From Milia to Sirikari

Driving out in the opposite direction to yesterday, we began today on the lower slopes, walking up through the olive trees.

The olive harvest is in full flow, although these ones will stay on the tree just that little bit longer, before they are picked and sent to be pressed for their oil.

Underneath many of the tree at this hight this pretty,bright green, dense, low growing clover has been planted as a green manure.

Harry Potter fans will like to know that this is a mandrake (fortunately the roots are still covered so we were safe and didn't hear the deadly shrieking...) Whilst this tree is an olivander (good for wand making?)

and those long cigar type pods are actually tightly rolled flowers which will burst forth in the spring to flower the whole summer long.  Every part of this tree is highly toxic - so don't say I didn't warn you!   Not sure how good the wands made from its wood are.

The Cretians collect mountain greens (Horta) which can be eaten raw but is mostly served cooked.  Consisting of several different varieties, this spikey low growing plant is one of those collected.

But perhaps the most enchanting floral delight today was this autumn cyclamen. Always shy, with a delicate sweet fragrance, it gently nods it head in the breeze.

Work was underway to resort this tiny chapel dedicated to St. George.  Quite ancient, it's structure has been cobbled together over the centuries.  Take a closer look at the stone door frame:

The stone carvings are very Celtic in design.

Although I am not sure this delicate detail is appreciated by the locals...

This newly discovered sarphosogus was 1 1/2 metres down and still contains the bones of previous lodgers; so work has stopped until the archeological department have been to poke around.

From here we continued to climb upwards, past rows of bee hives humming with frantic last minute activity,

leaving the olive groves behind 

and entering the ancient chestnut woods.

The sun light through the leaves provided us with the most amazing canopy.

These groves were established in Venician times, just look how old and gnarled some of the trees have become.

But infection from a destructive mite is proving hard to eradicate and so perhaps in as short a time as ten years these great trees might be all but dead.

Our way is signed every now and then, but the colourful stone markers stop us from straying off the chosen path,

So be I behind or in front I stay with the group, despite my unorthodox photographic choices!

I just love rusty objects...

We walk on through the sunlight and 

the shade, but always upwards

through the chestnut groves, even spying the odd

melon?, marrow?, pumpkin? growing randomly on the hill side!

All over this area are trees which flower and fruit at the same time, producing these strawberry like berries.  Which taste nothing like a do are a bit of an acquired taste.  Perhaps they would be better poached in a syrup?

Mid morning  we arrive at an eco lodge in time for a welcomed coffee break.

The views from the balcony are amazing

But once again I find the doors fascinating 

and on the table just to the left I found this enormous specimen 

It was the size of a dinner plate !

But it was the everyday still-lives that captured my attention, from

pebbles on the window sill, 

veined rocks on the wall,

to old plates in a rack and

rows of still used keys.

This stack of rush chair bottoms left me bemused, whilst

the shelves of unmarked jars just had me puzzled.  

Back on the road again we marvelled at a huge

stack of carob logs waiting for the winter chill,

but it was the view which took our breath away.

This terracing reminded me of those made by the Inca farmers of the high Andes in Peru.

At times the woods became quite dense, but just look at the tree canopy and that bright turquoise sky!

Whilst underfoot was a carpet of spikey chestnut cases.

Had we realised Jonathan was hauling a huge bag of tangerines around I think we would have stopped sooner

but we were now on the descent and coming back into the olive groves

and not before too long we were back onto the road and following the way to lunch in a local village.

I think Mum was relieved!

A quick snap of some floor art before heading in for

a bowl, or two, of heart bean stew.  Typically served at the olive harvest, the soup is accompanied with cooked mountain greens and raw chopped onions, to which I added a handful of olives and a hunk of bread with local soft cheese.  Topping.

Finishing off with a thimble of syrupy Greek coffee,

but I think I would have my Italian any day!

Still, with the warmth of the sun fading fast, the log fire kept us snug.

Heading out for one last walk we once again climbed through an ancient chestnut wood.

Some trees here have not survived the destructive mite, but against the clear blue sky they never the less look quite stunning.

Just how old can this one be?  Thinking of all the world events which have taken place during its lifetime is enough to make your brain hurt!

By the time we reached the hotel I was just too tired to go out again, so a light snack and a bottle of some ( purely medicinal) local wine with a good book was all that was needed to round off a beautiful day.  Cheers!