If your last day on Athos has arrived you have to take the ferry back to Ouranoupolis. A good advise is to take the ferry on its way to the ” village” of Kavsokalivia and not go directly to Ouranoupolis. You will at first go in the wrong direction but you will have a magnificant view on the southside of the peninsula with the mountain, the hermitages of Karoulia and Katounakia and the wild rocky coast. Here we are waiting for the ferry at the harbour of Nea Skiti.
This is Kavsokaliva, normally the final destination of the ferry. At this point the boat turns back in the direction of Dafni . We were the only passengers on board together with one monk. The pictures showes that we were passing Kavoskalivia. It happened that the monk had booked a trip to the next harbour, the very small arsanas of Nelios, a settlement about 250 meters high op the steep slope. We were thrilled to be part of this detour.
The monk with some supplies steps out of the boat on a narrow peer of the harbour of Nelios. The captain had to move very carefully because here the waves here are high and there is no shelter.
The monk got help from the boatsman who handed him his luggage and the supplies.
Mission completed so far but how to get luggage and supplies to the Nelios itself. We never know because the boat turned back in the direction of Kavsokaliva again. Probably the mules of Nelios will get his stuff up to Nelios.
Herman Voogd
