Greece 7 May: Chios
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Chios can look back on at a quite stormy history. Only a few miles separate Chios from Turkey, and because of its strategic position this island has been for centuries in the firing line between these two powerful nations.
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Approximately 70,000 people live on Chios; many of them in old fortified villages all over the island.
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We started our Run with a school in Tholopotami, in the southwest of Chios. A presentation was followed by an enthusiastic run!
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A nice group picture ended our visit and off we went!
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Here is Nataliya cruising the roads of Chios.
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The Run followed the coastline. The clear water tempted us but we had to go on...
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Olive trees and flowers guided our way for many kilometers, as we approached our today's final destination: the monastery of Nea Moni, high up in the mountains.
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Nea Moni was built in the 11th century by Byzantine emperor Constantine. Tradition says that a light was seen at night by monks. They set the forest on fire and the fire miraculously stopped in front of a myrtle, which was inflammable. The icon of the Virgin Mary without the child was lying on its branches. Here the monastery was built.
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An old tradition is also to keep the skulls and bones of the former monks.
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An old woman was showing us around and introduced us to the traditions of the monastery.
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On our way around the island we encountered many hearty people; village life from its best side!
Team Members:
Dipavajan Renner and Jewgenij Kuschnow (Austria), Ondrej Vesely and Rosta Vagner (Czech Republic), Pierre Lantuas Monfouga (France), Valentin Bebik and Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), Janos Derekas (Hungary), Susameepan Kalbitzer(Germany).
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