Having the bike was great. We could head into town or wherever whenever we felt like it.
A typical night would see us heading into Scala for a wander, an aperitif in the square followed by dinner in one of the many tavernas available. As is usual for us we had found one we liked and kept going back.
Scala main square & surroundings
A favourite taverna
Although I had been up to the chora before, I had not visited the cave of the apocalypse.
Off we go in the morning from Livadhia
The Cave is traditionally believed to be the place where Saint John the Theologian received the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation. It sits halfway between Skala and chora.
Saint John was exiled to Patmos around 95 AD under Emperor Domitian.
Inside this cave, he is said to have heard the divine voice dictating the text of Revelation, which his disciple Prochorus wrote down.
The only divine voice I heard was the priest at the door asking for the admittance fee.
Chora is lovely as witnessed by the following scenes – this is where Albert of “Albert & Thomas” fame , our French friends who will be hosting part of our stay in France next year owns a house.
Colourfull Chora
View down to Scala Patmos and our anchorage top right in the far distance
After a bit of exploring & a coffee stop we headed off to Grikos Bay.
Coffee stop in chora
View down to Grikos
Just across from the islet, on the mainland side of the bay, is Kalikatsou Rock, which was used as a hermit’s dwelling in early Christian times.
There are carved niches, steps, and small chambers inside the rock. It’s believed to have been a place of ascetic retreat, similar in spirit to the Cave of the Apocalypse but not directly connected to Revelation.
Our revelation was that the main access route to Grikos bay was blocked by a cement mixer so it was an interesting return back up the hill to find another route. Well done Penelope Pit Stop. LOL
We had swung by here on the boat a few years before and wondered about stopping but didn’t. You can pick up a rental buoy but in effect turns you are quite far out from Scala and the only restaurants seem to be hotel based and extremely expensive.
Grikos Bay & old man Grikos himself
It was now too late for lunch so we headed down the wine roads to Petra but again didn’t get too far as the surface became a bit a bit off roadish.
Fun and OK for me by Louise wasn’t to keen
Can’t blame her though, gravel rash would be sore in the event of a spill only wearing shorts & tee shirts.
So back into Scala and a drink in the square before heading back to the anchorage.
George, Mike & Barbara had arrived in tour absence ………….
George & Barbara anchored behind us
………… so we arranged to meet at the taverna above the anchorage for dinner,
excellent end to the day.
They were staying around these locales for a bit (idling time before needing to get to Kos for the party) We asked if they would like to hire bikes the next day and join us , but Barbara is not too keen on two wheels.
Next day we headed off to Lampi (The bay we had anchored off a few weeks before our aborted attempt to head to Lesbos) By now the two tavernas were open and we plumped for the 2nd one along. A very nice man.George Orfanadis who was eating in the taverna came to our table and recommended some dishes. He told us he had a house in a bay nearer to Scala. We knew it well . He invited us for coffees later in the week. Louise would have loved to have gone. The house and gardens are fantastic. Unfortunately the weather changed for the worst and we didn’t want to leave the boat unattended and had to phone him to cancel. Next time maybe ?
That’s George at the table behind Louise.
So that was a brief précis of our weeks “holiday” on Patmos.
It’s a lovely island.
I will have fond memories of the view & quietness of that anchorage
On our last night we had a strawberry moon .
