffee and finikia at Koula’s house.

In Greece, “oula” is often added to the end of female names as a diminutive. For example, if a woman’s name is “Kiriaki,” Greek for ‘Sunday,’ she may then be nicknamed “Koula,” using the last consonant of ‘k’ at the end of her name. At some point, her nickname may be tampered with further, using the feminine dimunitive suffix “litsa.” Thus her name may morph into “Koulitsa,” and then even get shortened to “Litsa,” which in no way resembles the original name of “Kiriaki,” or “Koula.” The town is full of various “Oulas,” and we have trouble remembering whether they are “Koula,” or “Roula,” or “Shula,” and so on. It is even more confusing given that they are all approximately the same age, and most likely related, as everyone here is cousins.

If you are wondering if there is an equivalent for male names, the answer is yes. It is “akis.” A name such as “Panagiotis” may turn into “Panagiotakis” and then into “Takis.”

Hannah with Koula
Hannah with Koula
Hannah with Roula
Hannah with Roula
Koula and Roula
Koula and Roula are discussing Koula’s family photos.
Nikki New Year
New Year’s Eve at Nikki’s house.

We are invited to Nikki’s house for New Year’s Eve dinner. People keep accumulating throughout the evening. Everyone who walks in the door gets a plate of food put down in front of them. Nikki has prepared an enormous amount of food – a habit leftover from years of feeding five children daily. There are various salads, beef, pork, homemade bread, homemade wine, and finikia!

After the New Year countdown, everyone circles around the room, kissing or shaking hands. Nikki sends us home with a loaf of Vassilopita – New Year’s coin bread.

Atheras Ridge on New Years
New Year’s Day brings extremely warm clear weather.

We spend the day sitting outside at BouBoukakia, as BouBou and Kostas have invited us over for New Year’s dinner. Matthew takes a guess on which of the most precariously perched boulders on the ridge will be the next to fall.

Hawk Hunting
A hawk flies to a cypress tree above us, scanning for prey.
Kostas with Balades
Kostas and BouBou are preparing balades.
BouBou with Balades
BouBou de-scaling balades.

BouBou swears that a fork works better than a knife for removing scales from fish.

Grilled Peppers
Kostas is grilling some sweet peppers.
BouBoukakia New Years
As usual, Kostas prepares a very delicious meal!
New Years meal
Fresh lettuce salad from the garden.
New Years meal
It’s all served alongside a cabbage-pork stew.
Epiphany Candles
On the morning of January 6th, we walk down to Agios Nikolaos to take part in Epiphany.

Epiphany, which means “manifestation” or Theophany, “manifestation of God,” marks the culmination of the twelve days of Christmas. Orthodox Christians worldwide also know it as Blessings of the Waters Day. The villagers gather at the church for a ceremony.

Epiphany Icon
An icon depicting Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River.

The celebration of Epiphany is celebrated every year on January 6th, and commemorates the revelation of the Holy Trinity and Christ’s manifestation as Son of God through his baptism by John the Baptist.

Epiphany
An orthodox priest carries a cross down to the sea.

After the ceremony in the church, the priest takes a cross down to the port at Magganitis for the Blessing of the Sea. Swimmers from the village dive in to compete for its retrieval, which is said to bring good fortune upon them for the entire year.

Epiphany
A procession of villagers follows the priest down to the shore.

Epiphany

Epiphany

Epiphany
The priest waits for the swimmers to strip down to their bathing suits.

Epiphany Divers

Epiphany Divers

Epiphany Divers

Traditionally, diving for the cross on Epiphany has been done by men only. In recent years, that has started to change. This year, Magganitis has a total of three people who are participating, with one of them a villager named Olga.

Epiphany

The priest throws the cross into the Aegean Sea, and the three divers jump in to retrieve it.

Epiphany Divers

Epiphany Olga
Olga is victorious!

