Europe Summer 2017: Greece 2 – endless sunshine . . . wind rising

August 15, 2017

getting acquainted in Agios Sostis . . .

Cavos Hotel, Agios Sostis, Tinos, Greece

view from the balcony

dazzling contrasts of color and light

     Although the sunrise was calm and even a bit voluptuous, the wind rose steadily during the next few days sometimes gusting enough to push you around. We had a spacious room in the typical Aegean style hotel, white plastered stone walls, delicious breakfast included and, of course, great views of the blue sun drenched Aegean Sea.

our room

hotel popular with families with children

Tinos Town

on the bus to Tinos

they call the wind "meltemi"

      Once settled in and comfortable we decided to take the local bus into the town of Tinos—a 20-minute ride from our hotel in Agios Sostis. As we walked along the windy New Port we were amazed and impressed at how strong the wind and how clean and clear the water in the harbor was.

       The wind, called “meltemi” in Greek, was still blowing with what seemed like gale force. Although the seemingly eternal sunshine was beating down with almost blinding brightness, the wind made walking about Tinos effortless since it kept the temperature cooler than it would otherwise have been.

New Port of Tinos

the Greek Orthodox Cathedral

       Up the hill from the Old Port stands the Greek Orthodox Cathedral named (Panaghia Evangelistria of Tinos). The cathedral was build in 1823 on the site of a miraculous discovery of an icon of the Virgin Mary. The location of the icon was seen in a vision by a nun, Panaghia, after whom the cathedral is named. Oddly enough, the spot also happens to have been the site of a sanctuary to the Olympian god of wine and revelry, Dionysos, in ancient times.

lined with shops and cafes

pilgrims climbing to the cathedral
on hands and knees

       August 15, the day of the Assumption of Mary, is a big religious feast day at Panaghia Evangelistria. Pilgrims come to Tinos to make a pilgrimage to the cathedral. The cathedral is approached by two more or less parallel streets that climb up to the cathedral from the Old Port. One of them is lined with shops and cafes, the other one has a long narrow carpet running alongside the kerb from the port all the way up to the cathedral that devout pilgrims climb on hands and knees up to the cathedral. Impressive to see that!

Panaghia Evangelistria

interior of Panaghia Evangelistria

       The cathedral is a handsome building built with white Carrara and local Tinos marble. The surprisingly small sanctuary is sumptuously decorated with hundreds of lamps dangling from the ceiling. The overall effect is a little overwhelming yet surprisingly warm and intimate for a “cathedral”.

nice view of Tinos town and the Aegean 

       












the Old Port

the Old Port of Tinos

colorful cafe

       The Old Port of Tinos is drenched in the sunshine that the Greek Islands of the Aegean Sea are justly famous for. It serves largely as a marina for yachts, while the New Port handles the large ferries that ply tourists about the Aegean in summer. We "discovered" a very colorful cafe set up in a narrow alley in the Old Port and stopped for a rest and refreshment—we had glasses of “fredo capuccino” and iced lemon tea while the awning above are heads cracked like a whiplash in sudden wind gusts.

        The “meltemi” kept on blowing the whole nine days we stayed on Tinos, but it kept the temperature very comfortable as well. 

white caps on the sea due to the constant wind called the "meltemi"