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- My travels around Greece
as part of this odyssey
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have taken me from the
heart of the nation, Athens,
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and throughout several of
the major island groups.
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We've cruised around the
coast of the Peloponnese,
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and traveled amongst the Ionian islands.
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Then we made our way across
to the northern Aegean,
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before spending time
exploring the hidden gems
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of the western side, Cyclades.
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And man, was it beautiful.
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This series sees us steering
Mia Zoi further eastward,
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and into the Dodecanese.
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This episode sees me on
the Island of Patmos,
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one of the most important
locations in the Christian world.
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It's a place of pilgrimage
for thousands of people
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from across the planet.
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Beyond the religious importance,
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there's fantastic beaches, amazing food,
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and an atmosphere that draws you in.
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From there, I'm making a quick dash across
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the three barely inhabited
islands to the east.
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Hidden gems not often
explored by tourists.
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No doubt, you'll be adding
them to your wishlist.
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Hear we stand on this rock of Kalikatsou.
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This rock that has risen out of the sea,
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much like all of Patmos.
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Patmos is actually a caldera of a volcano
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that was created 2 million years ago.
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But we're not here for that.
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We're here for what's up there.
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This island is famous in
the Greek Orthodox religion.
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It's one of three.
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There's Mt. Athos, Constantinople,
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and the holy island of Patmos.
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But in the Christian world,
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Patmos ranks much, much higher,
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because John the theologian, St. John,
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was banished here by the Roman emperor
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for his Christian belief in 96 AD.
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It's here that he wrote
the book of Revelations.
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It's here that the last chapter
of the Bible was written.
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Pilgrims come from all over
the world to come here.
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And I'm here right now.
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I'm so excited, I'm going up right now.
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Patmos is a tiny island, only
34 square kilometers in size.
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Sitting in the far north of
the Dodecanese island group,
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just below Fuorni, with
Leipsoi to the East.
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In summer, there's around
3000 people living here,
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with tourists making the
main port a busy hub.
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However, the numbers drop quite
a lot in the winter months,
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as the holiday homes
empty, and people head back
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to the bigger cities for work.
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It's this small footprint
and tiny populace
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that makes Patmos such
a quaint place to visit.
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The vast majority of tourists
coming for just a few days
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to see the famed monastery
and cave of St. John.
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But there's so much more
to the island than that.
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One of the positives for those who want
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to dig a little deeper,
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and get a more complete picture of Patmos,
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is that the rest of the place is like
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taking a step back in time,
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relatively free of the traveling masses.
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And there's only 3000
residents here in Patmos,
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but like 10 or 20 times that in tourism.
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Which is not really a
lot for a Greek Island,
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but you know where they come?
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Up there, up to see the
monastery, the cave.
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But there's a whole lot of
other things to see as well.
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I'm looking forward to it.
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I am the Alpha and the Omega.
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The first and the last.
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It's one of the most
powerful and haunting quotes
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from the book of Revelations.
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It's hard to believe that St.
John had his dark epiphanies
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of mankind's demise while
in such a beautiful part
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of the world.
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He was the youngest
apostle, lived longest,
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and passed away last at
the ripe old age of 96.
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To tell me more about
Patmos, I met with Antonis,
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a long time local who
has written extensively
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about the island.
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Such is his passion for the place,
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that despite having traveled the world,
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he hasn't found a spot he'd
rather spend his life in.
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Antonis, I hear that the Patmian houses
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are the best in the Aegean.
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And looking at them, I
can see that that is true.
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But why is this?
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Why are they so beautiful
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over and above the rest of the islands?
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- The story began in the year 1453,
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just before the downfall
of Constantinople,
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the queen of the cities.
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About 100 families, Byzantine families,
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with very high standards
of culture and education
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fled the city and came here,
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forming their neighborhood
around this square.
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Now we are at the core of this settlement.
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Why they did so, because they knew
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that they are going to be protected
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living next to the walls
of a protected monastery.
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- Can we go and have a look
at some of these houses?
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- Yes, of course.
- Let's go.
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Typically Greek monasteries
are built far from towns,
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perched on mountaintops.
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After all, monks want sanctuaries,
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so they can dedicate their time
to studying the Lord's word.
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In the case of the monastery of St. John,
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two towns were built up around its walls.
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This is thanks to it
holding such a high place
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in the Christian world.
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And as a consequence, being
protected by the power of Rome.
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Pilgrims that were under the
tyranny of the Ottoman empire
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could find refuge around the monastery,
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as long as they supported the monks.
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Had this not been such a holy place,
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chances are there never would have been
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such a big settlement here.
119
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So, Alloteina was basically
Byzantine families from
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Constantinople.
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- Exactly.
122
00:05:24,953 --> 00:05:29,880
But also, in 1669, we
have another settlement.
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Some Cretan families,
as a result of the war
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between the Ottomans and the Venetians,
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Cretan families with also high standards
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of culture and education,
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fled the Island of Crete, and came here
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forming their neighborhood
east of the walls.
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- Right.
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- The so-called area, Kritika,
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around the square that
now we are heading on.
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- Let's go.
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Having been settled by
families that were fleeing war,
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and starting new lives,
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it created a certain energy and passion
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within the townspeople.
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They'd come with little, seeking safety,
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and surrounded by others
in a similar predicament.
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It bonded the community together,
140
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which in turn helped the
island to eventually prosper.
141
00:06:15,730 --> 00:06:17,440
So, it's about 1700.
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There's a hundred families
from Constantinople.
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There's 50 families from Crete.
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And they created the Patmian school,
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which I understand is an awesome school.
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- The Patmian school,
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the so-called university for archipelago,
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was founded in 1713, close to
the cave of the apocalypse.
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And played a very significant role
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preparing a new generation,
educated one generation
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which plays very significant
role in the Greek uprising.
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Think about that.
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The founder of the revolutionary
society of friends,
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Filiki Eteria, was scholar of this school.
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And also, 33 Patmian, 33 locals,
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became member of this secret society,
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which prepared the Greek
uprising against the Ottomans.
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- Wow, wow.
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These 150 wealthy and educated
families that settled here
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started an intellectual
revolution on the island,
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which still exists today.
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Some of Greece's greatest
writers and politicians
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originate from here.
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And the Patmian school's considered
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one of the best in the country.
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This prosperity and knowledge is reflected
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in the beautiful architecture
throughout the two towns.
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You don't have to be a builder like me
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to appreciate what they've created.
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Every morning, captain
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enjoy their peaceful cup of
coffee before everybody gets up.
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They know the best places on every island.
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Where are we going today?
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- Today, we're going to drink coffee
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in one very famous place
that they make Greek coffee
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with the proper and traditional way.
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- Awesome.
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- So here we are.
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Houston Cafe.
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- Fantastic.
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Houston?
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Houston Cafe.
183
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Wow.
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Good to meet you.
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Alex, is it?
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- Alex, Alex, nice to meet you.
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So, we're gonna have some
great coffee in here.
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Captain's just ordered a double
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with a little bit of sugar in for me,
190
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and a single for him
without any sugar in it.
191
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Now, this is the traditional Greek coffee.
192
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It's actually originated in
Turkey, but I think it's...
193
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Alex, what sort of, it's Arabica coffee?
194
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- Yes, it's Arabic coffee.
195
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And....
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It started from Arabic,
now we call this Ellinikos.
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- Ellinikos, great
coffee, it's great coffee.
198
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Now it's great coffee.
199
00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,630
But, traditionally, that's
where it comes from.
200
00:08:59,630 --> 00:09:02,080
And what sort of mix are
you using there of coffee?
201
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- Here, we...
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It's from Brazil.
203
00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:06,760
The coffee we use here to this town,
204
00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:08,472
it's from Brazil and Guatemala.
205
00:09:08,472 --> 00:09:10,212
It's a blended coffee.
206
00:09:10,212 --> 00:09:11,330
- Okay.
207
00:09:11,330 --> 00:09:14,532
And I see the sand here,
and my understanding...
208
00:09:17,180 --> 00:09:19,090
- So, what he does, you're
gonna put in the sand now.
209
00:09:19,090 --> 00:09:19,923
- Yes.
210
00:09:19,923 --> 00:09:22,210
This is a traditional
machine of Greek coffee.
211
00:09:22,210 --> 00:09:25,990
And I'm going now to put
the coffee to the hot sand.
212
00:09:25,990 --> 00:09:26,823
- Okay.
213
00:09:26,823 --> 00:09:28,760
- Which is in 300 degrees of Celsius.
214
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- 300 degrees!
215
00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:30,933
- Yes.
216
00:09:30,933 --> 00:09:32,150
- And so it gets around the--
217
00:09:32,150 --> 00:09:32,983
- Yes.
218
00:09:32,983 --> 00:09:34,211
- The briki, as we say.
219
00:09:34,211 --> 00:09:35,401
- This is a briki.
220
00:09:35,401 --> 00:09:37,440
- Yeah, that little pot.
221
00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,880
And it's consistent
heat all the way around.
222
00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:40,713
Awesome.
223
00:09:40,713 --> 00:09:41,730
- The point of this is
that they're scooped
224
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very, very slowly.
225
00:09:42,930 --> 00:09:43,763
- Right, okay.
226
00:09:43,763 --> 00:09:45,490
- So, this is the reason of a better taste
227
00:09:45,490 --> 00:09:46,460
of the Greek coffee.
228
00:09:46,460 --> 00:09:48,600
So, tell me Houston, Houston cafe,
229
00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:49,610
what's the story there, man?