Epiphany Olga

Retrieving the Epiphany cross is a great honor. It is especially meaningful for 62-year-old Olga, as she survived a recent accident in which her car overturned and went into the sea at the port of Evdilos. Luckily, there was a single bystander, who dove in and pulled her out of the water. Olga was unconscious in the hospital for some time, but eventually made a full recovery, and is now back to her usual strong and vibrant self.

Epiphany Divers
Olga lets the men hold the cross.

Epiphany Giannis

Epiphany Olga
The cross must then be returned to the priest.
Epiphany Olga
Olga kisses the priest’s hand as she returns the cross.

Epiphany Olga

Epiphany Cross
The cross is taken up to Agios Nikolaos.
Epiphany Holy Water
The villagers crowd around a basin of holy water.

In honor of the baptism of Christ, the church’s water is blessed. People fill up cups and bottles with this blessed water to take home with them to drink and to sprinkle on their livestock and their homes. The herbs on the table are also used by the priest and villagers to dip in the sanctified water and sprinkle on themselves and loved ones.

Epiphany Koula
Koula holds up the Epiphany cross.
Epiphany Cafe
After the Epiphany ceremony, a joyful village gathers in the cafe.

BouBoukakia

BouBoukakia Street Sign
BouBoukakia street sign.
BouBoukakia Path
The walkway up to BouBoukakia.

BouBoukakia, like Cafe Pantepoleion, has an assortment of groceries, food and drink. However, it is a more informal environment, and can be endlessly entertaining due to its charismatic owners, Roula (BouBou) and Kostas.

Kostas and Roula
Kostas and Roula

Kostas and BouBou have been happily together for 23 years. For 17 of those years, in the summertime, they have taken their boat to Seychelles beach, close to Magganitis, in order to sell drinks, sandwiches and snacks to islanders and travellers alike. This is one of the ways that they get to know people from all over!

Kostas flexing
It is a sunny warm day. Kostas takes the opportunity to show off his muscles.
BouBou with Patio Cat
BouBou relaxes on the patio.

BouBou and Kostas love growing plants and flowers, and have a patio that is made for spending all day outside.

BouBou Patio
The patio outside BouBoukakia.

BouBoukakia patio flower

BouBou rock plant

BouBoukakia patio flower

BouBoukakia Patio
People come all day long to buy drinks and sit for a break at BouBoukakia.
Fran With Beer
One of the regulars – Francesco, or “Fran.”
Fran and Kostas
Fran posing with Kostas
Sander and Kostas
Sander, Fran’s brother, with Kostas.

Fran and Sander are two of our favorite people in the village. They come from Albania, which to Albanians is actually known as Shqiperia, “Land of Eagles.”

BouBou's dog Goofy
BouBou’s dog “Goofy.”

Not only does BouBou love cats, she also loves dogs. This is unusual in Ikaria, where dogs are even more unpopular than cats. Including Goofy, BouBou has a small collection of dogs which bark faithfully and loudly every time someone arrives. Given that she’s running a popular cafe and grocery, the cacophony is an all-day affair!

Smoking sign
Smoking warnings inside BouBoukakia

A number of Greeks chain-smoke in the cafes and tavernas. Though there are technically laws against this now, they are virtually never enforced by business owners. One of the reasons we love BouBoukakia is that it is the only place in Magganitis that we can go that is 100% smoke free. BouBou will kick you out if you light up in here.

TV in BouBoukakia
The TV is always on inside BouBoukakia.

In addition to the normal assortment of updates on car accidents, murders and riots, Greek television has lengthy reports on things such as specific olive oil prices across the country.

BouBoukakia TV
Locals watch TV and chat inside BouBoukakia.

People filter in and out of BouBoukakia all day. Residents come to take breaks from work, buy groceries, drink beer, wine or coffee, eat small plates of food, watch TV and catch up on gossip.

Amongst the topics of conversation at BouBoukakia: how many olives you’ve picked so far, how much olive oil you got, which oil press you went to, whose goat got into whose garden and what to do about it, and how big an octopus someone just reeled in from the sea.

