Our final day

I began the morning with a great swim. The water was as smooth as a bathtub, and I had it almost to myself. So, I just lay back, closed my eyes and listened to the water trickling over the pebbles. Half an hour of this behaviour, and I was the most relaxed I have been in ten years. Even now I can use this memory to unwind…

Of course, there were things to be getting on with. Having decided to do a bit of tourist stuff on the way back to Mytilini port, we had to head off just after brunch.

First stop was the Petrified Forest. The oldest fossils therein are 20 million years old, and it is the largest and most significant petrified forest in the world. The species of pine and sequoia unearthed here no longer grow anywhere in Europe or the Mediterranean. Most fascinating of all, is that two petrified forests exist - the second having grown over the first about 7 million years ago. Wow.

Overall, I was torn between either thinking this was pretty cool or wondering why I was clambering over a wasteland looking at rocks:


Although, this one looks like a face:


From the forest we drove to Kalloni and the Limonos monastery. We had seen this on our first day’s driving, but were too lost to stop:


This time, we had the leisure to check out the cute buildings, and the nice courtyard. Parts of the complex are closed to women, but Lucy took some covert shots of one of the chapels:


Back on the road, we were full steam ahead to Mytilini port. We arrived with enough time to explore a bit, so I walked to the other end of town to buy takeaway Ouzo and snap a picture or two:




The place was pretty damn charming, and it would have been interesting to spend a few days there. But, not this time.

Another fifteen hour trip later, we were back in Lewisham unwrapping souvenirs and already missing the sunshine.

An amazing trip.