SAMOS: Pleasant surprise

If I were to describe SAMOS for its landscape and its colors can not start with the image that most of all I was tied to this island: its pastel-colored sunsets at the port of Pythagorio full of blue boats, blue, white and red and yellow fishing nets intense.
But I could not even leave out the gray of its expanses of olive trees or the most intense green of its rich vegetation often interspersed by tall cypress trees. Or the big spots of yellow broom in the west, wild and still feeling the scars left by a fire have a few ago.
And how not to be enchanted in front of the crystalline transparency of its water wonderful?
Here, SAMOS is all this, but not only ... ...
And 'the homeland of the great mathematician Pythagoras, who welcomes you to the harbor with a statue dedicated to his theorem, and a nice cup which he designed, which can not lack in the booty of any tourist.
And 'the land that gave birth to the goddess Hera, but it is also the island where you can see one of the aqueducts of ancient Greece.
But the goal is not suitable for those looking for the blue and white houses that have made other famous islands such as Santorini. Is not completely lacking, but in short ... if you look for that type of landscape does not go to SAMOS, where the buildings are less typical, without taking anything away from the overall charm of the island.

 

Our base will be the Bay of Maritza Pythagorio. Simple hotel in about 3 kilometers from the center, with a beautiful swimming pool with sea view, but, aime, with two small beaches are not equipped and accessible only via a steep road under the scorching sun.
This is not particularly disturbing because we rent a car to move immediately to the discovery of the island. However, it is a particular to consider if you plan a relaxing holiday in the hotel.

The first impact with the port of Pythagorio is already a major success. Gathered around the bay is surrounded by a myriad of clubs and restaurants overlooking the sea. We take our first Greek salad by choosing the locale according to a criterion "pure" food: the color of the chairs! Many restaurants keep a very simple design with the typical straw chairs painted bright blue or blue ... and because I like a lot ... always choose a restaurant based on the location and color of the chairs! The idea is somewhat 'strange .... But we do not we have never regretted!

The central street of Pythagorio is full of car rental companies that are competing to attract the customer. Get a tour scoured before choosing the most convenient.
The day is calm and hot, we make a brief visit to the Monastery which is located above Pythagorio and which offers an excellent view over the city just to get a little confidence with this beautiful island we are going to make us a ride to SAMOS town that I am not particularly excited.
The choice to stay in Pythagorio in effect will be quite apt.

At night the port of Pythagorio comes alive and is filled with fishing boats and pleasure craft, and assumed an air festive and peaceful at the same time.
It will be here to enjoy the sunset view of an unforgettable experience: the colors pink and blue pastel blend together before leaving the place in the deep blue that foretells the night.

The small size of the permit to distribute better throughout the day, wander to the discovery and relax on the beach.

We begin with a stop in Myli, famous for its mills ... of which, however, is not a trace remained. In a pottery shop, I immediately come into the cup of Pythagoras, "Dikìa koupi" or cup just so that I was intrigued when I read that. In fact, a simple game "plumbing" that allows a cup with holes to hold water .. but only up to a certain level, beyond which the cup is emptied completely. Beyond the explanation is a hydraulic nice souvenir that I do not miss and that I miss many friends.

Turning into the Megali Panagia monastery. We arrive just before the opening, there is none and we are surrounded by a silence still. We welcomed a beautiful fuchsia bougainvillea in full bloom in the courtyard and another plant that is not so - unfortunately - to identify, but who gives a tuft rose flowers. Stairs, canopies and so are wood ... it was not for the climate and Mediterranean plants definitely could be a mountain monastery.

Soon we realize that SAMOS is a very militarized, we notice, in fact, a large deposit of means of war in relation to the size of the island is truly enormous. It will not be the only one that will meet, but certainly the biggest. Obviously, the proximity of Turkey is the cause.

Our first day ends at Psili Ammos, a beautiful sandy beach ideal for families with children because the water is crystal remains low for several meters. Psili Ammos is exactly opposite to Turkey from which, they say, is just one mile ....

The discovery of not including a stop at the village of Platanos. This tiny village is located on top of a hill covered with olive trees and is accessed via a side street very close to .... comes out in tiny little square surrounded by trees. Fearing that he had the wrong road trying to reverse, but a person invites us to cross the square in the middle of the tables to the parking garage. It seems strange .... but it is so! If you have a car even for a medium sized park just before the bottleneck ... otherwise impossible to extricate!
Platanos is a quiet village that is developed in this small square shaded by plane trees, the shade of which the elderly enjoy the coffee in the morning and relax by playing with the koboloi typical game / anti-greek.