BouBoukakia Mail Day
Mail day at BouBoukakia

About once a week, a woman brings mail to our village. Because there are no addresses here, she takes the mail sequentially to each of the two cafes in town. She goes through the mail at each place, announcing the recipients’ names. The people at each cafe will take a handful of mail to deliver to their own friends and relatives. The unclaimed mail eventually goes into a box at the second cafe.

The woman pictured above is the only person assigned to deliver mail to Magganitis. If she is sick, the mail doesn’t come. This happened one week while we were here, and it caused quite a fuss amongst the townsfolk, many of whom depend on regular pension money that comes via the weekly mailperson.

Kostas
Kostas standing outside BouBoukakia.

Kostas used to be a ship’s cook. He does most of the cooking for himself, BouBou, and all the visitors to BouBoukakia.

Octopus dinner
An octopus dinner.

Octopus is one of the favorite meals here in the village. It is normally served with a vinegar and herb dressing.

Kostas homemade liquor
Homemade spiced liquor and a small plate of dried fruit and nuts.

Kostas makes some of the best wine and liquor in town. This is a nice glass of homemade spiced liquor that has honey, cloves and other spices added.

Kostas Salsa
Kostas has prepared a huge pan of sauteed vegetables for a pasta dinner.
Kostas pasta dinner
Kostas likes to tell us exactly what he’s added to each dish.

Kostas Pasta Meal

Most of the vegetables in our meal, such as the lettuce and celery, come from their garden down the hill.

BouBou Garden
Kostas and BouBou’s garden.
Kostas and BouBou garden
Kostas gathers some lettuce to send home with us.
Snail hitchhiker
As it turns out, Kostas grows amazingly large snails too!

Our snail hitchhiker has lost his lettuce home, but we relocate him to a pot of other greens, where hopefully he will be just as happy.

Kostas with olive harvest
Kostas with part of his olive harvest.

While BouBou sticks around BouBoukakia to make sure she can serve customers, Kostas takes care of more of the outdoor work such as vegetable gardening and picking olives. Pictured above is a portion of Kostas’s olive harvest for the year.

Unfortunately, Kostas had two full sacks of olives stolen from him this year, a discouraging fact considering how few people live in Magganitis.

BouBou fixing chair
BouBou fixing a wobbly table.

Though BouBou has decorated every surface with a busy array of objects, she is meticulous about cleaning everything daily, and fixes anything that doesn’t work just right.

Evil Eye Pendant
A talisman, known as a “mataki,” – meant to help ward off the evil eye.

This talisman is one of many that BouBou has hung in various places around the inside of BouBoukakia. It is meant to help protect against the curse of the evil eye, or “kako mati.” The Greeks, who are very superstitious, believe that a curse can be cast on someone through a glance that harbors negative intentions such as envy, malice, or even misplaced admiration. Signs someone may be affected by an evil eye curse include headaches, dizziness or a string of bad luck.  Strangers, old women, or blue-eyed people are thought to cause the curse of the evil eye most frequently. This may be why most protective talismans in Greece are blue. According to Greek folklore, the talismans help bend the gaze of the evil eye back to the sorcerer.

References to the evil eye can be found in ancient texts, including the Bible. In Greece, references appear as far back as classical Greece, when people believed the eyes could be a source for rays of evil. This superstition was spread by Alexander the Great as he moved east. The concept is still going strong in many parts of the world; in Europe it is most prevalent in the Aegean and Mediterranean areas.

In fact, someone has now even developed an app for android phones that allows a user to log on to chat with a digital Greek grandma who guides the user through the steps necessary in order to rid yourself of the evil eye curse.

Evil Eye Horseshoe
An evil eye talisman in the shape of a horseshoe.

When I counted talismans hanging in BouBoukakia, I found at least ten.

Evil Eye Rabbit
A cage where BouBou once kept a pet rabbit.

It is widely believed in Magganitis that BouBou’s rabbit died as a result of an evil eye curse.

BouBou Painted Rocks
BouBou is known for her painted rocks.