230
00:09:49,610 --> 00:09:51,010
- Yes, it's a strange story.
231
00:09:51,010 --> 00:09:52,990
It's a family story.
232
00:09:52,990 --> 00:09:55,960
Here is the first owner
of the Houston cafe.
233
00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:56,870
- Right.
234
00:09:56,870 --> 00:10:01,040
- Who was in Houston later in 1930.
235
00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:01,873
- Right.
236
00:10:01,873 --> 00:10:04,750
- Due to earn some money,
he returned to Patmos,
237
00:10:04,750 --> 00:10:06,130
to his island.
238
00:10:06,130 --> 00:10:08,420
He bought this place, and he opened it.
239
00:10:08,420 --> 00:10:11,770
This is the first coffee
place in Patmos island.
240
00:10:11,770 --> 00:10:13,620
- And he named it after the
place he made some money.
241
00:10:13,620 --> 00:10:14,453
- Yeah.
242
00:10:14,453 --> 00:10:15,703
- So he must have loved
Houston in America.
243
00:10:15,703 --> 00:10:17,250
- Yes, yes, that's the reason,
244
00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:19,640
because there he made the money
245
00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,760
in order to do this business.
246
00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:22,593
- Fantastic.
247
00:10:22,593 --> 00:10:27,080
- So he came, and with his four
children, around this place
248
00:10:28,210 --> 00:10:30,690
since 2011.
249
00:10:30,690 --> 00:10:33,320
- Now, I've heard that your
coffee here is very, very good.
250
00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,488
Now, captain wouldn't tell
me if it wasn't, right?
251
00:10:35,488 --> 00:10:37,520
- Yeah, you will take it by your own.
252
00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,550
- You've got a lot of
expectations to live up to.
253
00:10:39,550 --> 00:10:40,579
So, I'm looking forward to it.
254
00:10:40,579 --> 00:10:41,720
I'm gonna go and sit down there.
255
00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:42,553
- Okay.
256
00:10:42,553 --> 00:10:44,090
- And wait for this awesome coffee, okay?
257
00:10:44,090 --> 00:10:45,029
- Okay.
258
00:10:52,714 --> 00:10:53,964
- It's awesome.
259
00:10:57,060 --> 00:10:58,309
- Thank you, where's the paximadi?
260
00:10:58,309 --> 00:10:59,171
There's no paximadi.
261
00:11:02,140 --> 00:11:03,620
- I bought you some paximadi.
262
00:11:03,620 --> 00:11:06,640
- I need a paximadi with my coffee.
263
00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,090
A biscuit or a koulouri with my coffee.
264
00:11:09,090 --> 00:11:11,040
Thank you, thank you, Ioannis.
265
00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,150
'Cause sometimes they
don't serve the biscuit.
266
00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:17,390
And my view, you need the biscuit to dunk.
267
00:11:17,390 --> 00:11:18,397
The Greek oven, look at that.
268
00:11:18,397 --> 00:11:19,683
See that stuff on top?
269
00:11:20,570 --> 00:11:21,430
That's kaimaki.
270
00:11:21,430 --> 00:11:23,240
And it's very, very important
if you've got kaimaki,
271
00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,920
that surplus, light brown layer.
272
00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:28,230
It looks like a chocolatey layer.
273
00:11:28,230 --> 00:11:30,150
It's very, very important.
274
00:11:30,150 --> 00:11:32,290
You know if there's kaimaki,
it's an awesome coffee.
275
00:11:32,290 --> 00:11:33,480
Good coffee, Alex.
276
00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:34,930
Excellent work.
277
00:11:34,930 --> 00:11:36,460
Anyway, can I have one?
278
00:11:36,460 --> 00:11:37,690
- Yep.
279
00:11:37,690 --> 00:11:39,640
- Let's see, let's see, let's taste it.
280
00:11:41,984 --> 00:11:42,834
Awesome, awesome.
281
00:11:43,700 --> 00:11:44,943
Oh, wonderful.
282
00:11:46,460 --> 00:11:50,290
Now, great coffee is not
as popular as it used to be
283
00:11:50,290 --> 00:11:51,380
in Greece,
284
00:11:51,380 --> 00:11:53,343
but it's still drank a fair bit.
285
00:11:54,460 --> 00:11:56,560
In a diplo, in a double grade coffee,
286
00:11:56,560 --> 00:11:59,530
there's about 180 milligrams of caffeine.
287
00:11:59,530 --> 00:12:01,500
In a single that captain's having,
288
00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:04,580
there's 90 milligrams of caffeine.
289
00:12:04,580 --> 00:12:06,020
But let me tell you, if
you want to jumpstart,
290
00:12:06,020 --> 00:12:08,290
this is the best stuff.
291
00:12:08,290 --> 00:12:10,820
And it's actually better
for you than normal coffee,
292
00:12:10,820 --> 00:12:13,720
because they say, there's
been recent studies,
293
00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,580
that it's good for your
cardiovascular system.
294
00:12:16,580 --> 00:12:18,510
The people from Ikaria,
295
00:12:18,510 --> 00:12:21,130
who are part of the blue
zone that live to a hundred,
296
00:12:21,130 --> 00:12:23,360
they have one of these
every day, every morning,
297
00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,080
they wake up with one of these.
298
00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:29,130
So, I'm following suit
and seeing if I can also
299
00:12:30,470 --> 00:12:34,185
increase my age by drinking Greek coffee.
300
00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,450
The coffee may not increase my lifespan,
301
00:12:52,450 --> 00:12:54,700
but it certainly got the heart rate up.
302
00:12:54,700 --> 00:12:56,690
I'm full of energy at the best of times,
303
00:12:56,690 --> 00:12:58,880
let alone after one of those hot starters.
304
00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:00,220
The camera crew had a hard time
305
00:13:00,220 --> 00:13:02,168
keeping up with me for
the rest of the day.
306
00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,370
It's a long walk up to the
monastery from the port,
307
00:13:10,370 --> 00:13:11,813
and I suggest you drive.
308
00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:13,833
But if you can,
309
00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,348
I think the walk is the better.
310
00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:22,590
Now, I'm blessed to be meeting Nickolaos,
311
00:13:22,590 --> 00:13:25,470
who's got more degrees than
you can poke a stick at.
312
00:13:25,470 --> 00:13:29,410
But the important one being
his theological academics.
313
00:13:29,410 --> 00:13:31,100
Now you'd be,
314
00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:34,100
you could be mistaken thinking
that this is a castle.
315
00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:35,360
Well, it's built like
one 'cause they had to
316
00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,834
protect themselves from the pirates.
317
00:13:37,834 --> 00:13:39,021
But it's a monastery.
318
00:13:43,456 --> 00:13:44,570
Pirates had little regard
319
00:13:44,570 --> 00:13:46,630
for the protection afforded by realm.
320
00:13:46,630 --> 00:13:47,760
They're opportunists.
321
00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:49,570
So, like other island monasteries,
322
00:13:49,570 --> 00:13:52,000
this place needed to fend for itself.
323
00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:53,770
It has stood the test of time.
324
00:13:53,770 --> 00:13:55,960
A result of having been built so well,
325
00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,510
with thick stone walls.
326
00:13:57,510 --> 00:14:00,630
Millions of people would
have walked the same path,
327
00:14:00,630 --> 00:14:02,610
yet the condition of the
centuries-old structure
328
00:14:02,610 --> 00:14:04,250
has weathered little.
329
00:14:04,250 --> 00:14:07,930
The tearing walls, intricate
columns, and pebbled walkway
330
00:14:07,930 --> 00:14:11,520
are awe-inspiring, fitting for
a place that's so spiritual,
331
00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:13,770
and of such religious importance.
332
00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:17,210
Yet, despite its grandeur,
there's an inviting feel to it.
333
00:14:17,210 --> 00:14:20,170
You're drawn to the top to
explore what lies ahead.
334
00:14:20,170 --> 00:14:22,290
And when you eventually
get to the end of the path,
335
00:14:22,290 --> 00:14:24,610
you're well and truly
rewarded for your efforts.
336
00:14:45,140 --> 00:14:46,120
Nicko, look at where we are.
337
00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,730
We can see all of the
northern Dodecanese islands.
338
00:14:49,730 --> 00:14:51,120
We're up high.
339
00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:52,730
It's just a magnificent spot.
340
00:14:52,730 --> 00:14:54,150
I feel that spiritualness.
341
00:14:54,150 --> 00:14:57,360
I mean, this is one of
the most important spots
342
00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:58,193
for Christianity.
343
00:14:58,193 --> 00:14:59,130
- It is indeed.
344
00:14:59,130 --> 00:15:01,929
The island of Patmos is
characterized as the Jerusalem
345
00:15:01,929 --> 00:15:03,150
of the Aegean Sea.
346
00:15:03,150 --> 00:15:05,780
Visiting Patmos means you visit the cave
347
00:15:05,780 --> 00:15:07,500
where John received the revelation.
348
00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:09,100
He saw Jesus Christ inside.
349
00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:11,120
That's why the cave is characterized as
350
00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,010
the Mt. Sinai of Europe.
351
00:15:13,010 --> 00:15:13,843
- Wow.
352
00:15:13,843 --> 00:15:15,960
- You see also monastery on top,
353
00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:20,870
a monastery of continued
spiritual life of 931 years.
354
00:15:20,870 --> 00:15:21,900
It's an amazing place.
355
00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:23,260
- It is an amazing place.
356
00:15:23,260 --> 00:15:26,470
Where would it rank in
the world of Christianity?
