Spring in Kythera

Spring in Kythera

During Easter 2014, and a few days later, we were on Kythera. At first, we were accompanying about 110 people from two greek hiking clubs. Together, we walked a few paths, we learned the story of the island as well as its myths, ancient and new ones. When the hiking clubs left the island, we concentrated on the clearing of the famous Mylopotamos watermills trail, trying to uncover beautiful details of the trails that have been covered with vegetation for a long time. We have also created solid passages over the creek, as well as a small cobblestone pathway, where the path was being muddy. By soon, Kythera will have another two trails sign-posted! Until then you can find all available information for this amazing hiking network, on the www.kytherahiking.com webpage!

At the Pic-nic of “Merimna”

At the Pic-nic of “Merimna”

Yesterday, April 6th, we have participated as Paths of Greece, to the great Pic Nic organised by the Friends of Merimna Association. In our activity, we worked together with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.

“Wet quarries” under the Falakro Mountain

“Wet quarries” under the Falakro Mountain

A few decades ago, one day, as the workers at the quarries were braking the marbles of the surface, instead of hitting a marble vein, they hit an underwater creek! Soon after, the water filled the quarry, and a new natural lake was born! In proximity to the Taxiarches village, at the foots of the Falakro Mt., we have sign-posted two hiking trails that invite you to walk on the footsteps of the marble quarries workers. Both trails start in front of the beautiful Jennifer Home Hotel. You will see the hilly and colorful landscapes of Drama, you will walk under gigantic plane trees and by small creeks, you will enjoy unlimited views over the peaks of Falakro Mt. and the vast plane until the Paggaio Mt.

“Le Vie di Evia”

“Le Vie di Evia”

A few days ago, along with our partner Stefanos Kounis, we have visited Evia island. More specificaly, the region between Dirfy and Xirovouni Mts. We walked on hiking and bicycle trails, and we also created some new ones. Our visit took place after the initiative of the local businesses to implement a hiking and bicycle trails network in the region. Our work has already started, Stefanos is working with passion on it, and soon, the first trails will be promoted, so that everybody could enjoy these amazing landscapes hidden a few kilometers away from Athens. Other regions of Evia have already expressed their interest about developping a similar trails network, and we would be very happy to help them! Below, you will find three trails that we propose (check the difficulty level).

Dirfy Mt. : Vlachon path

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(Evia island)

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Agali Gorge

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A video about our work!

A video about our work!

We have just finalised our first video about our work. You will see pictures and scenes from the research, the mapping, the sign-posting, the guided tours and the educational programmes that we have organised.

World Trails Conference in South Korea

World Trails Conference in South Korea

In January 2014, we have participated in the 4th World Trails Conference, held in Jeju island in South Korea. The Conference was organised from the World Trail Association, under the auspices of Jeju Olle foundation. Paths of Greece has been invited by the American Trails Association. In the Conference, more than 50 trail organisations from 18 countries exchanged knowledge, experiences, contacts, got connected to the academic world, organised in a universal level and decided to continue working together. We have participated in some very interesting presentations about a variety of subjects such as health and walking, trans-border co-operation, marketing of trails, organisation of local communities, quality labels etc. We have briefly presented Paths of Greece, and the projects that we are working on in Greece. As a case study, we presented Kythera Hiking, the paths of Kythera island project. At the conclusions of the Conference, the World Trails Assoociation Commitee got enlarged, and Paths of Greece is now a board member. Below you will find the map of a freezing walk that we had in the volcanic mount Halla.

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Best wishes, with a poem!

Best wishes, with a poem!

We wish you a joyful New Year 2014! However, since joy is not entirely a matter of wishes and luck, but it also depends on our personal efforts, we dedicate to you this poem by the Spanish poet Antonio Machado (1875 – 1939):

..

..

“Traveler, there is no path”

..

Traveler, there is no path

Everything goes and everything stays

but our fate is to pass

to pass making a path as we go,

paths over the sea,

..

I never pursued glory,

or to leave on the memory

of the men,this my song:

I love the subtle worlds,

weightless and gentle

like soap bubbles.

..

I like to see them paint themselves on sun and crimson,

fly under a blue sky

shudder suddenly, and break…

I never pursued glory.

..

Traveler , your footprints are the path, and nothing else.

Traveler, there is no path. A path is made by walking.

..

A path is made by walking,

and in looking back one sees

the trodden road that never

will be set foot on again.

..

Traveler, there is no path, but wakes on the sea…

..

(Translation of the original “Caminante no hay camino” poem from Antonio Machado, taken from www.lyricstranslate.com)

Talking about paths… in a conference!

Talking about paths… in a conference!

During the weekend from 7 to 8/12/2013, we took part in a highly interesting conference about the development of the paths of Greece. The conference was organized by the Greek-German Forum (www.grde.eu), and was held in Litochoro, in Olympus mountain. The speakers where greek and German. The Greek speakers presented the situation of hiking tourism in Greece, emphasizing on the huge potential of the country, as well as on the lack of proper organisation, knowledge and marketing skills. The German speakers represented German, Luxembourgish and European organisations. The presented very interesting elements concerning the correct development of a hiking trails network, from the clearing of the paths and the sign-posting, to marketing and tourism management. A special section was dedicated to the accessibility of the trails for people on wheelchair. We have all decided that this share of knowledge will not end with the end of the conference. Soon we will inform you about the next steps.

Sign-posting in Serifos

Sign-posting in Serifos

In the summer of 2013, we have undertook the sign-posting of three hiking trails in Serifos island. The island’s hiking trails network has been previously sign-posted, but the signs became old and needed replacement. The new signs were sponsored by the company MEK Constructions, in collaboration with the Municipality of Serifos. We have renewed the color signs, added directional as well as information signs at the beginning of each trail. We chose to use metallic signs instead of wooden ones, to be in line with the previous signalization, as well as because iron is one of the main products of the island.

We have also designed the new logo. It say “Walking Serifos – Paths of Iron and Stone”. Over the “Walking Serifos”, there is a little frog jumping, to connect the logo with nature and history, since the frog was the symbol of Serifos in ancient times. The subtitle “Paths of Iron and Stone” refers to the island’s geology as well as its Mythology. It is said that it is Serifos that Perseus petrified with the head of Medusa.

Santorini – Discovering its authentic side

Santorini – Discovering its authentic side

During May, we have visited the beautiful island of Santorini to record hiking trails with our GPS. In colaboration with Mr. Kostas Zarokostas, who has undertaken the sign-posting of the paths of Santorini, we have recorder many kilometers of trails in order to produce a map and to enrich the signage with information on distances and walking times.

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