Lesbos

Arrived at anchor off Mytilene (Mitilini) on the Greek Aegean island of Lesbos (Lesvos) at 9am Monday Oct 20th. This is the 3rd largest Greek island just off the coast of Turkey. A poor island with a decreasing population. Went off on a bus tour to 2 local churches with our guide Christina. Drove south through the town with its 19th century buildings and very narrow streets. Just outside turned inland and up a narrow road to a small village with the Taxiarchis church. There were great views over the ocean from here. Spent 30 minutes visiting the Orthodox church. All of the churches on Lebos are Orthodox apart from one Catholic. There are several mosques from the days of the Otterman occupation but these are all now abandoned. Departing here we went back through town and headed north towards Mount Olympus the 2nd tallest mountain on the Island at 967m or 3172ft. There are 1200 species of plants on the Island and this side is very green. There are forests of olives, pine & chestnuts. Wound our way up a switchback road through an olive tree forest and eventually arrived at Agiassos on the mountain slopes at 550m or 1800ft. This was not much more than a large village but has a famous church called Panagia Agia Sion (Dormition of the Virgin) built in 1830 on the site of the original 11th century church. Pilgrims come here to see the icon. Spent some time at the church then wandered the village for a while. Back to the bus and a ride down to Mytilene again where the tour ended at 12:45pm.