Evia

About Evia

Evia is the second large island in Greece, and lies northeast of Athens. There is connection by bridge from the mainland to the island, and otherwise a part of ferries - here there are as so many other place cut down, so control the ferry schedule in time. 

We visited Evia last in May month 2003. We had read that the island should be 
beautiful and variant, so when there was a cheap ticket with SAS "Snowflake" we booked quickly our tickets. 
First goal was Karistos, which is situated in the south, and we had decided to take the bridges to Evia, so we could see the landscape during the drive to Karistos. 

We make a stop for ice coffee in Eretria, which we found touristy, from here there is ferry to mainland and seeing worthy things. (By a later visit in Eritrea, we found out that many hotels were closed down or for sale). 

I will also make attentive, that on Evia the season start mid June month, and therefore we did not find many hotels opened - anyway we had a bed every night. 
At the taverns we usually only found grill foot at this time of the year, but we did not go hungry to bed any night, but we missed the good cooking in casseroles etc. 

The driving round at Evia takes long, long time, there are MANY turns, and the roads most place quiet narrow, so have good time. 
You will find ferries from mainland - there is connection to the southern and northern part of Evia from mainland. 

BUT, May month was perfect to drive this long trip, not too hot, and nature stand in full flora - and the goal with the trip was, to "check out" the island for good places for later use. 
In Karistos, we immediately found hotel Als, which lies by the harbour, the hotel is old, no breakfast, but the view over the harbour is delicious, and when You have a bed and a bath, what more can You need? 
OK - location is perfect. Taverns, cafés we found a great part of at the sea front, and smaller "snack shops" in the side streets. 

The price level was some low here end when we came more north - Eretria - Limni it became more expensive. Karistos a common Greek town, here was actually no tourists, and in area around we visited some small villages , and at the south-eastern coast, there is a bulk of windmills in the rugged landscape, and our drive was with out any other traffic the definite not some annoy traffic, apart from the sheep as lay and sleep on way.

Tuesday, the goal was Limni or Loutra Edipsos, but first we should see Kimi at the east-coast, so we had to go some kilometres that day. It became a nice trip, through the green landscape. 
Kimi town was humming of life, we had to visit the Bank and had also a little bit of lunch, before we had to go back at the some road to Lepoura, Halkida and north. 

But on the road out of town we saw a fine sign to Steni - only 52 km, at our map we did not find a road, but maybe it was too old? 
The first 24 km we drove on an elegant asphalted through elegant landscape, and in background we can glimpse the snow at mountain Dirfi 1741 m, YES we have shot the parrot! 
But suddenly it was the end, now there was only a narrow dirt road - and in a very little village, we asked a young girl about the road - she could tell us, it was OK, we only all the time had to remember to turn left. 
There was narrow dirt road the next ca. 7 km - 1 hours drive, we came high, high up, signs to Steni was there also, "where there is a road, there is a will". Afterwards I cannot understand we not were  nervous! 
So there was asphalt again, but what condition, the road or the half was undermined from rain and melting water from the mountains, contemporary with that there have been slides from the mountains so only half of roadway was free. The landscape here was a little bit like Austria – and a drive we never never will forget. 
When the road became normal navigable, we were behind the clock, we had to drive through
Psahna (major town) and north. 

The road up north had many turns, and at a time we were driving along the river with shady trees - we enjoy the variant landscape. 
We arrived to Limni about 17:00 and here we sat down for a beer, (we really had earned this) on a little cafe at the seafront, also we were looking after some nice “balconies”. 
Anyway we decided to go the 13 km to Loutra Edipsos, perhaps it would be a better place for us to find a room. The road to Loutra Edipsos also was “falling down” some places – peaces of rocks at the road bigger than our car - and we make a stop before the town, the view was beautiful and the sea like a mirror.

We went around in the town, along the nice seafront, we found the town “empty” like at ghost town.
And we could see when the season started, it would be a wonderful place to stay – the town have thermal source, it’s a goal for many Greeks to undergo a treatment here.

So we went back to Limni, and book the rooms with the “balconies” we have been looking at drinking the beer.
After a bath we could sit down at the balconies and enjoy the delicious view with Ouzo. 

Wednesday we went at a roundtrip, first Edipsos, hereafter become landscape flat, and hereupon the north coast is there many small holiday-villages. 
In Istiea, as is a other large town at Evia, we stopped. This is a town with local Greek life and a good atmosphere, and sitting down at the “platia” having an ice coffee we enjoyed the life around us. 

Further northeast the landscape changes to "green mountains", and from here we have a view to Pelion and the Sporades islands. 
In Agia Ana we make a pause sitting down on a small kafenion at the platia, and order a beer, and the old Greek lady asked if we wanted a small or big.
We had order in English, and were now sitting down listening with big ears to the Greeks conversation.
The town was waking up from siesta, and there came more and more men to the kafenion.
The priest also was there and wanted to smoke, and we understood that is not was a habit for him, and they make fun with this. 
At a time they became curious and wanted to know where we come from etc. and they was very pleased that we in broken Greek told about us self.
Next day Thursday the goal was Halkida, where we wanted to stay, because there’s a lot worth seeing things there.
But, ups, what a culture chock for us, very noisy, human and traffic, we were drinking an ice coffee near the old bridge, we decided to turn the car to Rafina or Lavrio for a room. 
In Lavrio we did not find anything, and asking a taxi driver he could tell us that we had to go to Sounio.
And to make a long story/trip short, we drove "home" to Loutraki to Mama Katherina at Hotel Sega, got a room - and every morning delicious breakfast and coffee!!! 
And here in Loutraki we found nice Greek food, not only grill, so we were very happy – being “home”.
We enjoyed the last days in Loutraki, thinking about our experience at Evia, was visiting the Hera temple and the Blue Lake, where we visited the same small tavern as we knew so well, and the owner recognised us. 

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