Day 35 Mytilene, Greece

June 23

Lesbos is the 3rd largest island in Greece. When we arrived at the port of Mytilene, we had tender to access the shore, approximately 10 minutes each way.

We visited the Limonos Monastery, followed by a tour of Molyvos fortress and free time to explore Molyvos village. To conclude our trip we were taken to a view point to see the village of Petra.

Lesbos boasts more than ten million olive trees, they are a successful olive grower and exporter. The village of Plomari is considered the ouzo capital of Greece and is the national drink. There are 15 commercial ouzo distilleries on the island.

The villages on the island are lovely. I heard many in our tour group say that they could stay to live there. I am not sure I could make a decision like that after half a day.

Limonos Monastery was so peaceful. There is only one Monk there. They had a coffee shop just outside and free wifi! It is believed that in 1523 the Sultan of Turkey, who ruled the island at the time, prayed to St. Ignatius to heal his ailing son. After the boy's miraculous recovery, the Sultan built a monastery on this site as a place of sanctuary.  There is a library and a museum inside. The library contains books that date back to 1502. I didn't go through the museum because it had an overwhelming old dusty/mouldy smell. I started sneezing, so I left to explore around the grounds.

Molyvos Fortress is perched high on a hill overlooking the village of Molyvos. The castle is considered one of the best preserved in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was built to repel attacks by the Franks and Turks. The castle was abandoned completely after an earthquake in 1867.

Molyvos traditional village market was wonderful. The cobblestone streets are shaded by trees, and the vendors didn't pester us. The restaurants had excellent views of the beach. I can see why people would want to come rent a little place here for a holiday. I didn't take a picture, but there were these three young children who had painted stones and other hand made trinkets. Surrounded by paints, they had set themselves up with their goodies on their front step with a sign reading "free souvenirs". So cute.

Our tender to shore.

Entry to Limonos Monastery with the cafe just outside. They probably built the cafe because women are not allowed into the main church in the monastery. They built a second Greek Orthodox Church inside for both men and women, however shortly after there was an earthquake (some time in the 1800s). It was then taken as a sign that the men and women should remain separate.

View from outside the monastery.

The library inside the monastery.

Hallway.

Gardens in monastery.

No women allowed in this church.

Albino peacock (I think, never heard of a white one). Found him when I avoided the stuffy museum. 

And another. They have the peacocks in the monastery to make it feel like paradise.

Molyvos with a view of the castle on the hill.

View from the hill in Molyvos.

View from castle.

Inside the Molyvos castle. Probably the area where they had the cannons.

Walk through the traditional market area in Molyvos.

Little souvenir shop.

Can't leave Greece without trying their national drink. 2€

Our lunch spot. I had my first Greek coffee. Many of the ladies on the tour did the traditional Greek dances after lunch.

View from our lunch spot.

Village of Petra. According to legend, Achilles stopped here on his way to the Trojan War. There is also the church of Panagia Glykofilousa (Our Lady of the Sweet Kiss), which sits on top of a small hill in the village. Hard to spot the church in this picture, actually you can barely see the village in this picture.

Making our way back to the ship.

Tomorrow we arrive in Istanbul, Turkey.