User:Vadim/Chios
From CruisersWiki
| Vadim/Chios
| |
 Satellite View of Chios & Oinouses |
Charts
- BA
- 1645 Nísos Khíos and Izmir Körfezi
- Imray-Tetra
- G28 Nísos Khíos & the Coast of Turkey
- NIMA
- 54380 Tuzla Burnu to Samos
- 54386 Khios Strait Greece and Turkey
- Greek
- 334 Chios Island & Opposite Coast of Asia Minor
Radio Nets
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12 & telephone +30 22710 44 432 (Chios), +30 22720 76 239 (Limenas)
- Olympia Radio - VHF channels 85, 25, or 28
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Weather
See Aegean Sea.
Passages
Islands
- Oinousses – a tiny archipelago 1 NM off the NE coast of Chios
The approaches to Chios are straightforward, however,
Danger: With a strong meltemi (northerly winds) the seas on the channel, with its north going current, between Chios and the Turkish mainland can built up to dangerous levels.
Customs and Immigration
The only port of entrance on the island is Chios Harbour. If entering Greece it is advisable to contact the Coast Guard (Limenarchio) on VHF channel 12.
Berthing
There are five harbours in Chios, one marina and several coves. Also just over a mile to the NE is the very attractive small island of Oinoussa.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
There is no a real marina on the island.
Anchorages
Salagonas Area
West of Cape Masticho and just before reaching Cape Mesta on the S coast of Chios there are 5 wonderful coves. All of them are well protected from the meltemi but exposed to the SW. Going counerclockwise:
Anchoring is easy in all of these coves. In Trachilia though it is best to take a shore line to the W shore.
About one hour walk from here, up the dirt road, there is the medieval village of Olýmpoi, well worth a visit. Turn left when you reach the paved road. The other medieval village, Mestá is about a two hour walk, turn right when you reach the paved road.
You can call for a taxi either from Mestá, tel +30 6972 543 543 or from Olýmpoi, tel. +30 2710 76 357 or +30 6937 937 758.
Facilities
Also see each port above.
Water
- At the shore in Chios Harbour
- Some outlets on the quay in Limniá
Electricity
N/A (Not Available)
Garbage Disposal
Bins in all harbours.
Fuel
- Unclear if available in the harbour of Chios Harbour
- In Limniá the nearest fuel station is outside of Volissós but they will deliver except on Sundays. Call +30 22740 21200 or +30 6937 122 901.
- In Limenas there is a gas station outside Olýmpoi
- In Chios_Marina there is a gas station across the road.
Cooking gas
In town there is a 
Cooking gas store [[User:Vadim/Chios#Cooking gas store|Cooking gas store]] 38°22.464'N, 026°07.809'E that will sell, refill, and exchange propane bottles in varoius sizes including American ones at very reasonable rates. It is a bit farther north past Tsatsaroni Marika Pharmacy along Nou Monomachou.
Laundry
?
Services
Repairs
Very limited.
Internet
In internet cafés in town.
Mobile networks
GSM/GPRS - Very marginal coverage in the Salagonas Area
Vehicle Rentals
- In the town of Chios Yiorgos Psoras (+30 22710 41 361 or 6978 775 595) will deliver a car to the Chios Marina
- In Limniá, the owner of the Ta Limnia restaurant, Mr. Tsikalas (tel. +30 22710 21 014), can assist you with renting a car
- In Limenas Konstantinos Tomazos (+30 22710 722 190) rents scooters from Pyrgí and will pick you up
Supplies
Chandlers
In the town of Chios.
Provisioning
- Excellent grocery shopping in the town of Chios.
- Some shopping in Volissós (excellent bread)
- Limited supplies in Emborio
- Limited supplies in Limniá
- No stores in Limenas
Catering
- There are many restaurants in the town of Chios
- Hotzas (in the back of the town of Chios) is the oldest and most famous taverna in the island. Great atmosphere, food and value. Closed Sunday and Monday 22710 42 787.
- Stou Yiorgou a few miles south of Chios town perched on a hillside is excellent. A bit more expensive than Hotzas but still great value.22710 25 017
- There are many restaurants in the town of Marmaro
- In Mestá try the Mesaionnas
- In Líthi Kyra Despina and the 3 Adelphia have good fish
- In Limniá there is good food in the friendly restaurant Ta Limnia (tel. 22710 21 014)
- The Meltemaki on the waterfront of Katarraktis has the best meze and seafood in Chios. --Memo18111 19:42, 11 May 2014 (BST)
Transportation
There are daily flights to Athens and many ferries. Ferry to Psara and Samos.
Tourism
Chios has many places worth visiting, including some particularly picturesque villages.
History
In antiquity the island was very prosperous and after the Persian wars it was an ally of Athens and then Sparta. In the 11th century AD it was taken from the Byzantines, then by the Venetians, who were succeeded by the Genoese, who formed a special company in the 14th century just for the trade of the mastich. In 1566 the Ottomans took the island from the Genoese and held it until 1922 when it joined Greece. During the Ottoman period Chios was granted many special privileges and joined the Greek revolution very reluctantly under the coercion of the Samians in 1822. The Ottoman reaction was devastating. After beheading three Chians who were hostages in Istanbul they send the Turkish armada to invade the island. On March 30, 1822 they landed on the island. Within 24 hours they massacred over 8,000 unarmed inhabitants. The horror lasted for months. Over 25,000 were killed and 47,000, mostly women, were sold into slavery. Within 6 months from the original 120,000 inhabitants only 18,000 were left. The repercussions of this tragedy were felt all over Europe. Intellectuals like Lebrun, Müller, and especially Victor Hugo with The Child of Chios and the painter Delacroix with his Massacre of Chios painting publicized the event which proved crucial for mustering support in Europe for the Greek revolution.
