Ikaria Island Explore and Experience Second Edition
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Ikaria Island Explore and Experience Second Edition A Travel and Walking Guide with maps by Charlene Caprio & Lefteris Tsouris Includes Fournoi Islands Ikaria Island Explore and Experience A Travel and Walking Guide with maps by Charlene Caprio and Lefteris Tsouris Second Edition Published by: Authors: Charlene Caprio and Lefteris Tsouris Wooden Hull Press 2019 Editors: Peter Wan, Selene Hellström, Katherine Tsantiris © Wooden Hull Press Cover photo: Lefteris Tsouris © Peter Wan (Indicated photos) Photos: Lefteris Tsouris, Charlene Caprio, and Peter Wan ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this Book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and/or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing, by the publisher with consent by both authors, or for a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Requests for permission should be addressed to: [email protected]. Wooden Hull Press ISBN 978-0-578-40406-6 34 Woodland Street Printed in Greece New Haven, CT 06511 USA [email protected] The authors do not warrant that the data or information in this Guide, or the data or information of third party links or resources referenced in this Guide, will be accurate and/or error-free. We do not assume responsibility for any errors, mistakes, mishaps or misinterpretations as well as for the accuracy, correctness, topicality or quality of the information provided. Updates, Feedback and Inquiries Although the authors walked the routes highlighted in this Guide in the summer of 2018, Ikaria’s landscape is not constant. Paths may alter from landslides and other conditions, and markers and signs may shift. Also, as we are only human, there may be some errors in this Guide. Please help keep this Guide updated and accurate. Record errors, notable details and route changes and send them to us. If you own a GPS device or a smartphone with GPS tracking, please send us the data information. Kindly address all correspondence to: [email protected]. Safety Safety is an important concern for all outdoor activities and must always be placed rst. We cannot alert you to every hazard or anticipate the limitations of every reader. The descrip- tions of roads, routes and other matters in this Guide are not an indication that a particular road, footpath or route will be safe for you. When you follow information and routes suggest- ed in this Guide, you assume responsibility for your own safety. Keep informed on weather conditions at all times, which may change rapidly, and stay alert to your own body and the conditions of the path or road, your water and food supply, the time of day and your general surroundings. Use common sense and always assume that you need to consume more water and food when walking, hiking or engaging in any other physical activity. Check with your physician before exploring the routes or other activities suggested in this Guide. Note on this Edition This Second Edition contains many updates and additions. While most of Ikaria remains unchanged, a few more roads got paved, the archaeological museum re-opened and activities like surng, scuba diving, ceramics and yoga became available. Also, we highlight more of our favorite restaurants, cafes and places to stay. Listening to readers’ feedback, we added a footpath on Ikaria‘s northeastern side, included a footpath to the ‘anti-pirate’ village Lagkada and removed the Atheras Ridgeline Hike (see Walk 6) due to its length. For the Ridge- line Hike, consult with a local hikers group. We also added information on how to extend your travels to visit the nearby Fournoi Islands, with maps and a suggested walking route. 2 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. 8 PART I: BRIEF HISTORY OF IKARIA . 13 From Myth to Reality: Do not y too close to the Sun . 13 History up to the Present . 14 Ikaria’s Museums. 19 PART II: PLANNING YOUR VISIT . 21 When to Visit. 21 Getting to Ikaria . 22 What to Bring . 23 Where to Stay. 24 How to Get Around . 26 Visas and Money . 27 Spotlight: The Ikarian Road Network Paradox . 28 PART III: IKARIAN LIFE, FOOD AND FUN. 30 The Ikarian Way . 30 Ikarian Food . 31 Local Ikarian Products. 35 Religion, Churches and Monasteries . 37 Spotlight: Ikaria’s Festivals (Panigiria) . 38 Spotlight: Ikaria’s Thermal Hot Springs . 39 PART IV: IKARIA’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT . 41 Ecosystems and Microclimates . 41 Ikaria’s Geology . 42 Ikaria’s Flora . 42 Ikaria’s Fauna . 43 Life in the Seas. 44 The Ikarian Sky. 45 Environmental Protection . 45 PART V: IKARIA’S FOOTPATHS - 10 SELECTED ROUTES . 48 Preparing for the Walks. 48 Hikers’ Code of Ethics . 50 Maps Legend and Notes . 51 THE ROUTES . 53 1. Chalari River Canyon (Christos - Nas) Walk . 53 2. The Spanaioi Watermill Walk with additional Walk to a Reservoir and Monastery of Mounte . 57 3. Pezi, Ryaka Waterfall and Selini Pond Walk . 60 4. Ranti Forest and Cave Walk. 64 5. Koskinas Castle and Mt. Atheras Cli Walk . 68 6. Exploring Arethousa and Karavostamo . 72 7. Ikaria’s Western Edge and Remote Villages . 76 8. Ikaria’s Eastern Edge - Drakano Tower, Agios Georgios, and the WWII Bunker . 81 9. Ikaria’s Eastern Edge - Agia Kyriaki Hot Spring / Iero Beach. 83 10. Ksylosyrtis (Papas) Watermill and Lefkada Hot Spring. ..