| Page Views: 2,427 Last Visit to Chios: - | Chios-My Native Island by sinequanon - last update: Mar 19, 2006 |
| tulipa beotica-wild tulip |
for many people the name of Chios is equivalent to the mastic gum and the mastic tree. for non Greeks, this is a tree that grows only on Chios at the south part of the island, so the island is unique in this sense.
But when I think of Chios whole fields of wild blood red tulips come to mind and days of late March lying on green fields surrounded by these little fires. |
|  | Chios is the island of my childhood and youth, loaded with tender memories, first heartbeats, frendships, first experiences, as well as sad and dark nightmares.
I was never a tourist there, so as it usually happens I have taken the island to a certain extend for granted. For example I have very few pictures of it. And believe me the place is very photogenic.
It is only in the last few years that the island has become a tourist destination. The economy originally depended on the sailors, Chiots are well known for their skills at sea but also for their enterprises. Most of the Greek shipowners come from this island.
The turn to tourism was the result of the economic crisis of shipping and the loss of many jobs to other nationalities.
Today a considerably small part of the island is surrendered to mass tourism while the most beautiful of its spots are still totally unspoiled.
this is a big island, so you can be spoilt for choice really. Just remember to avoid the town. Big and noisy retains little of its old provincial charm and slow pace. Most of its beautiful neoclassical buildings gave way to ugly appartment blocks and the traffic is notorious, getting worse every year. |
| the village of Volissos, Amani at night |
|  | My favourite part of the island is the north west, basically a mountain called Amani and all the villages built on its slopes. Today, there are very few inhabitants left, most of them emmigrated to America and Australia for a better future. The land is hard, the soil barren. The few that you find today, mainly old in age, though, are the best example of Chiot hospitality. Simple and welcoming people.
The views from the area are fantastic, the sunsets magnificent, the sea clear and cold. |
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Comments for sinequanon about Chios | | | | |
spgood301 Tue Aug 5, 2008 20:26 UTC Right now it's mostly travelling for work...hope I can get away soon though! Where have you been lately, Gala? | Nemorino Tue Feb 19, 2008 17:39 UTC That really is a "disturbing" travelogue, but otherwise your native island sounds like a beautiful place. Great sunset photo on Managros Beach! And that's a very fine New Year's Eve custom. | Manyana Fri Jan 25, 2008 09:03 UTC interesting pages! and never knew my name can be originally greek! greetings of irini from arabia:^) | DAO Sat Jun 16, 2007 17:14 UTC You will make more Tourists go, you make it sound so good! |
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