357
00:15:26,470 --> 00:15:28,180
- Let's say, Jerusalem.
358
00:15:28,180 --> 00:15:29,220
The second Jerusalem.
359
00:15:29,220 --> 00:15:30,053
The Jerusalem of the Aegean--
360
00:15:30,053 --> 00:15:30,940
- So, it's top two or three.
361
00:15:30,940 --> 00:15:31,773
- Of course, of course.
362
00:15:31,773 --> 00:15:33,032
- And we're right at the top of it.
363
00:15:33,032 --> 00:15:33,865
And it's beautiful.
364
00:15:33,865 --> 00:15:36,130
I mean, you don't have to be Christian
365
00:15:36,130 --> 00:15:39,470
to come up here and
feel the spiritualness.
366
00:15:39,470 --> 00:15:44,330
See this beautiful view, this
fortress that's a monastery.
367
00:15:44,330 --> 00:15:46,560
There's a bit of irony in
it, but it's fantastic.
368
00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:47,490
I love this place.
369
00:15:47,490 --> 00:15:48,343
I reckon it's awesome.
370
00:15:48,343 --> 00:15:50,956
- It's a divinely touched
island, generally.
371
00:15:50,956 --> 00:15:52,850
- Yes, yes, it's awesome.
372
00:15:52,850 --> 00:15:53,750
Look at that view.
373
00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:57,920
A divinely touched island.
374
00:15:57,920 --> 00:15:59,900
I couldn't have put it better myself.
375
00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:02,790
From here, I could see all
the surrounding land masses.
376
00:16:02,790 --> 00:16:05,493
Leipsoi, Leros, Kalymnos, Samos, Fuorni,
377
00:16:07,398 --> 00:16:09,310
Ikaria, and even Turkey.
378
00:16:09,310 --> 00:16:12,440
This 360 degree view
meant the monks could see
379
00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:14,230
any approaching vessels.
380
00:16:14,230 --> 00:16:15,730
And with heavy fortifications,
381
00:16:15,730 --> 00:16:17,820
and embrasures atop every wall,
382
00:16:17,820 --> 00:16:21,020
the monastery was well protected
against potential invaders.
383
00:16:21,020 --> 00:16:23,200
One person that has
called the monastery home
384
00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,080
longer than any other, is Father Efimios.
385
00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,020
He's been living here for 70 years,
386
00:16:28,020 --> 00:16:30,360
and one of the oldest monks in residence.
387
00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,840
For someone that's 95 years
old, man, he looks good.
388
00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,094
I was hoping he might let me
in on the secret of longevity.
389
00:16:39,719 --> 00:16:41,137
He looks so good.
390
00:17:04,796 --> 00:17:05,826
Not a lot to eat.
391
00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,930
After 900 years, you'd expect
the monastery to have aged.
392
00:17:47,930 --> 00:17:50,240
But outside of prayer and study times,
393
00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,030
the monks were continuously
on the upkeep of the place.
394
00:17:53,030 --> 00:17:54,400
It's simply stunning.
395
00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,880
But perhaps the most impressive
thing I saw while here
396
00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,210
was the museum.
397
00:17:58,210 --> 00:18:00,200
It's full of important artifacts.
398
00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:01,963
Some of which must be priceless.
399
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,790
Nickolaos, you have some wonderful pieces
400
00:18:06,790 --> 00:18:08,410
in this magnificent museum.
401
00:18:08,410 --> 00:18:09,630
- Yes, of course.
402
00:18:09,630 --> 00:18:11,930
There is one El Greco, over there.
403
00:18:11,930 --> 00:18:13,380
There is also the purple codex
404
00:18:13,380 --> 00:18:15,202
of the sixth century Anno Domini.
405
00:18:15,202 --> 00:18:17,490
And there is also the
deed of the monastery
406
00:18:17,490 --> 00:18:18,680
of the 11th century.
407
00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:19,650
- Wow.
408
00:18:19,650 --> 00:18:21,000
So this is the deed.
409
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,040
- Yes, this is the deed.
410
00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:23,430
This is the official contract
411
00:18:23,430 --> 00:18:26,830
between the founder of the
monastery, Christodulos,
412
00:18:26,830 --> 00:18:29,010
and the emperor of Constantinople,
413
00:18:29,010 --> 00:18:30,380
Alexios Komnenos, the first.
414
00:18:30,380 --> 00:18:32,310
This document says, more or less,
415
00:18:32,310 --> 00:18:34,090
that the whole island of Patmos,
416
00:18:34,090 --> 00:18:36,540
plus some lovely islands around Patmos
417
00:18:36,540 --> 00:18:38,450
belong to the monastery of John.
418
00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:39,970
Material is parchment.
419
00:18:39,970 --> 00:18:41,200
Language is Greek.
420
00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:42,410
It's the lower case.
421
00:18:42,410 --> 00:18:45,780
And it is dating back from
the 11th century Anno Domini.
422
00:18:45,780 --> 00:18:46,613
- Wow.
423
00:18:46,613 --> 00:18:48,570
Nickolaos, tell us about this piece.
424
00:18:48,570 --> 00:18:50,580
It's sixth century AD.
425
00:18:50,580 --> 00:18:51,460
- Sixth century AD.
426
00:18:51,460 --> 00:18:52,360
This is my favorite.
427
00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:55,300
One of the oldest copies
of the gospel of Mark.
428
00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:57,180
Mark the Evangelist, the apostle.
429
00:18:57,180 --> 00:18:59,070
The disciple of Peter, the apostle.
430
00:18:59,070 --> 00:19:02,220
Which is dating back from the
sixth century Anno Domini.
431
00:19:02,220 --> 00:19:04,000
Material, parchment.
432
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,230
Language, Greek.
433
00:19:05,230 --> 00:19:07,450
And it is called the purple codex.
434
00:19:07,450 --> 00:19:10,350
Specialists say that these two pages here
435
00:19:10,350 --> 00:19:12,360
referred to one miracle of Jesus Christ.
436
00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:13,850
The one with the possessed man,
437
00:19:13,850 --> 00:19:16,700
you know, the man with
a bad spirit inside him.
438
00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:18,070
- Awesome, awesome stuff.
439
00:19:18,070 --> 00:19:19,930
I can't believe it's right in front of us.
440
00:19:19,930 --> 00:19:20,846
- Yes.
441
00:19:25,050 --> 00:19:26,960
- The collection inside the vestry museum
442
00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:28,820
is of global significance.
443
00:19:28,820 --> 00:19:31,680
Within the walls are
manuscripts, silverware,
444
00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,320
mosaics, icons, and more.
445
00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,160
It's like taking a walk through a timeline
446
00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:37,343
of Christian history.
447
00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:41,720
One of the many highlights on display
448
00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,020
is an icon of Jesus in chains,
449
00:19:44,020 --> 00:19:46,110
believed to have been painted by El Greco.
450
00:19:46,110 --> 00:19:48,653
It's a powerful work
that stirs the emotions.
451
00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:52,840
While the museum is open to the public,
452
00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,230
two floors below in the
bowels of the monastery
453
00:19:55,230 --> 00:19:56,440
is the library.
454
00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,860
It's only accessible to scholars
and theological academics.
455
00:19:59,860 --> 00:20:02,140
I was blessed to be
invited into the space,
456
00:20:02,140 --> 00:20:04,701
an experience I'll never forget.
457
00:20:04,701 --> 00:20:07,973
Ioannis, how many books
in the library right now?
458
00:20:09,100 --> 00:20:14,100
- We have over a thousand
manuscripts, hand-written books.
459
00:20:14,291 --> 00:20:17,800
And over 5,000 printed books.
460
00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:18,633
- Wow.
461
00:20:18,633 --> 00:20:21,080
So when you say manuscripts, we're talking
462
00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,283
really old books, basically, aren't we?
463
00:20:25,770 --> 00:20:27,080
- Exactly.
464
00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,453
For example, we have a gospel book.
465
00:20:31,466 --> 00:20:34,240
It's the oldest hand-written
book of the monastery.
466
00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:35,073
- Yeah.
467
00:20:35,073 --> 00:20:36,340
- From sixth century.
468
00:20:36,340 --> 00:20:37,460
- Can we have a look?
469
00:20:37,460 --> 00:20:39,173
Such a beautiful piece.
470
00:20:43,250 --> 00:20:44,480
This is it here.
471
00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:45,680
Now, what is that made of?
472
00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:46,850
- From vellum.
473
00:20:46,850 --> 00:20:49,540
- Vellum, this is like a
skin of an animal, is it?
474
00:20:49,540 --> 00:20:51,965
- Very, very thin.
475
00:20:51,965 --> 00:20:54,100
- So, for a book like this,
476
00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:56,130
how many animals are in this book?
477
00:20:56,130 --> 00:21:00,980
- You can imagine how
many goats or sheeps.
478
00:21:00,980 --> 00:21:02,360
- 10, 20?
479
00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:03,745
- Many, no, no, no.
480
00:21:03,745 --> 00:21:04,578
- A hundred?
481
00:21:04,578 --> 00:21:05,411
- A hundred.
482
00:21:05,411 --> 00:21:06,290
- Wow, just for a book.
483
00:21:06,290 --> 00:21:07,170
Amazing.
484
00:21:07,170 --> 00:21:09,580
It's hard to imagine that
something so delicate
485
00:21:09,580 --> 00:21:12,250
has managed to survive 1500 years,
486
00:21:12,250 --> 00:21:14,380
and be in such good condition.
