IKARIA: "Scribblings" 

Whilst working on Patmos, I was called away to sub for a colleague on Ikaria.  I have since visited the island on two further occasions and have liked it more and more on each visit.

Ikaria has a very different feel from other islands.  I found it to be a truly unspoilt one, and one, which seemed to have been caught in some kind of time-warp.  For starters, it's landscape is quite different from other islands.  Also, it has a strange air about it; possibly as a consequence of having been used as a place of exile on a number of occasions; most recently during the Colonels' regime in the 60's and the 70's.  It is quite maverick in political terms and is the only island, apparently, which returns a communist MP to the parliament in Athens.  I believe all the town councils are also communist-controlled!  There is some great revolutionary graffiti around the place.  I have seen "Viva Cuba" and "Viva Castro"!  Notwithstanding, the islanders are charming!  Why shouldn't they be!  Everyone I met was a fervent communist, politically, but economically a rampant capitalist!  You couldn't make it up!  But then, it is our beloved Greece, so we will allow them anything!

On all the occasions I have visited, I have stayed in Armenistes, which is lovely. It is a picturesque seaside hamlet with super tavs.  Nearby is the long, sandy beach of Armenistes.  Beware, though, it has a very strong undertow.  Just around the corner from Armenistes is the equally quaint hamlet of Nas. That's where the hippies used to hang out in the sixties.  Not much evedence of that now, although "illegal" camping still takes place amongst the bullrushes there.

There is not much sight-seeing on Ikaria.  Most of what happens, though, happens on the western side of the island.  There is the fascinating village of Christos Raches, which sets its time differently from the rest of the island; as well as the stark "Wild West" type landscape to be found in the region.  Both merit a visit.   Also, the tiny hamlet of Gialaskari is worth a visit, even if just to take a pic of the iconic blue-domed church on the headland at the tiny harbour.

I often enjoyed driving down to Evdilos, the main ferry port on the island.  It is as Greek as it gets with the kafeneions and ouzeries around the harbour.  I loved the feel of the place.  The cafe-bars in Evdilos usuall stay open throughout the night, so there are nice places to hang out at four in the morning whilst waiting for the ferry to Samos!

Visit Ikaria....you won't be disappointed!

Sorry, no pics.  When I visited I took my "non-digital" camera with me.  Don't ask!!