![]() ![]() Off the beaten track in the Northern Sporades Skopelos is green and well wooded, the honeyed scent of the pine forest wafting out to sea as we approached. ![]() It is an attractive town, but we rarely visit as we usually pass south of the islands where our favourite anchorage is Panormos.Īs the name ‘all round bay’ suggests, Panormos is sheltered from all directions and we have sat out a few thunderstorms and gales here. Skopelos town and main harbour are on the north coast. However, as Aleko worked in the olive press in Milina in his youth, I was given the complete guided tour as he explained the workings of a cylinder with double-rotating grindstones and the huge iron press. It was picturesquely derelict with crumbling walls and the rusting remains of the old steam and not-quite-so-old diesel engines. On Tsougkria we investigated the old olive press. The crumbling remains of an old olive press on the island of Tsougkria, which has no resident population. Skiathos is the busiest island so this is the place to go for nightlife but we prefer the quieter places In five years I’ve not yet been to the main town and largest harbour in the Sporades. The distances between islands may be short, but the wind funnels through the gaps – these islands were once known to fishermen as the Gates of the Wind.Īleko suggested a lunch stop off Nisida Tsougkria, a small islet south of Skiathos town. Our timing was bad, we’d be crossing the gap between Skiathos and Skopelos at lunchtime. ![]() Credit: Genevieve Leaperįor us just a day’s sail from Aleko’s home village of Milina, the Northern Sporades are ideal for a short cruise, which was all we wanted in October.Ĭoming from the south, the archipelago is a short sail from northern Evia.īeating up towards Skiathos, Aleko caught a swordfish – so that was dinner sorted.Ĭoming into calmer waters in the lee of the island we passed Koukounaries, often described as ‘the most beautiful beach in the Aegean’.įrom the sea the most conspicuous feature is a huge hotel, but out of season it is a lovely beach over-hung by pine trees with a lagoon behind. Ormos Vasiliko in the Northern Sporades offers good holding for those wanting to anchor. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |