Today is our last full day on Sifnos. There is still so much more to see but decide to catch the bus to Apollonia - all destinations depart from Apollonia. We plan to take the bus onwards to Hironissos - just a round trip as the bus only runs twice a day. The same group is at the bus stop again where us, the Dutch, the Americans and the Greeks discuss which islands we have been to and where our onward trip is headed to. The elderly Greek man with much gesticulation asks us which is best Milos or Sifnos. We had visited Milos the previous and although a lovely island, I felt that Sifnos has more character. The Americans agreed with us emphatically. He looked a bit disappointed and then I wish I'd bitten my tongue thinking that this may be his home island.
All photographs of the bus trip to Hironissos is taken from the moving a moving vehicle. The landscape is spectacular - green, unspoilt, deserted - words don't do it justice - not mine anyway!
We get off the bus at Artemonos where we are early enough to still want breakfast. We have tea and toast in the pretty square with the fabulous bakery.
We take a slow walk back to Apollonia via Pano Petali where we stop to take more photographs along the way.
When we arrive at Apollonia we head to the jewellery shops just off the main square. I see some silver charms that I like and buy a couple for my bracelet. The young lady attaches the charms to my bracelet for me and whilst we're waiting we chat to her and her brother. We tell them about Peter's experience with the snake at the Kastro. She tells us that he was very lucky because the snakes are very dangerous and only two days earlier a tourist had been bitten and had be taken to hospital in Athens by helicopter. She also tells us that their father had been bitten by a snake a few years ago and he was very ill in hospital for nearly two weeks. The brother tells us that when he was a baby, one day his mum came into their house to find a scorpion on him. I'm a bit creeped out by this now and Peter despite his encounter appears blase and says that this is very common in Egypt too. Peter tells them about the snake stones they use in his fathers village for snake and scorpion bites. I am told that the stones are from a snakes head but internet research provides several other alternative theories. I have made clear to Peter that if I ever get bitten by a snake or scorpion in Egypt not to go running off in search for the old snake stones - just get me a helicopter to the nearest hospital!
We tell them about the snake - I'm not going to let this one drop am I! Maria tells us that there are 4 types of snake on the island and the grey one is very dangerous - the yellow one less so. She tells Peter he is very lucky to not get bitten!
Tonight we are having our final meal on the island at Absinthe in Kamares. It has excellent reviews and is well located overlooking the bay. We are the first customers of the evening so get a window seat however, where the restaurant would usually be open to the skies, the plastic sheets are down to prevent the wind from pelting sand into the restaurant. The wind is even stronger now.
The menu is very extensive and "inspired from the famed Greek Smyrneian cuisine of Asia Minor with a dash of Central Asian spice and texture."
http://absinthe-sifnos.gr/en/absinthe.html
To start we have Lahmatzun which we are told has Lebanese origins. It is spicy minced meat topped with warm yogurt on pitta. I then have clay baked lamb with apples and mixed white and wild rice with raisins and Peter has the shark. The meal is finished with ice cream with confiture and complimentary spoon fruit.