BouBou used to sell the smaller painted rocks at Seychelles Beach in the summertime for 5 Euros apiece, which is now about 6 dollars. Since the economic crisis in Greece, she cannot bring herself to charge more than a few Euros to people, and also has not raised prices at her cafe for some time.

Painted Rock
BouBou paints a rock for us to take home with us.

Toilets of Ikaria

WomensCooperativeToilet
Womens Cooperative – Raches

For a reason we never discovered, many toilet seats in Greek bathrooms are either missing or stored separately from the toilet itself.

Toilet BouBoukakia
BouBoukakia
Public Toilet Evdilos
Public Toilet – Evdilos
Evdilos Public Toilet
Evdilos Public Toilet #2

Evdilos Squatter

We’re pretty sure that somewhere in town, there is a nicer bathroom they reserve just for German tourists.

Toilet Mounte Monastery
Mounte Monastery

Don’t be fooled. This is actually a decorative piece of art in the shape of a toilet.

Aleko Rooms Toilet
This is our bathroom and shower stall for the winter.

Pictured on the right is the tiny receptacle for disposing of all waste paper. A good deal of Greek plumbing problems are caused by tourists who forget about this and clog up the pipes.

Theoktistis
Theoktistis Monastery

Pine needles are not as easy to pee on as you might think.

Old Forest Potty Tree
Ranti Forest

Thank you, Old Forest, for humbly accepting our donation.

Cape Fanari
Cape Fanari

Flashing Samos!

Potty Seychelles
Seychelles Beach – trail

We wish we had this view from our bathroom at home…

Little Church Chronicles / Agios Taxiyarchis

A little church called Agios Taxiyarchis is nestled in the hills south of Magganitis.

Up hill from room
Our room is conveniently located on the steep slope leading up the mountainside.

Many trailheads in Ikaria are difficult to track down, and without actually travelling with a local, it can take a little while to find the right path.

Taxiyarchis Trailhead Sign
The sign for the trailhead to Agios Taxiyarchis.

After looking for this trailhead unsuccessfully for weeks, I discover it by accident while out walking one day.

Magganitis First School
The trail begins at the site of the first school of Magganitis, established in 1850.

First School of Magganitis

Taxiyarchis Trail

Taxiyarchis Trail

Taxiyarchis Bones
Animal bones are scattered everywhere on the dry gravelly trail.

Taxiyarchis Trail

Taxiyarchis Trail
I have been in Ikaria for long enough now that I am well-trained to follow the red dots while hiking.
Taxiyarchis Trail
So naturally, when I arrive at this gate, I follow the red dots through to the other side.
Taxiyarchis Canyon
This is where I lose the trail.

Taxiyarchis Canyon

This canyon of boulders is also riddled with streams and pools. The red dots are extremely difficult to locate in this area, and the boulders are wet and slippery.

Taxiyarchis Trail
The trail continues.

I finally cross the boulder canyon, and find the red dots again. But then I realize that the church I’m trying to get to is on the side of the ravine I just came from! It is visible from a distance, but where is the path?

Taxiyarchis from afar
Taxiyarchis from afar.

I go back to investigate. Sure enough, there is a tall fence separating me from the church.

Taxiyarchis Fence

I retrace my steps back through the gate I opened over an hour ago when I was so confidently following red dots. As it turns out, there is a short path to Agios Taxiyarchis on the other side. Within five minutes, and close to sundown, I am standing at my destination.

Taxiyarchis Exterior
Exterior of Agios Taxiyarchis.

Taxiyarchis Exterior

Saint Taxiyarchis is one of the patron saints of the Aegean islands. “Taxiyarchis” is translated literally as ‘commander,’ but the more commonly known English translation is ‘Archangel.’ More specifically, Taxiyarchis is often equated with Archangel Michael, leader and most powerful of all angels.

Taxiyarchis Exterior
Agios Taxiyarchis is surrounded by gnarled, ancient olive trees.
Taxiyarchis Key
The key is stored underneath a stone on the south side of the church.
Taxiyarchis Interior
The interior of Agios Taxiyarchis.
Taxiyarchis Bell
The last glint of evening sun hits the hills behind the church tower.

