Like “Airplane leaf in the middle of the ocean” watched Odysseus Elytis V lesbos, he found no other place in the world where “the Sun and Moon reign so harmoniously.”

It was the island of origin of the great Nobel Prize-winning writer, his father, Panagiotis Alepudelis, was from Panayioda-Lesbos. After all, arriving at her airport Mytilene, Elitis first “welcomes” the visitor, and the airport bears his name.

And then moving on to the capital of the island – Lesbos is an island, Mytilini is a city and capital, to clear up one of the most common misconceptions about the island Northeast Aegean– on the main road, among other mansions, the house of the Alepudeli family dominates. It doesn’t look like much, the more you try to imagine it behind the dense vegetation that surrounds it.

With regard to the “flat sheet”, Elitis had in mind not only the form of Lesbos. Crossing the island from one end to the other can be confusing, as half of Lesvos green and the other half is like lunar Landscape, especially during the summer months, as if an imaginary line divided it in two. Her rocky part is the result of her volcanic activity in the area 18 million years ago from the volcanoes Agra, Anemoti, Vatussa, Lepetimnos and Mesotopos, which gave this appearance to central and western Lesvos.

A thousand faces of lesbian land

If you don’t know Lesvos and it’s your first time, you’ll be impressed geological wealth islands, in a short time you can visit an infinite number of “different” places, coexisting a few kilometers from each other. After all, it is about the third largest island in Greece after Crete and Evia, so she needs to devote time, while it is no coincidence that she is included in UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

A good start to your trek is Beauty, the second largest shopping center of the island, located 40 km northwest of Mytilini. The area is known for sardines of these, which are also the famous meze of the local cuisine, as well as the wetlands formed there, some natural, others artificial, such as the salt marshes of the area, which are also “home” to many kinds of birds.

Among them and flamingos. When we ended up in his salt marshes gulf Kallonis, well-known pinkbirds, as well as many other species living in the wetlands, made their own choreographed walk through the water, which we had the opportunity to better see with binoculars through the observation booth. The point is a pole of attraction of worldwide interest, as visitors from different places have constantly arrived there, such as a Briton who has been visiting the island since 1968, an ornithologist who loves to look at them and draw.

Of course, he has his own special place in Lesvos. petrified forest, which you can visit and learn more about it and on Natural History Museum, if you take the road to the west and Sigri. 20 million years of history will pass before your eyes as this is one of the two largest petrified forests in the world, the other being in Arizona. The fossils are related to the intense volcanic activity that once took place in the area, as we mentioned above, while there you will also find fossilized tree trunks that are still rooted in the ground.

Such a large island could not lack appropriate beaches. Some of them even seem unexpectedly large. Like the beach Water, rdo you have the length eight kilometers and is the largest on the island. Free beach throughout its length – nowhere in Lesvos you will find an ill-conceived tourist element – ideal for families. After swimming, one of the quiet taverns of the area with delicious dishes will be waiting for you.

The most popular beach of the island, of course, is hers. Eresu stairs. It has a length four kilometers and it is the most alternative destination of Lesvos – this is also evidenced by the sign indicating the hitchhiking point if you have no other way to cross the long straight that leads to the sea. Eresos was also the birthplace of the great poetess of antiquity. Sappho.

Agiasos, a destination in itself

The two largest mountains of Lesvos, Lepetimnos in the northern part of the island and Olympus in the south they just difference per meter: one mountain has a height of 968 meters and the other 967, which often causes quarrels between the locals, each of whom claims … that his own mountain is higher.

In any case, in the middle of Olympus, on top 460 meters the island’s most special and picturesque attraction, its village, is located Ayasu. The name of the mountain settlement dates back to 803 AD, when Agathon returned to the area from Jerusalem, along with relics such as the icon of the Virgin Mary, which is still in the Assumption Church – indeed, on the 15th. August is a big holiday in the village, and many believers go there on foot. To see the icon of the Virgin Mary “Agia Zion”, believers, of course, went from time immemorial, and the creation of the phrase “Agia Zion” eventually led to the name Agiasos.

A visit to Agiaso is at the same time a journey through time. Locals gather in the central cafes to have a leisurely coffee and chat, but you are unlikely to understand what they are saying to each other, because they are talking local dialect. If the weather is hot, ask to be served kainari, a fragrant red mixture of herbs and spices, which, as the name suggests, has its roots in the depths of Asia Minor.

Among the colorful houses, all without a yard, Agiasos Reading Room, a cultural gem of the region, managed by the people with great love and care. In this important library there is also a hall full of dishes, as the string instrument has a long tradition in the region. We had the opportunity to hear it from an accomplished local musician who, he told us, is called “Casino” by those who know him.

Lesbos always passes through the stomach

To stay longer in Agiaso, before leaving, be sure to try royal cakes her. No, it doesn’t have to be New Year’s Day, as they do it all year round in their own unique way. The royal cake of Agiaso consists of 36 layers of leaves, between which are inserted spices and finely ground sweet and salty myzithra. The cake is then cooked on low heat for three hours and thus acquires a special texture, dry but at the same time slightly juicy.

Wherever you are on the island of Lesbos, you are sure to eat well. fish And seafood they are always fresh and meat delicious. After all, animal husbandry is one of the main parts of the island’s economy, which means that you can eat good cheeses here. Try the local ouzo cheese, feta cheese but also gruyere, and for a snack choose without fear gizlemeds. In fact, these are fried cheese pies rolled up in an envelope, filled with myzithra and with a strong mint flavor.

Also one of the most unique local dishes of Lesvos are suganias. These are stuffed onions with minced meat and rice, reminiscent of yuvarlaki, “embraced” with layers of baked onions.

Of course, lesbians also know sweets. They make it almond baklava, they make chestnut honey, but also fig jam. Definitely worth stopping by Women’s Agrotourism Cooperative To middle try fresh macaroons and buy local products, natural soaps and cosmetics.

Of course, we couldn’t leave Lesbos without a drink. ouzo, the island’s ultimate trademark. To find out more about it, we of course visited it. Plomari but also his factory Ouzo Plomariou, where we learned the story of Isidoros Arvanitis, whose ouzo label is on the counters all over the world. And we also took a walk in the seaside village of Plomari, everything you need for summer walks in the sun.

And the journey continues

Lesvos is all of the above and more. They black sheep which you will see in small flocks on almost every route of the island. lanes in Ladadika of Mytilene that are full of life. A fully lit castle that dominates evening walks. Pencil. Monastery of Taxiarchis with its own special history. Theriade Museum dedicated to the work of Stratis Eleftheriadis. pottery To Mandamado, where Mr. Stelios Stamatis continues the tradition he learned from his great-grandfathers.

Everything is waiting for you to discover. And if you hear them call them all by me women’s article, do not be surprised. People in Lesvos are used to it.