487
00:21:14,380 --> 00:21:16,860
Today it's housed in a
climate controlled room,
488
00:21:16,860 --> 00:21:20,630
away from harmful UV
rays, and prying hands.
489
00:21:20,630 --> 00:21:21,530
But through the centuries,
490
00:21:21,530 --> 00:21:23,840
it would have been exposed
to all sorts of threats,
491
00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,300
including invaders that
did their best to destroy
492
00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:28,390
the Christian faith in Greece.
493
00:21:28,390 --> 00:21:30,620
The monks have always been
devoted to the protection
494
00:21:30,620 --> 00:21:32,730
and restoration of religious works.
495
00:21:32,730 --> 00:21:35,760
In the present day, Ioannis
and his dedicated team
496
00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,480
spend their lives
painstakingly toiling away
497
00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,090
at preserving the texts in the library.
498
00:21:41,090 --> 00:21:42,070
This particular work
499
00:21:42,070 --> 00:21:45,120
is an early 16th century Venetian print.
500
00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:47,310
And while it looks to be in disrepair,
501
00:21:47,310 --> 00:21:50,350
Ioannis assures me they're
able to bring it back to life.
502
00:21:50,350 --> 00:21:51,710
He went on the show me examples
503
00:21:51,710 --> 00:21:53,900
of how good their restoration efforts are
504
00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:56,210
at cleaning away mold and wormholes,
505
00:21:56,210 --> 00:21:57,760
and rebinding the books.
506
00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,690
So they look similar to
their original state,
507
00:21:59,690 --> 00:22:02,469
and a protected for centuries to come.
508
00:22:02,469 --> 00:22:05,080
- This first
509
00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:06,133
- The new part of--
510
00:22:06,133 --> 00:22:09,283
- This is all restoration.
511
00:22:12,010 --> 00:22:13,210
- It needs time to--
512
00:22:13,210 --> 00:22:14,760
- Of course.
- To do some--
513
00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:16,560
- How long would it take to do one book?
514
00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,470
- Ah, maybe months.
515
00:22:18,470 --> 00:22:20,730
- There are numerous books
within the library archives
516
00:22:20,730 --> 00:22:21,870
that are hidden away,
517
00:22:21,870 --> 00:22:24,390
awaiting Ioannis and his team's expertise.
518
00:22:24,390 --> 00:22:27,140
This type of work is the
job of skilled artisans.
519
00:22:27,140 --> 00:22:28,810
And with so many in the collection,
520
00:22:28,810 --> 00:22:31,273
it's likely to be a
multi-generational effort.
521
00:22:32,830 --> 00:22:35,710
- the exiled by the Romans,
522
00:22:35,710 --> 00:22:38,740
son of Zebedee and
Salome, John the apostle
523
00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,120
received the book of Revelation
in this particular spot.
524
00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:46,374
And actually, on this flat
inclination where this book is--
525
00:22:46,374 --> 00:22:47,330
- Right here.
526
00:22:47,330 --> 00:22:48,163
- Yes.
527
00:22:48,163 --> 00:22:52,180
John dictated the book to
his disciple, Prochorus.
528
00:22:52,180 --> 00:22:54,820
John dictated the seven
seals, the seven trumpets,
529
00:22:54,820 --> 00:22:58,200
the seven vials, to this disciple
whose name was Prochorus.
530
00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,960
Because his visions actually
are the book of Revelation.
531
00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,917
- This is the last chapter of the Bible.
532
00:23:03,917 --> 00:23:06,790
- Correct, the 27th book of the
Corpus of the new Testament,
533
00:23:06,790 --> 00:23:08,250
and last book of the Bible.
534
00:23:08,250 --> 00:23:09,083
- In this cave.
535
00:23:09,083 --> 00:23:09,916
- In this particular--
536
00:23:09,916 --> 00:23:11,870
- And this is 2000 years ago.
537
00:23:11,870 --> 00:23:14,380
- 95 AD, at the end of the first century.
538
00:23:14,380 --> 00:23:15,980
- Wow.
539
00:23:15,980 --> 00:23:18,560
- Early Christian times
in historical terms.
540
00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,850
- Watching as visitors came
in and out of the cave,
541
00:23:20,850 --> 00:23:22,570
it was clear the impact that standing
542
00:23:22,570 --> 00:23:24,420
in such a place can have.
543
00:23:24,420 --> 00:23:27,100
People from across the
world would enter in wonder.
544
00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:30,620
Greeks, Germans, Americans, Japanese,
545
00:23:30,620 --> 00:23:32,630
pilgrims from every corner of the globe.
546
00:23:32,630 --> 00:23:34,430
And while they may all
have different cultures,
547
00:23:34,430 --> 00:23:36,400
and live thousands of miles apart,
548
00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,430
this important work connects them.
549
00:23:38,430 --> 00:23:39,852
And upon leaving the cave,
550
00:23:39,852 --> 00:23:42,014
they're all in a state of spiritual high.
551
00:23:58,380 --> 00:23:59,880
Looking down from the monastery,
552
00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:01,770
you can't help but see
the group of windmills
553
00:24:01,770 --> 00:24:03,630
perched on the hillside.
554
00:24:03,630 --> 00:24:05,860
There are a common sight
on many Greek islands.
555
00:24:05,860 --> 00:24:06,910
But the difference here
556
00:24:06,910 --> 00:24:09,260
is that these ones are
in pristine condition,
557
00:24:09,260 --> 00:24:11,512
looking like they were built yesterday.
558
00:24:14,350 --> 00:24:17,010
So, Corrine, I don't think
I've ever seen a windmill
559
00:24:17,010 --> 00:24:18,610
in the condition this one's in.
560
00:24:18,610 --> 00:24:20,090
It's fully working, isn't it?
561
00:24:20,090 --> 00:24:20,923
- Yes.
562
00:24:20,923 --> 00:24:21,760
- Fully working.
563
00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:23,770
And when was it refurbished?
564
00:24:23,770 --> 00:24:27,800
- It was done in 2010.
565
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:28,633
- 2010.
566
00:24:28,633 --> 00:24:30,290
How many are these, four?
567
00:24:30,290 --> 00:24:31,920
- We have three windmills.
568
00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:32,753
- Three windmills.
569
00:24:32,753 --> 00:24:36,190
- But the only this one has
the whole mechanism to grind.
570
00:24:36,190 --> 00:24:39,310
The other one we are just opening them
571
00:24:39,310 --> 00:24:41,980
for aesthetic reasons,
which is very nice--
572
00:24:41,980 --> 00:24:43,260
- So we're gonna grind today, aren't we?
573
00:24:43,260 --> 00:24:44,150
- Yes, we are.
574
00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:45,580
Let's try.
- I'm looking forward to it.
575
00:24:45,580 --> 00:24:46,800
This windmill actually works.
576
00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:48,850
I don't think there is a windmill
577
00:24:48,850 --> 00:24:52,410
I've seen in Greece that is
in condition this one is in.
578
00:24:52,410 --> 00:24:53,940
- Yes, it's quite unique.
579
00:24:53,940 --> 00:24:55,870
We have one in Karpathos, I think.
580
00:24:55,870 --> 00:24:57,230
Very old one.
- But not like this.
581
00:24:57,230 --> 00:24:59,410
- No, not really, not
like this, no, no, no.
582
00:24:59,410 --> 00:25:00,710
- So who refurbished this?
583
00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:03,020
- Mr. Pictet, Charles Pictet.
584
00:25:03,020 --> 00:25:05,080
He's a Swiss resident.
585
00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:06,220
Owner of a Swiss bank.
586
00:25:06,220 --> 00:25:07,053
- Yeah.
587
00:25:07,053 --> 00:25:08,660
- He's a sailor.
588
00:25:08,660 --> 00:25:11,860
And he spent all his life
with his kids and wife
589
00:25:11,860 --> 00:25:13,630
sailing in the Aegean Sea.
590
00:25:13,630 --> 00:25:16,077
And he wanted to say, "Thank you Greece
591
00:25:16,077 --> 00:25:18,990
"for all the magnificent
holidays I spent here."
592
00:25:18,990 --> 00:25:23,990
And he thought how to, let's
say, give something who has...
593
00:25:26,150 --> 00:25:26,983
- Significance.
594
00:25:26,983 --> 00:25:31,780
- Significance with wind,
sails, beauty of Greece.
595
00:25:31,780 --> 00:25:33,637
And he thought, "Hmm,
these windmills up there.
596
00:25:33,637 --> 00:25:34,470
"Maybe we could do something."
597
00:25:34,470 --> 00:25:35,587
- What a smart man, wow.
598
00:25:35,587 --> 00:25:37,400
- It was a great project.
599
00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:38,433
- Fantastic, yeah.
600
00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:41,740
- The wheat, this is wheat from Samos.
601
00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:43,190
Totally biological.
602
00:25:43,190 --> 00:25:44,023
- Organic.
603
00:25:44,023 --> 00:25:44,856
- Organic, yeah.
604
00:25:44,856 --> 00:25:47,200
- And this is the monastery's wheat.
605
00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:48,033
- Yes.
606
00:25:48,033 --> 00:25:51,290
All the three windmills here,
they belong to the monastery.
607
00:25:51,290 --> 00:25:54,250
And when they heard that we are grinding,
608
00:25:54,250 --> 00:25:57,227
they said, "Oh, we have
some properties in Samos.
609
00:25:57,227 --> 00:25:58,520
"Let's see what we can do."
610
00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:03,320
And they started to grow wheat.
611
00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,990
This kind of very beautiful,
you see, it's very nice color.
