Syros – part one!

Syros is a new island for us. Well, we were in Finikas on the southwest side of the island some years ago while sailing in the group I have told you about before. But actually, I can`t remmember we were there…

Many people have told us we need to go to Syros, so now before Christmas we wanted to check it out. We sailed over from Mykonos early in the morning after the wind turned and increased. That was not a comfortable sailing, luckily it was a short distance, just 18 nm. But the weather was terrible, the wind was up to 35 knots and the waves was huge so it was like to be inside a washing mashine…. I was so happy when we came into the bay in front of the main town Ermoupolis.

Ermpoupolis is a really nice town with two hills, one on Chora, old town, with the Catholic Cathedral of Saint George. Check my next photos to see the other hill. Behind the mast on the highest mountain you can see, you will find the highest mountain on the island, of course that will be on our todolist!

We moored at the town quay, but after a while we realized it was not a place to be. It is a lot of swell there, even if the wind came from north, and the public boats is also making some waves. So the harbour master recommended us to go to the marina instead. As we did. But before we threw the lines an octopus visited us, behind the boat. Luckily he didn`t climb on the boat!!

Here you can see both hills, Chora to left with the catholic church on the top, and Church of the Resurrection of the Lord to the right. It is 50 high meter between theese two churches but it is hard to see from the sea.

So we sailed over to the abandoned marina instead and found a spot for us. It was much wind in the wrong direction so it was hard to put the lines ashore. As you can see the view to town is not that nice from here, with the shipyard in front.

Ermoupoli is a town for you who likes walking in stairs, because you will find them everywhere! So we took a walk to town in the morning (before we found out that there is free buses almost from the marina to town). But it was a nice walk, then you see more than if you are on a bus.

The city center of Ermoupoli where we moored first.

Sun and okay temperature in the end of November, but not many tourists in Greece now. It should be possible to go here later than early October. It is amazing here, specially if you like to explore and hike!

National Resistance Momument

The town hall and main square.

Church of Agios Nikolaos

Inside the church.

Colourful church

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The northern part of town

There is a place you can sit in the sun and have a swim. It was too cold for us.

We wanted this first day to walk up to the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord.

I don`t know how many steps it was from the bottom to the top, but it is MANY!!

Outside the church, the view to the other hill.

It doesn`t seems that steep from here, but you can try to start at the bottom…..it is steep!

Church of the Resurrection of the Lord

The view from the top is amazing!

And now it is time to walk all the steps down again.

It is still some beautiful bouganvillas around.

When we came down to the city center it was a lot of kids playing on the square.

Ups, all the pigeons flew!

Back in the boat Astor took a walk around the marina. Here you see Felizia between the two other sailboats.

Look at this old fuel pump. I guess it has been a while since it has been in use!

Some old buildings around the marina.

After a couple of days with bad weather with rain and wind it was sunny again and we were ready for a hike! We took the bus to the square were we started our hike to Chora and the hill behind.

We had the direction to Chora and all the steps up to the church.

I am sad it is hard to see the end of this stair! It was so long…

Not half way up….

Many and long stairs, it was nice to have pitstop and nice company. Not all the cats are cozy here in Greece, a lot of them are afraid people. But not this one, it was hard to leave!

Do you feel welcome here? I wouldn`t have used this stair!

It is so beautiful to walk around!

I want a bouganvilla when we are back home! (but then we need to paint the house, because the house is red)

We thought we were on the top… ah… laughing high….

Nice detail!

The view from Chora is better than from the other hill!

Many sign where to go, but most of theese are closed for the winter.

Our plan was to hike up this hill, maybe to the monastery almost on the top. First we had to walk down from Chora before going up again…

The church on the top of Chora was open so we could go inside. It was a large church with many details.

This was so beautiful.

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It is a viewpoint outside the church, I guess it would have been an amazing view there, but it was closed. So then it was time to walk down again.

This is on the back side of Chora.

Here is the trail we wanted to follow.

First over a bridge.

The sun started to go down behind the hill.

Behind the shipyard you can see the marina where we are staying.

The view from the hill over to Chora and the other hill in town.

The trail was nice with a beautiful view!

We are trying to get some nice shots as close as possible, but when they are moving it is not easy!

The view from the hill is amazing and it`s worth all the steps! We walked only up the first part to a small church. Had a pitstop there with an orange. I was sweat and it started to get cold when the sun got away, so we realized we had to walk down again.

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We walked through a part of Chora on the way down to town.

And of course, a lot of steps down also.

We came down to town and found this guy, E.T.? It was cold, and most of the shops was closed, so we took the bus back to the boat and made dinner.

Here is a video from our exploring:

Next time we will climb to the highest mountain on the island, and we will join the Christmas Tree Lightning!