Little Church Chronicles / Agios Nektarios

In less than an hour by foot, it is possible to reach the small church of Agios Nektarios from the center of Magganitis.

Stone Window

The church of Agios Nektarios is located west of our village, on the very rough road to Karkinagri, the westernmost settlement of Ikaria.

Path to Nektarios
Some skittish goats keep an eye on me.

This path is so desolate that aside from the occasional car, all one can hear is the distant clinking of bells as the goats jump over the boulders in the mountains.

Ikarian Pig
The elusive Ikarian pig.

We have been in Ikaria for weeks, and though pork seems to make its way into every meal people try to feed us here, we never saw a single pig anywhere – until today! Most Ikarians do not have the luxury or habit of keeping animals as pets, and are mainly inclined to keep animals that serve a purpose, such as for meat, milk or eggs. This pig is surely destined to become a meal at some point, but since we will be leaving the island within a few weeks, we will probably not be around to partake in its demise.

Weeds
Not much grows along this road, but these weeds that have gone to seed seem to be thriving here.

Star Mushroom
There are a few mushrooms hiding away amongst the weeds.
Nektarios Arrow
The road is full of signs and arrows. Only the locals know what they mean!
Nektarios Coast
This is the view of the coastline looking east.

Despite its bleakness, this path is an excellent place to witness some geology in action.

Spheroidal Weathering
A boulder is born.

Southwestern Ikaria got its boulders through a process called “spheroidal weathering.” In places where this occurs, granite starts out by fracturing along joints in the subsurface, which splits the rocks into cubes. When water seeps into these cracks, chemical decay transforms the exposed areas into a type of granite sand called “grus.” The corners of the granite cubes have the most joint intersections, thus are the most susceptible to breaking down. This is why the boulders are rounded instead of angular. The process of spheroidal weathering all takes place underground, and the boulders are eventually exposed through the process of erosion.

Spheroidal Weathering

Spheroidal Weathering

Nektarios Boulders

Nektarios Sign
After about forty-five minutes of walking, the little church of Agios Nektarios appears.
Agios Nektarios
The church dedicated to Agios Nektarios.

Nektarios was born in the 1800s in an area that is now occupied by Turkey. He started as a shop assistant, then took a teaching job on the island of Chios. There he entered the local monastery and eventually was appointed deacon. As deacon, he was much admired for his writings and teachings, as well as his love and patience toward his flock. He was eventually ordained bishop in an Egyptian diocese. His popularity stirred envy in higher church officials, and he was eventually removed from his role.

He returned to Greece, continued to write and teach, and was inspired to found a monastery for women in Aegina. The monastery thrived, and Nektarios spent the rest of his days serving as a spiritual guide there. He was also visited by people from distant lands who sought advice and healing.

After his death, several miracles were attributed to him. Some years later, in 1961, the Orthodox Church declared him a saint. His feast day is celebrated on November 9th every year.

Nektarios Church

The church is locked. I look around for a key, but it is nowhere to be found.

Nektarios Stream

After walking past the church, I come to what looks like a giant puddle, but is actually a stream that is flowing over the entire road.

Nektarios Stream

Nektarios Stream
Plane trees, or “sycamores” grow near the water’s edge.

Various sycamores grow all over the world. This variety, with lacier leaves, grows in Asia and Southern Europe. Sycamores prefer wet areas, and they are found predictably in Ikaria around streams and river canyons. They are some of the largest trees growing on the island.

Nektarios Stream
Crossing the stream at its narrowest point.

Nektarios Stream

Nektarios Stream
On the other side.

This road leads to the west coast of Ikaria, and would take the better part of a day to walk there. Most cars don’t even come this far.

Little Church Chronicles / Profitis Ilias

Profitis Ilias
A man harvests olives in the hills east of Magganitis.

No matter which direction you walk from Magganitis, you will eventually reach a small church. This hike starts a short distance past Apostolis Restaurant, beginning with a staircase leading up from the easternmost houses of the village.