612
00:26:06,990 --> 00:26:10,840
And now, we have people working in Samos.
613
00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:15,550
And they have really
beautiful properties now.
614
00:26:15,550 --> 00:26:16,900
- And the wheat looks so good.
615
00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:17,733
- Yes.
616
00:26:17,733 --> 00:26:18,783
- Can I just have another look at it.
617
00:26:18,783 --> 00:26:19,616
Look at that, that's--
618
00:26:19,616 --> 00:26:20,449
- You smell, you smell it?
619
00:26:20,449 --> 00:26:21,310
It's really nice.
620
00:26:21,310 --> 00:26:22,373
- Oh, just look at that wheat.
621
00:26:22,373 --> 00:26:24,180
That is absolutely magnificent.
622
00:26:24,180 --> 00:26:25,013
- Yeah.
623
00:26:25,013 --> 00:26:26,620
- Can I take some flour out with me?
624
00:26:26,620 --> 00:26:27,920
- Yes.
625
00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,067
- Okay, Kyriakos will
cook something for us.
626
00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:31,733
- So, I better take this up.
627
00:26:31,733 --> 00:26:32,566
- I think it's quite heavy.
628
00:26:32,566 --> 00:26:33,456
- I think it's a bit
heavy, I'll take it up.
629
00:26:33,456 --> 00:26:34,289
Oh, geez.
630
00:26:34,289 --> 00:26:35,122
- Can you?
- Yeah.
631
00:26:35,122 --> 00:26:35,955
- You'll manage?
632
00:26:35,955 --> 00:26:36,788
- I'll just mention Jesus' name--
633
00:26:36,788 --> 00:26:37,621
- All right, let's go.
634
00:26:37,621 --> 00:26:39,360
- But I shouldn't have
done that, but it's okay.
635
00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:40,193
Here we go.
636
00:26:41,060 --> 00:26:43,534
- Take care, the steps are very high.
637
00:26:46,950 --> 00:26:47,790
May I help you?
638
00:26:47,790 --> 00:26:49,190
- No, it's okay, I got it, I got it.
639
00:26:49,190 --> 00:26:50,803
- All right, perfect.
640
00:26:51,780 --> 00:26:54,141
I'm even gonna take you as a miller.
641
00:26:54,141 --> 00:26:55,440
- Okay.
642
00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,190
- So what happens now?
- Great.
643
00:26:57,190 --> 00:27:00,010
So, basically it's quite easy.
644
00:27:00,010 --> 00:27:03,000
You see, when we are
going to open the sails,
645
00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:04,650
you have this big shaft,
646
00:27:04,650 --> 00:27:08,750
who will take all this huge wheel to turn.
647
00:27:08,750 --> 00:27:11,670
And this wheel will make this to turn.
648
00:27:11,670 --> 00:27:14,235
And that's the time we open here.
649
00:27:14,235 --> 00:27:15,068
Look at it.
- Oh, okay.
650
00:27:15,068 --> 00:27:16,230
- And you see?
651
00:27:16,230 --> 00:27:17,636
- I go, "No, no, no, no,
let's leave him down.
652
00:27:17,636 --> 00:27:19,140
Let's leave him down there."
653
00:27:19,140 --> 00:27:21,410
- Very slowly the wheat--
654
00:27:21,410 --> 00:27:22,670
- And there is a stone underneath here.
655
00:27:22,670 --> 00:27:24,000
- There are two stones.
656
00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,040
- Two stones.
- Two stones.
657
00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,810
The one on the top of the other.
658
00:27:27,810 --> 00:27:30,810
The down stone is sleeping
stone, so it doesn't work.
659
00:27:30,810 --> 00:27:32,190
The other one is working.
660
00:27:32,190 --> 00:27:35,750
So, when they turn, the
one on top of the other,
661
00:27:35,750 --> 00:27:38,513
the wheat that we've put in inside here,
662
00:27:38,513 --> 00:27:41,870
will slowly goes to the extremity.
663
00:27:41,870 --> 00:27:46,620
And when each grain arrived
at the extremity, it's flour.
664
00:27:46,620 --> 00:27:47,970
- Well, let's go and start the mill.
665
00:27:47,970 --> 00:27:49,113
- Okay, let's go.
666
00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:53,610
- Below this timber covet,
667
00:27:53,610 --> 00:27:55,950
is the massive circular stone block,
668
00:27:55,950 --> 00:27:58,200
that must be at least a ton or two.
669
00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,720
The power required to
make it spin is immense.
670
00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:02,310
And in preparing the wind vanes,
671
00:28:02,310 --> 00:28:04,100
you get a sense of the energy required
672
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:06,130
to turn that heavy stone.
673
00:28:06,130 --> 00:28:07,603
It's not an easy job.
674
00:28:14,481 --> 00:28:16,012
- I don't know if I want
to hold this anymore.
675
00:28:18,810 --> 00:28:21,560
I'm gonna walk away because
this thing is gonna go off.
676
00:28:27,121 --> 00:28:28,419
That's enough, isn't it?
677
00:28:28,419 --> 00:28:29,341
- Let's see.
678
00:28:44,383 --> 00:28:46,920
- Look at the power of the wind.
679
00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:48,410
This is a heavy machine.
680
00:28:48,410 --> 00:28:49,243
- Yeah.
681
00:28:49,243 --> 00:28:51,770
- And we only have unfilled
a little bit of the sail.
682
00:28:51,770 --> 00:28:52,603
- Yes.
683
00:28:52,603 --> 00:28:55,974
And all of this to grind a
very small piece of wheat.
684
00:28:55,974 --> 00:28:57,510
- Yes.
685
00:28:57,510 --> 00:28:58,434
- Yeah.
686
00:29:07,327 --> 00:29:09,390
So, now, you have the result.
687
00:29:09,390 --> 00:29:10,223
You see?
688
00:29:11,990 --> 00:29:12,823
- Okay.
689
00:29:12,823 --> 00:29:14,300
- You see the flour?
690
00:29:14,300 --> 00:29:15,160
- So, the wind stopped?
691
00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:16,680
Oh, it's gonna start again.
692
00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:17,513
- Yeah.
- And this is the flour.
693
00:29:17,513 --> 00:29:18,346
Can have a look?
694
00:29:18,346 --> 00:29:19,179
- Yes, of course.
695
00:29:19,179 --> 00:29:21,318
- Oh, look at that.
- Smell it.
696
00:29:21,318 --> 00:29:22,738
- Look at that, look at the flour.
697
00:29:22,738 --> 00:29:23,673
- Strong flour.
698
00:29:25,286 --> 00:29:28,130
- Hang on a second, look
at this, look at this.
699
00:29:28,130 --> 00:29:29,298
Yeah
700
00:29:29,298 --> 00:29:30,930
Oh, I don't think I've
smelled flour like that
701
00:29:30,930 --> 00:29:32,090
since I was a little boy.
702
00:29:32,090 --> 00:29:33,026
- Yes.
703
00:29:33,026 --> 00:29:33,902
- And that was a long time ago.
704
00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:35,933
Wow.
705
00:29:35,933 --> 00:29:38,350
- So, this is what is
going out from the stones.
706
00:29:38,350 --> 00:29:39,417
- Right.
- All together, okay?
707
00:29:39,417 --> 00:29:40,810
- Oh, that's everything, right?
708
00:29:40,810 --> 00:29:42,740
- Everything together, so I'll show you.
709
00:29:42,740 --> 00:29:47,144
If we sieve by hand,
you have the bran here.
710
00:29:47,144 --> 00:29:48,623
- The bran, and you've got the flour.
711
00:29:48,623 --> 00:29:49,456
- And this is the flour.
712
00:29:49,456 --> 00:29:50,850
- So, this is the bran here.
713
00:29:50,850 --> 00:29:52,970
What do you do with the bran?
714
00:29:52,970 --> 00:29:56,320
- So, the bran is the
envelopes of the grain.
715
00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:58,010
And this is to feed the animals.
716
00:29:58,010 --> 00:29:58,910
- Feed the chickens and--
717
00:29:58,910 --> 00:29:59,743
- Chickens and--
718
00:29:59,743 --> 00:30:01,719
- And this is to make my pie.
719
00:30:01,719 --> 00:30:04,681
- To, yes, pie, bread, whatever.
720
00:30:04,681 --> 00:30:06,400
- Well, you know what, Corrine?
721
00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:07,714
I'm gonna go and make some pie now.
722
00:30:07,714 --> 00:30:08,610
We're gonna get some of this flour out,
723
00:30:08,610 --> 00:30:10,030
I'm gonna take it back to Kyriakos, okay?
724
00:30:10,030 --> 00:30:10,863
- Okay.
725
00:30:10,863 --> 00:30:11,952
- Thank you very much.
- You're welcome.
726
00:30:11,952 --> 00:30:13,330
- This has been fantastic.
727
00:30:13,330 --> 00:30:15,100
I love it.
- It was a pleasure.
728
00:30:15,100 --> 00:30:17,260
- Having seen these
windmills over the years,
729
00:30:17,260 --> 00:30:19,890
it was awesome to step
inside an operational one,
730
00:30:19,890 --> 00:30:21,590
and see how it works.
731
00:30:21,590 --> 00:30:23,760
But what impressed me most
about the whole experience
732
00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,180
was the story of the Swiss
benefactor that restored it.
733
00:30:26,180 --> 00:30:28,280
Having loved the Greek islands so much,
734
00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:30,000
he felt that he had to give back.
735
00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:31,218
What a great story.
