Sunday 28th May
If there is an easy way or a difficult one we are sure to pick the latter!
Today was no different.
Having seen the fortress from our anchorage we set off up what seemed the obvious hill to visit it.
Past ancient grafitti on our way
On we go …..
and on ………
and on ……..
and having finally arrived ………. only to be confronted by a srceaming kids outing! lol
The Fortress itself is a 17th century Ottoman castle built on the “continental” coast of the city of Khalkis (not on the island of Evia) which together with the destroyed castle of Khalkis had made the city impregnable.
The site of the fortress is thought to be by some scholars as ancient Kanethos.
The castle now seen was probably built by the Turks in 1684 in order to protect Khalkis from the Venetians. It was designed by the Venetian Gerolimo Galopo and architecturally is more European than Turkish in character. The fortress was unsuccessfully besieged by the Venetians of Morozini in 1688 and the Turks managed to keep it until the Greek liberation when they gave it over to the Greek state after the treaty of 1833
The descent was a more direct affair back down the steps into the town for another look around, have some lunch , fuel up & get things ready for our departure.
Monday 29th May
Bridge Transit
Unfortunately we have no pictures of the actual bridge transit.
The bridge invariably opens at night for half an hour or so at slack water. Having paid your fees to the port authority you are told a time to be ready (between 10:00pm and 03:00 am). No matter how many people try they are unwilling for some reason to give a definitive time or even a smaller interval!
You listen to your radio and at some point you are told to make ready. Thereafter form an orderly line through the bridge that is now opened allowing any big ships the right of way first.
Apparently it can sometimes be mayhem but for us all seemed reasonably calm and a bonus we got through not long after 10:00.
People line the bridge sides and overlooking taverna to watch and there is a live webcam on line as well. We tried to let people know to watch but not knowing the exact time of our passing it was an issue.
We didn’t want to stop alongside on the quay landing just 2 minutes north of the bridge for two reasons. Lily, and also reports of people jumping on and off boats, theft and even violence. Sad that it seems also to have reached Greece – well this part anyway but very unusual. So we are heading to anchor at Nea Artaki just under 5 miles away. See the town in the distance in the picture below.
We arrived at just after 11:00pm and anchored just outside the harbour hoping we had gauged the tidal range and shoal water correctly. Was there any doubt? lol
…. yes a little !