Profitis Ilias Hike

Profitis Ilias Trail
Not surprisingly, the trail is laden with boulders.
Profitis Ilias Hike
Magganitis is quickly disappearing from view.
Profitis Ilias Trail
There are some micro-forests along part of the trail.

Profitis Ilias Trail

Profitis Ilias Trail Flowers

Acorn Path
Some parts of the trail are completely blanketed with acorns.

Curly Acorns

Alongside pine and olives, oak stands dominate the landscape here. In ancient times, the word for “oak” in Greek – “dris” – was also the word for ‘tree.’

Prickly Acorn
This is the most common type of acorn to see in the area around Magganitis. It likely belongs to a type of Kermes or Palestine oak.

Kermes oak varieties are much more tolerant of drought conditions than Holm oaks, and will take over areas where Holm oaks struggle to grow. They can easily thrive on sea cliffs and windy environments such as the area around Magganitis, but only at lower elevations, and not too far inland.

Round Acorns
Not as common here, the Lebanon Oak is a deciduous oak and loses its leaves in the winter.
Lavender
The wild lavender has all started to bloom again.
Profitis Ilias Last view of sea
This is the last view of the sea as the trail turns inland.

Profitas Ilias Trail

Ikaria remains remote, rugged, and undeveloped, with very little effort put toward tourist infrastructure. With this comes several frustrations, but also the very large reward of Ikaria’s largely untouched wilds  – a walker’s paradise. Especially in the winter, it is possible to wander all day and see very few people and almost nothing man-made.

Profitis Ilias Trail
The top of the Atheras Ridge seems like just a few steps away.

Rock formations

Rock Garden

Tree Roots

Profitis Ilias
Finally, I catch sight of the small church across the canyon, barely visible on the backdrop of Ikaria’s towering cliffs.

This little church lies in an area so isolated that a crime could occur in broad daylight and there wouldn’t be a single witness.

Profitis Ilias
A bit of a walk over difficult terrain remains in order to reach the church, and it is invisible until I am standing here on the hillside above it.

Profitis Ilias

It may seem perplexing to outsiders why the Greeks have gone to such an effort to construct so many little churches in inaccessible places.

Throughout Greece, some of these churches are built on sites where miracles are thought to have occurred. But especially on islands, where people depended on the dangerous sea for their living, many churches were built in dedication to revered teachers or saints whom villagers believed would offer protection for their families.

Profitis Ilias

This little church, Profitis Ilias, is dedicated to the prophet Elijah. According to Greek folklore, Profitis Ilias, who suffered much in his seafaring life, eventually left his quiet fishing village in order to find a place where people knew nothing of the sea or ships, and where he could do good beyond his known reality. He carried an oar with him for days as he traveled inland, seeking a place where his oar was not recognized as an oar, but instead as a simple stick. And he asked people as he traveled “Do you know what this is?” to which people kept answering “An oar.” Finally he came to a place far from the sea, high up on a mountaintop, where the oar was not recognized, and there he settled and built a church.

Profitis Ilias Bell

For this reason, chapels dedicated to Profitis Ilias are often built on the sides or tops of mountains, inland and away from the sea.

Profitis Ilias

Profitis Ilias Interior
Interior of Profitis Ilias
Circular Foundation
The remains of a circular foundation in the hills.

Near the church, ruins of stone shelters are scattered over the hillside. They are all in various stages of dilapidation.

Stone Shelter
This old shelter used some pre-existing layers of metamorphic rock as a natural wall on one side.

Profitis Ilias Stone Structure

Profitis Ilias Stone Structure

Stone Structure Exterior

Stone Oven

Profitis Elias
As I set back for the village, a storm moves in.

Profitis Elias Trail

Profitis Ilias Trail

Profitis Elias Trail

Profitis Elias Trail

Profitis Elias Trail

Profitis Elias Trail

Profitis Elias Trail

Profitis Elias Trail

Year End

Magganitis Sunny Day
A sunny December day in Magganitis.

