Text: Antonis Sassalos, Katerina Pantazi
Photos: Antonis Sassalos
Translation into English: Katerina Pantazi

The maintenance hikes of Andros Routes don’t stop, not even in the cold or snow! Many were cautious of the weather and didn’t sign up for the maintenance hike of Sunday, February 23rd, along the route Ano Agios Petros – Monastery Agias – Batsi. However, the weather proved us all wrong; it took away the rain and left only the intense cold.

But since the best things come in threes… three musketeers, three wise men with gifts… So, three lions and the dog Negroni decided not only to walk the planned route but also to expand it. We started from Gavrio and took the uphill route 15, which led us through the Gavrio plain to the traditional village of Ano Agios Petros. As usually, we stopped at the village spring beneath the plane tree to quench our thirst and catch our breath. We continued our journey on route 16 towards Agias Monastery. Soon, we found ourselves at a wonderful spot where on our left there was the hinterland with cultivated fields and on our right the coastline and the Gavrionisia islets, while in front of us, higher up, the historic monastery of Zoodochos Pigi or Agias was revealed.

Passing by the monastery, the landscape changed once again and became agricultural: olive groves, cottages (konakia), chapels, windmills, and dovecotes. As we descended towards Xilokarida and Batsi, well-kept houses and tourist accommodations appeared. Our hike finished in Batsi with raki and coffee, followed by a meal in Ano Aprovatou, just like all good friends do! If we had thought about it earlier while we were still warm… we would have continued via routes 11 and 11a and reached the Aegean Balcony by hiking! You see, via the routes of Andros Routes, we can reach anywhere around Andros! As we said, three but lions!
The waymarking of the routes is in excellent condition. We collected trash, pruned some vegetation, and removed an unlucky dead goat.
See you at the next maintenance hike!