The production of mastich (μαστίχα- masticha) gum (Pistacia lentiscus) is a tradition particular to Chios. It is the resin of a bush that is said to grow only in this SW corner of the island. The bush does not grow very big, and at the appropriate time the growers make tiny slits on its trunk. From these slits, the gum oozes out, and it is collected. Tiny droplets are also collected from the ground, hence the sieves. The gum then is taken home, and over long hours during the winter, it is sorted according to quality and size. Families own individual bushes scattered over a wide area. The mastich gum is used as a particularly flavorful chewing gum, as a flavoring for ouzo, in a toothpaste, for a very sweet and sticky favorite of Greek children served in a spoon submerged in a glass of water and called appropriately a submarine, for folk medicines, etc. This information was given to me by one of the women I met on my way near Salagonas. During the Ottoman years, the production of mastich reached its highest point, it being the favorite chewing gum of the ladies in the seraglio because it gave them a sweet smelling mouth.
Town of Chios
In the town of Chios there is a new Museum with archaeological exhibits, a Byzantine Museum and an ethnological museum. The Genoese Castle of Chios is an easy walk from the harbour.
Nea Moni
About 15 km from the town there is the famous Byzantine monastery of Nea Moni, established in 1042 by the emperor Constantine the Monomachos. It has many 11 century frescoes and mosaics.
Olýmpoi
The medieval walled village of Olýmpoi (Ολύμποι), although less known than Pyrgí and Mestá, has some good examples of houses decorated in the xisti style. Several of the original Genoese buildings are still standing.
About 6.5 km along the road to Ayia Dynamis there is the cave of Olýmpoi, open every day except Mondays, 9:00-19:30 with guided tours, well worth the visit.
There is a taxi, tel. +30 2720 76 357 or 6937 937 758.
Pyrgí
This is a very picturesque medieval village with narrow streets and old houses whose outer walls are decorated with geometric shapes. This style of decoration is unique to Chios and is called xisti (scratched). Also in Pyrgí there the jewel of a Byzantine, 12 century AD, church dedicated to the Apostles. About 8 km from Pyrgi near the village of Ayii Pente, there are the ruins of a 6 century BC temple of Apollo.
Mestá
The town of Mestá is another unspoiled medieval town with windy narrow streets built inside a Genoese castle.
There is a good restaurant O Meseonas and a taxi in Mesta, tel +30 6972 543 543.
Volissós
Volissós is beautiful village built on top of a steep hill has stone houses and a magnificent view. It is believed to be the birthplace of Homer. They will even show you the house tat he was born!
There is a wood burning bakery in Volissós that makes fantastic bread.
Convent of Agia Markella
Agia Markella (Αγία Μαρκέλλα) is the patron saint of Chios. I was told her story when I visited the convent in 1992, by an ancient nun as she was explaining a particularly vividly illustrated icon depicting the Saint's life. It is a particularly gruesome story. It happened some time in the "distant past." She grew up in a wealthy family somewhere near here. When she was maiden, "very devout," her father attacked her sexually. She took flight and hid in some bushes, her father in pursuit. In order to flush her out, he set the bushes on fire and she ran away toward the safety of the sea. He ran after her. She came upon the rocks and kept on running along the rocky shore, until finally her father caught up with her. As he was getting ready to ravish her she prayed for deliverance. The miracle happened: the rock where she was standing was opened and she sank to her waist and the rock solidified around her, thus covering the part of her anatomy her father was after. Frustrated and furious he took off his sword and cut off her breasts, blood gashing out in great streams, and she died a virgin. In the place of her martyrdom, there is today a spring of fresh water, springing from the rocks. This water is considered holy, and every year at her festival there is a great pilgrimage of the devout from the monastery to the spring to collect the holy water in all sorts of bottles which they take home for protection until the next festival. The name "Markella" is one of the most popular names in Chios.
These are very attractive fortified villages built by the Genoese, perched high on rocks. Avgonima has many renovated houses and several tavernas. Anavatos was sieged after the Massacre by the Ottomans. The inhabitants rather then by slaughtered or sold as slaves jumped off the cliff. Ever since the village has been abandoned. Now it is being restored and can be visited every day except on Mondays.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Vadim/Chios at the Wikipedia
- Vadim/Chios at the Wikivoyage
References & Publications
See Greece.
Personal Notes
Chios is a relatively unspoiled by mass tourism island with lovely anchorages villages (--Istioploos)
- Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this marina & this page's details validated:
- 1997 (Langadas, Ayios Ioannis Tholis) --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
- July 2004 (Marmaro, Avloniá) --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
- June 2006 (Limenas) --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
- July 2006 (Marmaro) --Athene of Lymington
- July 2008 (Limniá) --Athene of Lymington
- July 2010 (Limniá) --S/Y Spindrift
- July 2011 (Emborio) --Athene of Lymington
- May 2013 (Emborio) --Vigdis yachtvigdis blog
- May 2013 (Chios Harbour) --Vigdis yachtvigdis blog
- July 2013 (Chios marina) --LifePart2
Life Part: 2
- August 2013 (Chios Harbour, Limniá, Líthi, Chios marina) --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
- June 2014 (Chios Harbour, Langadas) --memo18111
S/Y Liberty Dream
- August 2014 (Emborio, Angelia, Salagonas, Trachilia, Kato Faná, Elyndas) --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
- May 2015 (Chios Harbour) --Monterey
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Names: Istioploos, Athene of Lymington |
