Poliegos & Sifnos
Today we continued on our quest to explore the smaller and lesser known of the Cycladic islands.
Our first stop was the island of Poliegos, which means the ”island of many goats.” This is a beautiful and geologically fascinating island, but so small that few guidebooks even include it. Maybe thanks to this we were yet again spoiled with our very own beach, where we spent a few hours kayaking, hiking and snorkeling. After a morning of water activities and after indulging in our Greek lunch buffet filled with various salads, cheeses, fresh fish, chicken and the most glorious chocolate cake, all washed down with local wines and coffee, a few hours of rest was much appreciated.
In the afternoon we docked in the port of Kamares on the island of Sifnos. This island was once well known for its gold mines and the locals would every year make a pilgrimmage to Dephi and pay homage to Apollo by handing over a golden egg in his temple. One year, the story goes, they cheated and instead sent a painted rock to liken the egg. Apollo was infuriated and flooded the island’s mines and from that the island got the name Sifnos which means ”empty.” Today however, empty is by no means a good way to describe the island.
The day was still hot and the sun was shining from a blue sky as the buses took us up on the top of the island to the picturesque village of Kastro. We walked around the perimeter of the Venetian ”castle” for the view of the small blue-domed Orthodox church and the sea below, before entering the narrow alleys inside the walls. Most of our group opted to be dropped off in the village of Artemonas and walk to the next village, Apollonia, 20 minutes full of photo opportunities.
The evening was spent docked at Kamares, giving everyone a chance for a short stroll or a drink or coffee in the little town after dinner.
The conclusion we arrived at while the sun set yet again into the Mediterranean Sea was that both Poliegos and Sifnos might be smaller in terms of size and fame, but are, because of this, maybe offering an ever grander experience.
Today we continued on our quest to explore the smaller and lesser known of the Cycladic islands.
Our first stop was the island of Poliegos, which means the ”island of many goats.” This is a beautiful and geologically fascinating island, but so small that few guidebooks even include it. Maybe thanks to this we were yet again spoiled with our very own beach, where we spent a few hours kayaking, hiking and snorkeling. After a morning of water activities and after indulging in our Greek lunch buffet filled with various salads, cheeses, fresh fish, chicken and the most glorious chocolate cake, all washed down with local wines and coffee, a few hours of rest was much appreciated.
In the afternoon we docked in the port of Kamares on the island of Sifnos. This island was once well known for its gold mines and the locals would every year make a pilgrimmage to Dephi and pay homage to Apollo by handing over a golden egg in his temple. One year, the story goes, they cheated and instead sent a painted rock to liken the egg. Apollo was infuriated and flooded the island’s mines and from that the island got the name Sifnos which means ”empty.” Today however, empty is by no means a good way to describe the island.
The day was still hot and the sun was shining from a blue sky as the buses took us up on the top of the island to the picturesque village of Kastro. We walked around the perimeter of the Venetian ”castle” for the view of the small blue-domed Orthodox church and the sea below, before entering the narrow alleys inside the walls. Most of our group opted to be dropped off in the village of Artemonas and walk to the next village, Apollonia, 20 minutes full of photo opportunities.
The evening was spent docked at Kamares, giving everyone a chance for a short stroll or a drink or coffee in the little town after dinner.
The conclusion we arrived at while the sun set yet again into the Mediterranean Sea was that both Poliegos and Sifnos might be smaller in terms of size and fame, but are, because of this, maybe offering an ever grander experience.