736
00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:50,420
As I mentioned earlier, your
average tourist comes to Patmos
737
00:30:50,420 --> 00:30:52,020
to see the religious sites.
738
00:30:52,020 --> 00:30:53,190
Ferries come into the port,
739
00:30:53,190 --> 00:30:55,010
and visitors head
straight to the monastery.
740
00:30:55,010 --> 00:30:57,500
This leaves the rest of the
island relatively peaceful.
741
00:30:57,500 --> 00:31:00,250
So you can explore the
countless bays and beaches
742
00:31:00,250 --> 00:31:01,800
free of any crowds.
743
00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:03,710
Other than a few yachts and fishing boats,
744
00:31:03,710 --> 00:31:05,160
there's usually little else.
745
00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:06,290
This particular beach
746
00:31:06,290 --> 00:31:08,510
is probably the busiest
you'll come across.
747
00:31:08,510 --> 00:31:12,240
This holy island of Patmos
is not known for its beaches,
748
00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:14,140
but let me let you in on a secret.
749
00:31:14,140 --> 00:31:16,480
It's got plenty of them,
and they're awesome.
750
00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:17,913
This beach of Agriolivado,
751
00:31:18,768 --> 00:31:20,960
Agriolivado meaning wild meadow,
752
00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:22,600
named after the area behind us.
753
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:24,480
It's absolutely magnificent.
754
00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:26,190
And the water, just a nice temperature
755
00:31:26,190 --> 00:31:27,300
because it's shallow here.
756
00:31:27,300 --> 00:31:28,640
As a result, it warms up better.
757
00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,930
There's families, kids
can't shut up behind me,
758
00:31:30,930 --> 00:31:31,763
I'll tell ya.
759
00:31:31,763 --> 00:31:32,930
They're having such a good time.
760
00:31:32,930 --> 00:31:35,234
And we're headed to this
really groovy beach now
761
00:31:35,234 --> 00:31:36,895
called Kambos.
762
00:31:36,895 --> 00:31:38,040
And there's some nice bars there.
763
00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:39,130
We'll check it out.
764
00:31:39,130 --> 00:31:40,313
See you soon.
765
00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:44,180
The majority of beach
dwellers here are Greeks.
766
00:31:44,180 --> 00:31:45,950
The few foreigners you'll find
767
00:31:45,950 --> 00:31:47,550
all share a common denominator,
768
00:31:47,550 --> 00:31:50,430
in that they've typically
been to Patmos numerous times.
769
00:31:50,430 --> 00:31:51,590
You see, once you've been here,
770
00:31:51,590 --> 00:31:53,300
and gone beyond the tourist hotspots,
771
00:31:53,300 --> 00:31:55,040
you quickly fall in love with the place.
772
00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:57,190
And like these families,
you'll feel at home,
773
00:31:57,190 --> 00:32:00,350
and start to treat the island
like your own backyard.
774
00:32:00,350 --> 00:32:02,080
On this trip, I met several people,
775
00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:03,800
including three Norwegian women,
776
00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,070
who've been traveling here with
their friends and relatives
777
00:32:06,070 --> 00:32:07,330
for many years.
778
00:32:07,330 --> 00:32:09,020
It's a story you'll hear over and over
779
00:32:09,020 --> 00:32:10,150
when chatting to tourists.
780
00:32:10,150 --> 00:32:12,790
They rarely visit just once.
781
00:32:12,790 --> 00:32:13,990
35 years.
782
00:32:13,990 --> 00:32:15,670
When did you come here,
you were five years old
783
00:32:15,670 --> 00:32:16,503
when you first came?
784
00:32:16,503 --> 00:32:18,351
- Oh yes, sure, yes.
785
00:32:20,700 --> 00:32:22,240
- What keeps bringing you back?
786
00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:23,640
- It's very quiet island.
787
00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:24,597
- Right, quiet island.
788
00:32:24,597 --> 00:32:26,970
- And you can see the local people.
789
00:32:26,970 --> 00:32:27,830
- Yes.
790
00:32:27,830 --> 00:32:29,720
- And live like local people.
791
00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:31,150
- And you like the local people?
792
00:32:31,150 --> 00:32:32,120
Good people.
793
00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:32,953
- Yes, yes.
- Yeah.
794
00:32:32,953 --> 00:32:35,890
- What is it about the
local people that you like?
795
00:32:35,890 --> 00:32:37,556
- Friendly.
796
00:32:37,556 --> 00:32:38,389
- And then...
797
00:32:39,790 --> 00:32:40,770
- Make good food.
798
00:32:40,770 --> 00:32:41,850
- Yeah.
799
00:32:41,850 --> 00:32:42,683
- Smiling.
800
00:32:42,683 --> 00:32:43,516
- Good food?
801
00:32:43,516 --> 00:32:44,466
I know, good food.
802
00:32:44,466 --> 00:32:45,600
- Honest.
803
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,755
If you forget something
something someplace,
804
00:32:47,755 --> 00:32:50,583
you'll always get it back.
805
00:32:50,583 --> 00:32:53,530
- Wanting to live like a local
is the ultimate compliment
806
00:32:53,530 --> 00:32:55,200
a tourist can give a destination.
807
00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:58,120
It proves how good the place
is beyond the landmarks.
808
00:32:58,120 --> 00:32:59,940
In the case of those lovely ladies,
809
00:32:59,940 --> 00:33:02,290
it was the people that
made Patmos so special.
810
00:33:02,290 --> 00:33:05,000
For me, it's a little bit of everything.
811
00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,400
I love the history and
religious significance.
812
00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,440
Then there's the fantastic
food that all the small cafes
813
00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:11,870
and taverns serve up.
814
00:33:11,870 --> 00:33:13,680
Next, you've got the beaches.
815
00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:15,130
The island has a rugged coastline
816
00:33:15,130 --> 00:33:16,780
that's dotted with alcoves.
817
00:33:16,780 --> 00:33:20,107
From remote pebbled shores, to
long stretches of fine sand,
818
00:33:20,107 --> 00:33:23,650
where you can hire a deck
chair, and enjoy a cold drink.
819
00:33:23,650 --> 00:33:25,800
There's a beach for every fancy.
820
00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,000
But with the Norwegian
women I spoke to earlier,
821
00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,250
it's the locals that complete the picture.
822
00:33:30,250 --> 00:33:32,610
They're a welcoming bunch, hospitable,
823
00:33:32,610 --> 00:33:34,240
and always willing to give you some tips
824
00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:35,483
on what to see and do.
825
00:33:36,530 --> 00:33:37,840
So, if you're the type of traveler
826
00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:39,200
that just wants to sit on the beach,
827
00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:40,990
and watch the passing scenery,
828
00:33:40,990 --> 00:33:43,170
you can happily do exactly that.
829
00:33:43,170 --> 00:33:45,950
But to get the most out of
what Patmos has to offer,
830
00:33:45,950 --> 00:33:47,710
I encourage you to think a little wider,
831
00:33:47,710 --> 00:33:49,470
and embrace the myriad of things
832
00:33:49,470 --> 00:33:51,970
available to the inquisitive tourist.
833
00:33:51,970 --> 00:33:53,100
Pop on the hiking shoes,
834
00:33:53,100 --> 00:33:55,090
and walk to one of those mountaintops.
835
00:33:55,090 --> 00:33:56,340
Jump on a scenic cruise,
836
00:33:56,340 --> 00:33:58,460
and see some of the lesser known places.
837
00:33:58,460 --> 00:34:01,310
Visit the museums, or
try the local delicacies.
838
00:34:01,310 --> 00:34:03,190
You'll be surprised at
just how much there is
839
00:34:03,190 --> 00:34:04,190
to this tiny island.
840
00:34:09,660 --> 00:34:11,460
One of the discoveries I made while here
841
00:34:11,460 --> 00:34:13,020
was a local boat building business
842
00:34:13,020 --> 00:34:15,030
owned by two brothers with
a passion for the sea,
843
00:34:15,030 --> 00:34:16,940
and shaping timber.
844
00:34:16,940 --> 00:34:19,600
Despite Greece's long
history with shipbuilding,
845
00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:21,310
it's a dying art in the
islands of the Aegean,
846
00:34:21,310 --> 00:34:23,220
where it once thrived.
847
00:34:23,220 --> 00:34:25,460
As boats moved from being made of timber,
848
00:34:25,460 --> 00:34:28,210
and grew in scale using
steel instead of wood,
849
00:34:28,210 --> 00:34:30,520
the small shipyards
were unable to compete,
850
00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,520
or even transition to the
new requirements of buyers.
851
00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:35,190
Bucking the trend of closures,
852
00:34:35,190 --> 00:34:38,060
these two carpenters have
established a thriving business
853
00:34:38,060 --> 00:34:40,490
on an island that was never
known for boat building.
854
00:34:40,490 --> 00:34:42,890
And some of the vessels
they make are beautiful.
855
00:34:45,299 --> 00:34:47,260
Sozon, these are all handmade?
856
00:34:47,260 --> 00:34:48,093
- Yes.
857
00:34:48,093 --> 00:34:48,926
- Everything?
858
00:34:48,926 --> 00:34:50,690
Even his kayak here's handmade?
859
00:34:50,690 --> 00:34:51,523
- Yes.
860
00:34:51,523 --> 00:34:52,780
- You make kayaks too?
861
00:34:52,780 --> 00:34:53,613
Anything?
862
00:34:53,613 --> 00:34:56,693
- We can do everything
about the wooden sail.
