Category Archives: nature

2046 – Early spring in Mount Athos

Posted on April 18, 2019 by

When visiting the peninsula in April, as we did this year (2019), flowers and fresh green of blossoming plants are all around you. Slopes are turning purple due to this plant. Yellow broom and white daisies alongside the roads and … Continue reading →

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2028 – arsanas Prodromou

Posted on November 24, 2018 by

In post 2018 I showed you the pictures from Athos made in the Second World War by German soldiers. The photo’s  triggered me, not only to find the German flak position somewhere above the hills of the Prodromou area, but … Continue reading →

Posted in arsanas, nature, Prodromou | 4 Comments

2009 – Trees on the mountain slope between Chairi Pass and Stavros

Posted on August 5, 2018 by

In 2017 we walked around the mountain from Megistis Lavras monastery via Katounakia to Nea Skiti (not on this map by Peter Howorth but located between Sk. Anna and Paulou monastery). It took us the whole day, no roads only … Continue reading →

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1992 – Flora Graeca: Cyclamen, Oleanders, Ferulas and Euphorbia

Posted on April 14, 2018 by

The pink flowers of the cyclamen like the shadow of the Mount Athos forests. The image above is from the book early 19th century botanical book Flora Graeca.  The oleander is often to be found in or around the monasteries. … Continue reading →

Posted in 01 Lavra, 20 Konstamonitou, books, Dafni, nature, Thebais | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

1991 – The Strawberry tree

Posted on April 12, 2018 by

Every now and then when walking in Mount Athos the Strawberry tree appears alongside the path. Here on the left,  with in the distance Simonos Petras. The Strawberry tree or Arbutus unedo is widespread in the Mediterranean region. The Latin name was … Continue reading →

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1988 – A walk in ancient woods

Posted on March 22, 2018 by

Just after the big wooden cross on the southern ridge, a panoramic view opens. From there a long straight stretch until Stavros (cross) lays ahead. It is just nature there. No monasteries, sketes or buildings.The stretch is mostly covered and … Continue reading →

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1972 – the hike in Kapsala – 2

Posted on December 29, 2017 by

Let’s start with reveiling that the short afternoon walk ended up in a unforgetable 9,34 kilometers exercise, that would fit in any modern boot-camp experience. Efrem guided us through one of most beautiful places on Mount Athos, where nature is … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, ruins, trip 2017, walking | Tagged , , | 4 Comments