Text: Antonis Spertos

Photos: Antonis Spertos, Sofia Stalboutzi, Antonis Sassalos

Editing & translation in English: Dimitra Pappa

On Easter Monday, April 13th, a group of 48 people —including 3 children— gathered at the square of Mesa Vouni, where our hiking activity began. The event opened with a short historical presentation of the village by educator Vasilis Stratis, offering participants a warm and insightful introduction to the area.

Our large group was particularly diverse, with participants coming from many parts of Andros — Vouni, Menites, Chora, Ypsilou, Mesathouri, Vourkoti, Gavrio, Mesaria, Batsi, Aprovato — as well as from Athens, Venice, France, and Switzerland, giving the activity a distinctive, almost “international” character. Although the group included participants of all ages, a youthful spirit and vibrant energy were shared by everyone.

We set off on a trail maintenance hike along Route 5, heading towards Chora (Andros Town). The route, mostly downhill, led us through beautiful landscapes to the small settlement of Exo Vouni, where we made a short stop to rest and refill water at the village spring.

Continuing on, we entered a more “wild” and remote section of the route, where the natural surroundings became more intense and striking. After passing Stavros, we followed the steep downhill path towards Vrachno, with stunning views of Chora accompanying us along the way.

Upon reaching Vrachnou, we joined Route 18 and, after approximately 2 kilometers, completed our hike at Paraporti Beach.

The weather was ideal for hiking, contributing greatly to the overall enjoyment of the day. At the same time, the group actively contributed to trail maintenance, clearing side vegetation, while the passage of so many participants also helped significantly in reducing low overgrowth along the path.

The total duration of the hike was approximately 4 hours, covering a distance of 6.8 kilometers.

We warmly thank all participants for their presence, enthusiasm, and valuable contribution to this meaningful and enjoyable activity.