863
00:34:56,693 --> 00:34:59,380
- Ah, it's just so beautiful.
864
00:34:59,380 --> 00:35:01,000
- This is for my nephew.
865
00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:01,833
For your nephew?
866
00:35:01,833 --> 00:35:02,666
- Yes.
867
00:35:02,666 --> 00:35:03,499
He's a lucky boy.
- Yeah.
868
00:35:03,499 --> 00:35:05,170
- Let's keep going, he's a lucky boy.
869
00:35:09,700 --> 00:35:11,450
Once you meet Sozon and his brother,
870
00:35:11,450 --> 00:35:12,870
and take a look at their work,
871
00:35:12,870 --> 00:35:15,740
it quickly becomes clear
why their books are full.
872
00:35:15,740 --> 00:35:17,010
I've met plenty of carpenters,
873
00:35:17,010 --> 00:35:19,080
and been to many joinery factories.
874
00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:22,300
The work these guys do is
of a standard I rarely see.
875
00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:24,460
Their eye for detail and
pride in their workmanship
876
00:35:24,460 --> 00:35:25,667
is impeccable.
877
00:35:27,940 --> 00:35:29,600
This takes you a year to build, one year.
878
00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:30,433
- Yes.
879
00:35:30,433 --> 00:35:33,210
- Oh, look at the lines.
880
00:35:33,210 --> 00:35:34,241
Fantastic.
881
00:35:34,241 --> 00:35:35,715
- It's handmade boat, let's say.
882
00:35:35,715 --> 00:35:37,340
- Handmade, it's handmade.
- Yeah.
883
00:35:37,340 --> 00:35:38,730
We build with meraki.
884
00:35:38,730 --> 00:35:40,520
We love it, let's say.
- Yeah, yeah.
885
00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:44,080
This is the only way for you have--
886
00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:44,913
- This is your family.
887
00:35:44,913 --> 00:35:45,746
- Yes.
888
00:35:45,746 --> 00:35:46,917
- This is your family.
- Exactly.
889
00:35:46,917 --> 00:35:47,780
To have a boat like this,
890
00:35:47,780 --> 00:35:51,040
you need to be with emotion, let's say.
891
00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,680
Actually, all what you see is by eyes.
892
00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:54,513
- Wow.
893
00:35:54,513 --> 00:35:57,747
- It's piece by piece, and
sediment by sediment, let's say.
894
00:35:57,747 --> 00:35:58,580
- Wow.
895
00:35:58,580 --> 00:36:01,230
- To make the form, to make
the curve, to make the...
896
00:36:01,230 --> 00:36:03,550
We build it and we change,
we build it and we change
897
00:36:03,550 --> 00:36:07,800
to make it the best
good-looking, let's say...
898
00:36:09,139 --> 00:36:10,440
- We gotta go before I buy this boat,
899
00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:11,677
and my wife kills me, you know.
900
00:36:11,677 --> 00:36:12,510
I'm gonna have to sell a house.
901
00:36:12,510 --> 00:36:16,360
You know.
902
00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:18,820
From designing these bespoke luxury craft,
903
00:36:18,820 --> 00:36:21,260
and selecting the right
lengths of mahogany,
904
00:36:21,260 --> 00:36:24,540
to truly know how, and
piecing everything together.
905
00:36:24,540 --> 00:36:26,640
It's a painstaking process.
906
00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:30,400
Unfortunately, craftsmen like
these are slowly being lost.
907
00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:32,410
But thanks to Sozon and his brother,
908
00:36:32,410 --> 00:36:35,350
a new generation of boat
builders are being trained.
909
00:36:35,350 --> 00:36:37,740
The hope is that they'll
keep this industry alive,
910
00:36:37,740 --> 00:36:40,157
passing their knowledge on
to others in the future.
911
00:37:01,460 --> 00:37:03,910
Leaving Patmos, we had a
whirlwind tour of three islands
912
00:37:03,910 --> 00:37:05,840
that don't often get mentioned.
913
00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:07,040
As much as I would have loved
914
00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:08,510
to have spent more time on each of them,
915
00:37:08,510 --> 00:37:10,630
I had to make a few sacrifices,
916
00:37:10,630 --> 00:37:12,570
so I could properly
explore some other islands
917
00:37:12,570 --> 00:37:13,720
later in the trip.
918
00:37:13,720 --> 00:37:16,623
To the east of Patmos
in only a stone's throw,
919
00:37:17,490 --> 00:37:19,860
is this beautiful archipelago.
920
00:37:19,860 --> 00:37:22,190
It's called Arkioi or Arki,
921
00:37:22,190 --> 00:37:23,420
and this island of Marathi,
922
00:37:23,420 --> 00:37:26,060
the smaller of the two inhabited islands.
923
00:37:26,060 --> 00:37:28,633
Now, Marathi is only one square kilometer.
924
00:37:29,750 --> 00:37:31,710
And there are only two
families that live here.
925
00:37:31,710 --> 00:37:33,530
Basically five people.
926
00:37:33,530 --> 00:37:36,500
That taverna, and that taverna behind you.
927
00:37:36,500 --> 00:37:38,200
Five people live on this island.
928
00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:39,600
They collect rain water,
929
00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:41,830
and they get power from Arkioi.
930
00:37:41,830 --> 00:37:43,870
It's gotta be one of the
smallest inhabited islands
931
00:37:43,870 --> 00:37:44,703
that I've been to.
932
00:37:44,703 --> 00:37:48,160
But here, all these private yachts come in
933
00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:50,590
and enjoy this wonderful blue water.
934
00:37:50,590 --> 00:37:53,490
I don't know what it is,
but I feel at home here.
935
00:37:53,490 --> 00:37:55,163
No hustle, no bustle.
936
00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:58,157
Maybe it's too quiet for me.
937
00:38:03,270 --> 00:38:05,090
I love my peaceful islands,
938
00:38:05,090 --> 00:38:06,670
but when you've got a young son,
939
00:38:06,670 --> 00:38:08,810
and a boat full of guests to entertain,
940
00:38:08,810 --> 00:38:10,923
sometimes you need a little bit of action.
941
00:38:10,923 --> 00:38:13,913
Mind you, a few days here
would have been nice.
942
00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:19,773
It's just too good to be
walking and not swimming.
943
00:38:21,020 --> 00:38:22,687
But so many people say to me,
944
00:38:22,687 --> 00:38:24,970
"Stop taking your clothes off
and getting in the water."
945
00:38:24,970 --> 00:38:27,070
So, I'm not getting in the water
946
00:38:29,301 --> 00:38:32,101
I'm gonna get in the water
when the camera stops anyway.
947
00:38:34,660 --> 00:38:36,720
The taverns are popular with yachties,
948
00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:39,030
who use a small protected
harbor for shelter,
949
00:38:39,030 --> 00:38:41,060
or is a brief stopover.
950
00:38:41,060 --> 00:38:42,980
But you don't need your own boat to visit.
951
00:38:42,980 --> 00:38:45,010
There are water taxis that
will transfer you across
952
00:38:45,010 --> 00:38:47,110
from any of the larger
surrounding islands,
953
00:38:47,110 --> 00:38:49,023
including our next stop, Arki.
954
00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:54,270
In the center of this
majestic archipelago,
955
00:38:54,270 --> 00:38:56,260
is the island of Arki.
956
00:38:56,260 --> 00:38:58,830
Now, only 40 people live here.
957
00:38:58,830 --> 00:39:02,970
There's two horses, a couple
of pigs, and quite a few goats.
958
00:39:02,970 --> 00:39:05,370
Three tavernas, a cafeteria.
959
00:39:05,370 --> 00:39:07,020
There is no council.
960
00:39:07,020 --> 00:39:08,510
There are no police.
961
00:39:08,510 --> 00:39:10,360
There are no port police.
962
00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:14,590
But what's wonderful is there's
one teacher for one kid.
963
00:39:14,590 --> 00:39:16,870
You can do whatever you want
on this island, but they don't.
964
00:39:16,870 --> 00:39:18,050
These are just good people.
965
00:39:18,050 --> 00:39:20,140
And all you do here is just relax,
966
00:39:20,140 --> 00:39:23,370
and enjoy the beautiful Aegean.
967
00:39:23,370 --> 00:39:24,750
I'll tell you what.
968
00:39:24,750 --> 00:39:26,470
I could stay here for a long time.
969
00:39:26,470 --> 00:39:27,303
It's beautiful.
970
00:39:29,740 --> 00:39:31,580
Oh, that's, the sun.
971
00:39:31,580 --> 00:39:33,030
Fantastic.
972
00:39:33,030 --> 00:39:35,783
In a place like Arki, it's
easy to get to know the locals
973
00:39:35,783 --> 00:39:37,120
like Manolis.
974
00:39:37,120 --> 00:39:40,010
He owns one of the taverns
and spent all his life here.
975
00:39:40,010 --> 00:39:41,920
Incidentally, he's the brother of Ioannis,
976
00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:43,990
the librarian I met a few days ago.
977
00:39:43,990 --> 00:39:45,570
It's a small world, aye?
978
00:39:45,570 --> 00:39:47,377
- My captain, he came here and he says,
979
00:39:47,377 --> 00:39:48,910
"I really like this island."
980
00:39:48,910 --> 00:39:50,490
He said, "I prefer it to Patmos."
981
00:39:50,490 --> 00:39:52,595
- Yeah, for the first moment,
everybody loves this place.
982
00:39:52,595 --> 00:39:54,200
- Everybody loves this place.
983
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:55,560
There's only 40 people.
