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(Page 10)

24.05.2001
Stern-to Skiathos visitors pontoon
40.14.165N 23.58.068 East
09.37 hrs
Temp 17.8C
Baro 1026
Wind NE 7 increasing.

The weather has continued dull and overcast. This is said to be "very unusual", however it dampens the desire to go exploring under sail! We have spent the time restocking with fresh food, getting fuel, some more beers and a new large gas bottle.

On returning to the boat it became obvious that this afternoon was "leave home day" for cockroaches! Twenty or so landed on us and the boats around us. There was a mad rush to shut all hatches as they clearly wanted to stay and have a big family! An extra problem became apparent when we got the water pipe to top up our tanks. We actually did not need much. The tourist planes have been landing at a great rate, you cannot miss them, they come in over the harbour at less than 300 meters! Due to the huge increase in humans on the island, so the volume of fresh water being consumed has dramatically increased. The "town water" is now salty. For us it means the management of water stocks aboard Tirla. Our port tank is now "salty water" used for washing etc, our starboard tank is still potable water. The centre tank is also now salty. All extra water bottles are refilled from the spring water tap by the bus stop some 100 meters from the quay. This is pure water and tastes excellent. However, each person is allowed to take a maximum of 25 litres a day. We also carry bought bottled water. A recent UN report has concluded that, depending on ones location, there is little advantage in drinking such water. Across the world it was said that in many cases the actual source sometimes used was said to be "dubious"! A once famous French brand some years ago is an obvious case in point. There is no easy way to tell the quality of the water we get from anywhere other than our own reverse osmosis water maker.

Up in the hills some 10 kilometres from the town is the "Holy Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin in Skiathos". It was founded in 1794 following a dispute in a monastery at Mt Athos as to whether Mass should be held on Saturdays or Sundays.

By 1806 the main building complex was completed. In 1807 the first Greek flag with the white Cross on a blue background was designed blessed and raised. The Greek guerrilla leaders met here in the early 1800's to plan the liberation of the Nation.

Today the monastery houses many Holy Relics. During the celebration at the climax of Holy Week a plane, charted by a very wealthy Greek ship owner, Andreas Potamianos, brings a Holy Flame direct from Jerusalem. Thousands of pilgrims flock here for the 15th of August.

We set off on foot from the boat, luckily it was a cool day. As we went up through the olive groves the noise of the town faded and the temperature dropped with the wind cutting across the hills from the North. The views back across Skiathos island were well worth the initial struggle to get up the very steep gradients on the concrete road.
Eventually we turned a corner and there nestling in the trees was the Monastery.