Karlovassi, is the other major center of the island. It has a beautiful square and an Orthodox church very beautiful and impressive, which, unlike other already seen, is fresh and bright and does not convey that sense of oppression heavy dark churches and narrow.

Before you enjoy a little 'rest on the beach, we reach Manolates, a small village 500 meters above sea level which gives us some' street in a white lime and blue doors that give both Greece characteristic. Walk among flowering balconies and small souvenir shops and then we head all'estiatorio "Lucas" for lunch, where you can eat under a pergola overlooking the sea.
A Manolates known a curious habit that initially exchange forgotten, or but SAMOS is an island of forgetful ... or, indeed, crime is minimal. What is this that catch my attention? Simple, leaving the keys of the house put in the lock outside. Now it is unthinkable to us something like .... I note that here is a habit rather widespread. In contrast to our towns and cities here you can still live quiet on the other hand the island is very small and with such a high concentration of military any thief would certainly not an easy life.

We do still time to make a stop on the beach and today we choose Lemonakia, not recommended when there is too much wind, but ideal for a hot day. Lemonakia is one of the most beautiful beaches of SAMOS, pebbles and crystal clear sea that incantano ... and a beautiful olive tree under which you are really cool when the sun's rays do not give truce!

We also visit other beaches like Kerveli, very shady and quiet Glicorisa, small and beautiful, but Lemonakia remain our preferred

The latter is a few meters from our hotel and it is reported for the special purity of the waters of its bay. Only out of place in my opinion, is the big bar / restaurant that overlooks the entire beach. The structure is beautiful, well cared for .. in short, nothing to say about it, but I prefer the beaches a little more wild, less well equipped but also less "contaminated" by tourism convenience.

Kokkari, another major tourist center of this beautiful island and lovely town, both during the day and evening. It 'very close to the beach and Lemonakia worth a visit is during the day when you can enjoy a drink in comfortable seats from which to admire the sea always crystal clear, and when night comes alive in souvenir shops and restaurants that color the environment with their chairs blue or pink or green. A Kokkari I "throw" sull'Optapo (octopus) grilled, and when they ask me if is good cooked with garlic accetto good lena ... ... But I do not know what I expected ... although garlic is an ingredient that I use often kitchen, are not prepared to intense and spicy flavor of garlic greek ... ne of its quantity! So tenetene account if you do not want to be like little surprises.

Who's going to SAMOS can not miss the sunset seen from the tip of Aghios Nicholaos. Kokkari is located between and Karlovassi and is reached via a steep and narrow road, but it is worth the penalty. Once parked at the harbor of this tiny country and continue walking until you get to a restaurant by the sea. And 'the best place to enjoy the show in peace! The disc of molten gold of the sun dips slowly into the sea before you and the nuances and colors of the sky change in seconds from yellow all'Arancio to immediately cede the post to a softer pink that fades in 'blue becoming darker. It 'really a beautiful spectacle worth seeing.

In the end we can not fly to miss a night on the boat. You can book these outputs directly to the port of Pythagorio and among the many proposals offered, we choose to make our evening with Captain Yannis, which I read an excellent opinion about a story of travel.
E 'will be a short navigation of about half an hour until Possidonio harbor and then a dinner with songs and dances.
Captain Yannis is a very special character: it is a typical sailor 'style trial of strength, striped shirt, beard and pipe, a little' cook, a little 'jester, a little' acrobat, un po 'dancer sirtaki of us enjoy a very pleasant evening.
The return to the silence and obscurity of the Sea allows us to enjoy a wonderful starry sky that will stop as soon as we approach the port. Captain prepares, in fact, a triumphant entrance, shooting some razzett colored by his on the top of the boat and playing a big shell ... with the inevitable "dance of Zorba" that completes the scene.

Soon the time comes to leave this beautiful island perhaps less known than the most popular Rhodes or Mykonos, but which has nothing to envy and a po 'di nostalgia for the relaxed pace of life that we had done our part, we thrown back into the stagnation Brianza of our daily lives.