We started early, at 9.00 a.m. the bus was there to pick us up in Petra. From there (after we picked up all the other people) we went straight to the Mino Limonos Monastery.It was in between the city of Kalloni and the village of Filia. The part we visited was the part build for males the part that was for females was located on the other side of the mountain. It was a very nice monastery, first we got a tour through the little museum that was part of it, after that we had some time to look around by ourselves. Females weren't allowed in the main building unfortunately...

After that we went to the village of Vatoussa. This is build against a vulcano. Unfortunately it was lunchtime and thy only gave us half an hour, so we didn't see much of it. The Yoghurt and honey is Delicius there! (if you ever go there...;)). And the toast and eggs too...(we hadn't eaten since 8 o'clock)

From Vatoussa we went to the Petrified Forest, close to Sigri. It was beautiful! Not really a forest, it is a big park with petrified trees spread around, but it is very impressive to see a 20 million year old tree with a lot of different colors. The Forest was created when a vulcano erupted and everything was covered with vulcanic ashes, and no oxygen. It caused the trees to petrify. Because water in the ground that got to it , and rain when they surfaced, they got all the different colors. Because of the minerals etc that were in the water. Well if i got it right that's how it worked explained in easy words...

From the Petrified forest we traveled on to Skala Eressou, a very famous village with what is said to be the most beautiful beach. (i liked the one in Petra better, but i guess that's just me...) Famous peopel are supposed to visit regularly. We ate something at reataurant Gorgona, and took a walk throught town. It's a nice place to be, but after an entire day, it's fine to go home again. They do have nice shops there though.

We had a small photostop outside Skala Kallonis on the way back, so we had a view over the Gulf of Kalloni. It was a really pretty view. After that we went straight home and arrived back at about 6.30 p.m.

We had a great vacation on Lesvos. It is a beautiful island with many sights, really nice people, delicious food, and great weather ;) Better then in the Netherlands anyways.

The island has a great history. First it was part of the Roman Empire, after that split up it became part of the Bizantine Empire. After a lot of struglles, and invasions by pirates, the island was invaded by the Bizantine Empire once more in 1204, and later given away as a gift to the Italian Gateluzo family. This family took good care of the island untill it was conquered by the Turks in 1462. They weren't defeatd untill 1912, and the island became an official Greek island in 1922.

Lesvos is one big monument. The whole island became a monument not so long ago, which means there are no big hotels (except for two in the city of Eftalou), no MacDonalds, Burger King or any other of those fast food things. They want to keep Lesvos as it is, a typical Greek island. Lesvos is famous for it's sardines, olive oil and olive wood sculptures. There are also many museums, churches, beautiful beaches, traditional villages and hot springs.

We stayed in Petra, close to the sea. It's a small village in Northern Lesvos, with about 1,000 inhabitants during Summer. In Wintertime it reduces to about 250. There are many shops, hotels and restaurants along the shore, but there are also very nice places to find a little further away . Petra is build around a rock with a church; Glykfylousa Panagia, but more abut that later.
Some streets are really small, but that gives you the feeling that you are indeed staying in an old town, not a modern new build one :). traffic is plenty though, especially along the shore where cars are allowed. Most people ride on scooters or motorcycles to the backstreets, because those are to small for even one car to go there.