Hello Ios!

On Monday 26^th I woke up at 5.50 to collect my laundry from the yard and then Athina came to pick me up. We drove to Pireus E7 (normally I always leave from E8). I hopped in and the woman asked to see my student card but I was just telling her that I study in greek university in Egaleo etc etc and all in greek. So she just left me in with no hussle. At the door this other greek woman was so surprised when I spoke greek! She helped me to get to my seat.. The ticket price to Ios was 57€ but I got it half price. The boat left at 7 am and arrived to Ios around 11.45. Spinich pie was again my breakfast on the boat.

At the port there were at least 30 people with the signs and this really nice woman came to ask me if I needed a place to stay. Her place was right at the Chora (village) and in her other place 5 minute walk away she had a swimming pool. She offered 25€ at first but dropped it to 20€. In the car she also told me that I was being really clever since if I would have booked it online the same room would have been around 80€!! The companies like booking.com etc. take so much money from their service so the hotels need to raise their prices in order to get enough money for themselves. Margarita’s room was very simple right at the Chora so with perfect location and all I could ask or need. Avanti was her other place on the other side of the Chora with way more expensive places and this perfect pool! I was so lucky!

I went to walk around, found info, got a map and went for 2,5€ gyros. Then I went to the pool to cool down! I decided to walk to this church up top (not in the Chora side). I thought I was being smart but ended up in a dead end. Ended up walking for ages and had to ask couple times but eventually when I found it it was perfect and I was the only one up there! Proper zen moment.

Then when I started coming down I noticed that the dead end would have actually led there.. So coming down it took me literally three minutes to be back at the pool! I was at the pool for another hour and then I left for a nap. A bit before eight o’clock I started climbing on top of Chora with another three churches there and a beautiful spot for sunset! On the way up I got to admire the tiny little alleys in Chora.

After I was trying to find a place to eat and noticed that there were almost more clubs and bars than tavernas.. Went to eat at this local greek place called the Net and most of the prices were at least 0,5-1.5€ more than for example in Athens or Poros. After eating I found this nice place the Steps! Met an American and a british girl but decided to head to bed after a while..

On a Tuesday morning I woke up already around nine and left to walk towards the windmills I had spotted the previous day up in the hill. It was really easy to find but they were a bit of a disappointment, nothing special really. Then it was time to head towards the beach Mylopotas by foot. It was only maybe around 2,5 km away from the Chora. They had the steepest stairs to descent to the beach! All the tavernas and coffee places were still shut but I found the Free Beach Bar where the American girl was working and I went there! Check out the pictures! The coolest pool ever! Also quite expensive but I spent there almost my all day from 10.30 to four o’clock.

It was again such a hot day that I took a bus to the Chora for around 10 minutes paying 1,8€ for the bus ticket. I went to the ferry office to figure out prices for different islands (I also used a page called viva.gr). Then it was pool time for around one hour to actually plan where to go next! I wrote the days down and made myself a plan. It was Mykonos time next even though it was said to be the busiest and most expensive. Smaller islands close by where said to be so so small that there would be really nothing there especially when I was alone. When I left the pool I went to buy the ticket to Mykonos and again got the -50% discount for the ferry. Then I had to rush to shower and back to the bus stop to catch the bus to Koumbara for Patmos Sunset Lounge / Beach bar at 19.05. The bus only went once in an hour and I didn’t wanna risk not finding the place and missing the sunset. The sunsets were around 20.40.

The bus was so packed and the guy who charged us tickets told us to play human tetris. The bus dropped us straight in front of the Patmos and it cost 10€ to get in but with that you got one cocktail for free so it was okey! The sunset was pretty amazing! I didn’t stay to hang around after the sunset but left for the bus and they had thought it really well since the bus was there right after the sunset and you didn’t for example have to wait for an hour for the bus. After I went to wander around in Chora and for couple of wines glasses around.