984
00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:57,160
What's gonna happen in 20 years time?
985
00:39:57,160 --> 00:39:58,840
Do you think it will grow?
986
00:39:58,840 --> 00:39:59,673
- No.
987
00:39:59,673 --> 00:40:00,506
- It won't, right?
988
00:40:00,506 --> 00:40:01,875
It's hard to sustain it, isn't it?
989
00:40:01,875 --> 00:40:02,708
- Yes, it's hard.
990
00:40:02,708 --> 00:40:06,480
But slowly, year by year,
we've been less and less.
991
00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:07,313
- Less and less.
992
00:40:07,313 --> 00:40:08,271
- Yes.
993
00:40:08,271 --> 00:40:10,360
And then, there's no
families to get married,
994
00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:12,096
to make children,
995
00:40:12,096 --> 00:40:15,700
to hope that in future is come again.
996
00:40:15,700 --> 00:40:18,980
Now it's the island who,
it's not for young people,
997
00:40:18,980 --> 00:40:22,786
but middle and after the age, they come.
998
00:40:22,786 --> 00:40:23,619
- They come, yeah.
999
00:40:23,619 --> 00:40:25,047
- When they realize
what is going on here--
1000
00:40:25,047 --> 00:40:26,980
- It's a beautiful island, it's relaxed.
1001
00:40:26,980 --> 00:40:30,223
- They come to peace for
the rest of them life.
1002
00:40:31,340 --> 00:40:33,980
- Arki might be small, but
there's a heck of a big ferry
1003
00:40:33,980 --> 00:40:35,010
that serves it.
1004
00:40:35,010 --> 00:40:37,140
It's one of the things
that I like about Greece.
1005
00:40:37,140 --> 00:40:38,500
Knowing that these little islands
1006
00:40:38,500 --> 00:40:40,470
often can't afford such facilities,
1007
00:40:40,470 --> 00:40:43,110
the Greek government
subsidizes ticket costs.
1008
00:40:43,110 --> 00:40:45,060
And there are other
amenities they support,
1009
00:40:45,060 --> 00:40:47,980
like power generation,
water production, schooling,
1010
00:40:47,980 --> 00:40:49,550
and the list goes on.
1011
00:40:49,550 --> 00:40:53,400
Without these subsidies, places
like Arki wouldn't survive.
1012
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:56,310
It would enter the long list
of uninhabited land masses
1013
00:40:56,310 --> 00:40:57,800
across the Mediterranean
1014
00:40:57,800 --> 00:40:59,970
that people have been forced to abandon.
1015
00:40:59,970 --> 00:41:02,810
Another example where this
government support is occurring
1016
00:41:02,810 --> 00:41:05,920
is further to the east on
the island of Agathonissi.
1017
00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:08,870
Except here, thanks to
it being much larger,
1018
00:41:08,870 --> 00:41:11,850
the cost per capita for
infrastructure is far higher.
1019
00:41:11,850 --> 00:41:14,010
However, they're quite
an independent bunch,
1020
00:41:14,010 --> 00:41:16,450
and have done a lot to be self-sustained.
1021
00:41:16,450 --> 00:41:20,700
For me, Agathonissi is
one of the reasons why
1022
00:41:20,700 --> 00:41:24,520
Greece is the quiet achiever
of the European Union.
1023
00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:27,260
This island of 14 square kilometers
1024
00:41:27,260 --> 00:41:29,480
has only 100 inhabitants.
1025
00:41:29,480 --> 00:41:32,000
And yet it's got a great road system.
1026
00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:33,810
They make their own power.
1027
00:41:33,810 --> 00:41:35,470
They make their own water.
1028
00:41:35,470 --> 00:41:38,820
The school has eight
kids and seven teachers.
1029
00:41:38,820 --> 00:41:40,650
Now, this is supposed
to be the poor country.
1030
00:41:40,650 --> 00:41:42,630
And yet, look at what they've done
1031
00:41:42,630 --> 00:41:45,020
for a small island like this.
1032
00:41:45,020 --> 00:41:49,060
Now on the other hand, I'm
not a big fan of Agathonissi.
1033
00:41:49,060 --> 00:41:50,800
I only came here because the goats
1034
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:52,820
outnumber the people 20 to one,
1035
00:41:52,820 --> 00:41:54,770
and the goats are absolutely awesome.
1036
00:41:54,770 --> 00:41:57,300
And Ioannis loves the goat here.
1037
00:41:57,300 --> 00:41:59,440
I still wave the flag for this country
1038
00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:01,700
because I have the DNA.
1039
00:42:01,700 --> 00:42:05,100
And yet the water here in Agathonissi
1040
00:42:05,100 --> 00:42:08,430
is comparable to the
best beaches in Greece.
1041
00:42:08,430 --> 00:42:13,400
And finishing it off is
always good with a swim.
1042
00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:14,562
See you soon.
1043
00:42:24,670 --> 00:42:27,710
We're probably gonna get a few
complaints about my bathers.
1044
00:42:27,710 --> 00:42:29,730
But hey, I'll do whatever it takes
1045
00:42:29,730 --> 00:42:31,600
to draw some attention to Greece.
1046
00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:33,430
But back to that comment I made about
1047
00:42:33,430 --> 00:42:36,040
Agathonissi not being a
place I like to visit.
1048
00:42:36,040 --> 00:42:37,170
Don't get me wrong.
1049
00:42:37,170 --> 00:42:40,040
I love the people, and
do enjoy my time here.
1050
00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:41,770
But it's just so far out of the way.
1051
00:42:41,770 --> 00:42:43,210
And there are plenty of other places
1052
00:42:43,210 --> 00:42:45,200
I prefer to spend my holidays in.
1053
00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:47,140
This was actually my second visit.
1054
00:42:47,140 --> 00:42:50,250
The first time I came, was
because I was told the goat here
1055
00:42:50,250 --> 00:42:52,610
is the tastiest in the Aegean.
1056
00:42:52,610 --> 00:42:54,650
When I arrived, a local farmer was waiting
1057
00:42:54,650 --> 00:42:55,800
at the port for me,
1058
00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:57,800
and invited my family for dinner.
1059
00:42:57,800 --> 00:42:59,150
He then lent me his motorbike,
1060
00:42:59,150 --> 00:43:01,140
so I could explore the island.
1061
00:43:01,140 --> 00:43:04,060
To top it all off, when we
were leaving the next day,
1062
00:43:04,060 --> 00:43:06,890
he rushed to the boat to
give Helen some fresh cheese.
1063
00:43:06,890 --> 00:43:08,640
I'll never forget that hospitality.
1064
00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:12,190
We've been filming 12
hour days for three weeks.
1065
00:43:12,190 --> 00:43:14,420
And today, it's our day off.
1066
00:43:14,420 --> 00:43:18,640
In this beautiful island
of Arki, this is Tiganakia.
1067
00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:21,340
And we're gonna have some
fun testing out our new toy.
1068
00:43:23,420 --> 00:43:25,210
Coming to this remote part of the country
1069
00:43:25,210 --> 00:43:26,670
was the breath of fresh air
1070
00:43:26,670 --> 00:43:28,800
the production team and I needed.
1071
00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,290
It had been a busy few weeks,
1072
00:43:30,290 --> 00:43:32,647
with long days in the summer heat.
1073
00:43:32,647 --> 00:43:34,510
It might sound like the dream job,
1074
00:43:34,510 --> 00:43:35,700
but they're lugging gear around
1075
00:43:35,700 --> 00:43:37,940
from the early hours
to late in the evening.
1076
00:43:37,940 --> 00:43:39,680
And I'm always keeping them busy.
1077
00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:42,320
So, spending a day enjoying
the beautiful scenery,
1078
00:43:42,320 --> 00:43:45,560
and a swim in paradise
was the perfect reward.
1079
00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:47,240
Mind you, I opted for something
1080
00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:49,060
a little more exciting than a swim,
1081
00:43:49,060 --> 00:43:51,360
and the team ended up working anyway.
1082
00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:53,290
Such is their dedication.
1083
00:43:53,290 --> 00:43:55,530
They were happy to
forego time in the water
1084
00:43:55,530 --> 00:43:58,080
to get some shots of
me having a little fun.
1085
00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:00,080
I did eventually let them have a go too.
1086
00:44:01,300 --> 00:44:03,590
In the next episode,
the good times continue,
1087
00:44:03,590 --> 00:44:05,320
as I head to the island of Fuorni.
1088
00:44:05,320 --> 00:44:07,920
It's another one of those
less touristy destinations,
1089
00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:09,410
that few outsiders visit.
1090
00:44:09,410 --> 00:44:10,990
But it won't be like that for long,
1091
00:44:10,990 --> 00:44:12,010
because as I'll be showing you,
1092
00:44:12,010 --> 00:44:13,250
there's a whole lot of stuff
1093
00:44:13,250 --> 00:44:15,040
that makes it one of the
best islands in the region
1094
00:44:15,040 --> 00:44:16,330
to spend some time on.
1095
00:44:16,330 --> 00:44:19,290
I'll then be heading to Ikaria,
the land of the long lived.
1096
00:44:19,290 --> 00:44:21,460
It's a beautiful slice
of the northern Aegean,
1097
00:44:21,460 --> 00:44:22,690
just 10 nautical miles
1098
00:44:22,690 --> 00:44:24,670
from the better known island of Samos.
1099
00:44:24,670 --> 00:44:26,690
But before making waves
through our next stop,
1100
00:44:26,690 --> 00:44:28,676
there's still some fun to be had here.
81832
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