Ikaria has a mild climate, and the winters are generally short. Because the village of Magganitis is on the south side of the island, it can be as much as ten degrees warmer in winter than the villages on the other side of the mountain.

Aegean Rainstorm
A rainstorm moving across the Aegean Sea.

Winter is also when Magganitis receives most of its rain. However, it tends to rain in small bursts and not constantly. There are also sporadic lightning storms and high winds. The warmer winds, “Notyas,” originate in Africa, while the colder winds and storms, “Voryas,” come from Northern Europe. There is also occasional hail, which can occur during otherwise pleasant weather.

Stormy Walk
Two minutes before a hail storm.
Stormy Port
A storm looms over Magganitis.
Power Outage
We have a few candles for nights with no electricity.

We lose power and/or internet about once a week. If the lights don’t come back on by nightfall, we light a candle and go to bed early.

Rainbow

The winter weather in Magganitis is extremely changeable, which makes it imperative to seize the moment when there is a period of warmth and sunshine.

Cactus In The Sun

Last Olives
This is the very last of Mikalis’s olive harvest.

On every good weather day in December, the villagers continue busily harvesting olives. Mikalis is sorting through the last of his crop in order to separate the good and bad olives. It is later in the season and many of the olives have tiny holes where olive maggots have made their homes. The bad olives can still go to the olive press for oil, but cannot be preserved whole because they will rot.

Helping Nikki
Olive sacks are heavy.

We are out walking one day, and stop to help one of the villagers, Nikki, load her olive sacks into her vehicle.

Nikki and Mersina
Nikki and her sister Mersina.

Nikki and her sister Mersina are on their way to the oil press today. Nikki is a widow, and her five children all live in the United States or Canada. Like many others here, she calls her home in Ikaria “paradise,” but is also lonely for her family. She tries to stay busy here in the village.

Burn Pile
After pruning the olive trees for the year, families burn the branches, along with any other yard debris they have.

On any given day, there is a very smoky fire going somewhere in the village or in the surrounding areas. But strangely enough, there never seems to be more than one at a time, which keeps the air in the village somewhat breathable.

Ikarian Garden
Broccoli and lettuce grow in a winter garden.

The importance of these gardens should not be underestimated. Most Greeks who live in the city do not have access to their own fresh  food and must buy everything. Here in Ikaria, people are able to gather vegetables and fruit from their garden year-round, so they are always guaranteed to have a plate of food on their table, even when money gets tight.

In past years, when Magganitis was even more isolated and received no imports, families had to gather and produce everything they needed. This is changing now, as imports and infrastructure increase.

Magganitis Hotel
This area has been under construction since we arrived. The buildings will eventually be used as vacation rentals.
Horta
A villager shows off a large harvest of herbs and greens.
Horta
This vitamin-rich mix includes dandelion leaves and other bitter herbs.

We have a bit of trouble getting greens, due to the fact that we don’t have our own garden here. Ironically, since most people have vegetables and fruits at their homes, the cafes don’t even bother to stock them.

Ripe Lemons
All the citrus has ripened.

The cafe brought in a crate of lemons to sell, but they went moldy because no one was buying them. Everyone has too many lemons of their own!

Kostas
Kostas is still harvesting his olives too. The electric device he is using to spin the olives off the top branches is powered by a diesel generator.

Just taking a short walk in Magganitis can easily result in several dinner invitations. Tonight, Kostas invites us over to BouBoukakia for a fish meal.

Kostas Fish Dinner
One of the most common meals here is simple fried fish with sliced lemon.

The next night, at Cafe Pantepoleion, a fisherman named Giorgos very generously sends us home with two kilos of raw squid.

Kalamari Whole
Unprocessed kalamari.

In the United States, when buying seafood such as squid, there is usually a certain amount of processing that has occurred before the consumer takes the product home. This is not the case in rural Greek villages.

