Milos

​The island of Milos was formed through volcanic action and is basically a huge crater lip, much like that of Akaroa in New Zealand. Milos is a MUCH bigger island than Folegandros and is much busier. We won’t be able to see all of the island this trip because we don’t have a car. This morning we set off walking to the bus station at Pollonia, just down the road. €1.60 each per trip is good value, but the time gap between buses is astronomical. Careful planning is required. [You are getting a good whack of blog space because of this.]

So, bus back to the port to catch anothery to Plaka. More gorgeous tiny-street-window-shopping and wandering before climbing to the tippy top of the hill in the centre of town. Up another few flights of interminable stairs to the summit. We were greatly rewarded, however, of magnificent 385 degree views of the island. 

Climbing down the other side of the hill we chanced upon an ancient Roman theatre which is old AS!  Round there somewhere we’re some catacombs, but we were thirsty and hungry with all that climbing, so repaired to a restaurant for lunch.  Slumping gratefully ont the chairs and perusing the menu, we suddenly realised that we’d miss the next bus if we had lunch there, so hastily left for the terminus and shouts of apology to the gaping restaurateurs. Forgiveness may have been conveyed to us - we can only hope - but we were out of there and off to catch a bus. 

Now for a little story …

One day, a very long time ago (1820, in fact) George Kontrotas was digging in his field on Milos. This is what George Kontrotas did. He was a farmer. Digging is what farmers do. They dig. [Just ask Oz.]  It was then something happened. Maybe George dig into his toe with his digging implement. WHO KNOWS?  In any event, George looked down and (to his immense surprise, saw a 3-dimensional representation of Venus. A PERFECT (it was thought at the time) image of ‘woman’ herself. Woman personified. 

It’s not clear whether George Kontrotas was rewarded in any way by his find, but somehow this Venus from Milos (‘Venus de Milo’) was sent to some French king in gratitude for deeds done in the defence of Greece, where she now stands fully protected from the elements of weather and George Kontrotas’ mates who would inevitably have hacked off more than her arms as mementos of their proximity to her. [Or maybe that’s being more than a little unfair to George Kontrotas and his chums.] 

Toodles!