Words & Pictures by Shaun Troke
Apparently, according to the rumours about Halkidiki, this is the finger you go to if you’re old…or a monk!
Mount Athos consumes most of this third peninsula, which is a Holy State where women are forbidden…
So yes, you can see why this part of the finger would mostly appeal to those who are celibate!
But can the rest of this finger really only be attractive to old people?
OURANOUPOLI
Seeing
I first came to the village of Ouranoupoli one March, in the low season.
My first impressions were that it was very quiet, yet that peacefulness added to the appeal.
When I returned again at the end of the high season, in September, there were a lot more visitors…
Only this time, time – and weather – were against me.
First on my agenda was an Athos Cruise.
Mount Athos
As stated earlier, Mount Athos is a Holy State, and can really only be viewed from the sea, especially if you’re female.
I had only 4 hours in this part of Halkidiki…
And, because the boat cruise demands over half of that time, I want to give you this IMPORTANT tip, if your time will also be limited…
TIP: If the weather is looking bleak (cloudy, windy, cold), save the boat tour for another time, when the weather is good.
Because the cruise is three hours long, and, because you”ll need to spend the majority of this time on the decks outside to fully capture Mount Athos, bad weather WILL affect your experience.
The tour is informative, and the boat will get you close enough to the mainland to grab some great pictures, while you’re listening to the narration about specific areas on Mouth Athos….
And, on a sunny day, this would have been one of the highlights during the visit to this part of Greece.
But, I wasn’t able to grab any good-quality pictures or videos…
Because sea-spray was splashing my camera lens’s, and low cloud was obstructing the view.
Plus, I was only able to spend 1 out of 3 hours outside on the top deck – the remaining 2 hours was spent below deck, unable to see the view, and with no one to talk to either (this is very important to know if you’re a solo traveller).
Quite simply: If skies are blue, CRUISE!
Back on the mainland…
I was taken to the Monastery of Zygou.
Tucked at the end of a little dirt-track before you reach the actual gateway to Mount Athos, this monastery has a very sad story behind it…
Excavations of this ancient monastery have now come to a halt, since the Greek Crisis.
Now there’s currently no more money available to continue this work.
Having walked the grounds, I could see that progress was beginning to show when the excavations came to an end.
Personally, I feel many visitors aren’t aware that the Monastery of Zygou is even there!
It’s a hidden treasure that’s in need of being found more often…
It can really only be reached by a 10min drive from Ouranoupolis, or, a 30min walk from Ouranoupolis.
Eating & Drinking
As well as heritage sites & forbidden land, the village of Ouranoupoli has much in the way of shops & eateries…
One particular venue that filled a gap was Kokkinos.
With the focus on seafood, I was impressed by how pretty the plates looked when they were served!
There were mussels, octopus, shrimp…oh, and of course, feta cheese!
Something I enjoy about the Greek way of eating is that it feels like a free-for-all…
In that, different dishes are brought to the table, one after the other, and, you & your fellow diners just…
…well…
…dive in & eat what you want!
This is a custom I’ve put into practise a few times in the UK – some people I know think it’s a good idea; some frown upon it…
Either way, variety is the added spice!
CONCLUSION
With only 7 combined hours in total spent in & around this third peninsula, I feel I’m not completely obliged to give an accurate conclusion to what this area is like…
However, I can conclude that:
If you’re looking for a holiday involving sex, sun & surf then this probably isn’t the finger for you – you can still be young and visit Ouranoupoli, because there are plenty of bars and beaches in this area…
…it’s just not a place that thrives to please party-goers like Kassandra does.
If you’re a couple looking for relaxation, this probably isn’t the finger for you – the focus in Ouranoupoli & Mount Athos seems to be more on exploration and sightseeing, and this would be more suitable for couples who crave adventure & knowledge…
…it’s just not a place that thrives to please sun-worshippers like Sithonia does.
Basically, this third finger is a peninsula that, although it can be enjoyed by everyone, it’s down to you – the individual – to decide & choose if this peninsula is suitable for you.
You can find out more about Ouranoupoli & Halkidiki in our series GOING SOLO, available to watch here on YouTube!