Being novices to the cooking of squid, preparing the kalamari consumed the better part of a day. I should say that most of the day was actually spent staring at the leaking 2-kilo bag of squid, wondering what to do. And in the end, it was definitely one of the more time-consuming meals we’ve ever prepared.

Kalamari Prep
Preparing kalamari

We finally tackle it, but it is a two-person job.

Kalamari pen
Kalamari pen.

The innards of the squid must be removed, including the rigid pen.

Kalamari Skin
Peeling off the outer layer of speckled skin.

The sheath of speckled exterior flesh must be peeled off carefully and discarded. Otherwise the kalamari becomes tough while cooking.

Squid is extremely slippery, and we drop it multiple times while attempting to process it.

Kalamari Waste
Kalamari waste.

The “wings” and the ink sacs can be optionally retained for cooking, but since these are large squid, we choose not to use the wings, which can be tougher to prepare. And we accidentally puncture the ink sacs while pulling the entrails out. In the end, we have a good number of squid trimmings -the heads, eyes, hard pieces, beak, skin, and other inedible bits – which the cats are more than happy to eat for us. 

Kalamari Ingredients
Kalamari, ready for cooking.

What is left after our laborious effort: the smooth white ring-like exterior of the squid. 

Kalamari Strips
Kalamari, chopped into strips.

Our kitchen is covered in squid juice. We can’t get the smell off our hands, and we feel like we may never be clean again.

But…some onions, red wine, tomatoes, lemon and parsley…and a few hours later…

We have a delicious dinner! Thank you Giorgo!

Kalamari Pasta
Kalamari with onions, wine, tomatoes, and lemon, served over pasta.

Kalamari will always be a bit chewy, but if is cooked either very fast under high heat, or long and slow, it will eventually become quite tender as well. Anything in between these two cooking methods will result in a rubbery texture.

Solstice Dawn
Solstice sunrise.

We get up early on the shortest day of the year and watch the sun come up over the sea.

Solstice Moon
We also make time to watch the solstice moon drift through the wispy evening clouds. 
Cafe Doriforos
Cafe Doriforos

This period of winter gets very quiet in the village, as many people head back to Athens until Easter. Nightlife is centered around the few cafes that are open for the locals. There are almost no tourists here at this time of year. The cozy and warm Cafe Doriforos is reliably open every evening – with drinks, small plates of food, and sometimes live music.

Cafe Doriforos
The interior of Cafe Doriforos is quaint and cozy.

“Doriforos” means ‘satellite’ in English. The name of the cafe is used infrequently –  instead, the locals say they are going to “Christina” – the name of the woman who runs the small taverna.

Cafe Doriforos
Christina (left) runs Cafe Doriforos with her husband (middle).

Christina is from the United States, born to a Greek family. She speaks fluent Greek and English. Now she lives here in Magganitis and runs the cafe.

Concert
As we get closer to the beginning of Christmas, Panagiotis – who runs Cafe Pantepoleion – arranges a concert.

Panagiotis has played the violin for years and seems to know an infinite number of songs. His repertoire includes traditional songs from the Aegean area and Greek islands: wedding songs, dances such as zeibetiko, rembetiko music, and even the occasional tango.

Concert
A beautiful striped lute will soon take the stage.

Panagiotis is playing the concert with a friend from Evdilos. Cafe Pantepoleion welcomes visitors from all over the island, who crowd in to hear good music, eat special food, and drink until all hours.

Concert Dancing
Around 1am, the dancing starts.

When the Greeks say the music goes all night, they aren’t kidding. Mid-morning, it is time to get a ride home with several other people. As it turns out, they are not going home to bed yet! Instead, they are going over to drink coffee at Vasso’s house.

Vasso Coffee
Coffee and cookies at Vasso’s house.
Vasso Kitchen
Vasso’s kitchen is filled with antiques.
Vasso Iron
An old-style iron.
Vasso Grain Mill
Underneath the clay vessel there is even an old grain mill consisting of two stone plates and a crank.

Vasso sends cookies home with us. It is almost time for the sun to come up!

Magganitis Dawn