Nisyros Monopati Traditional Geocache
sporki: Ich kann mich leider nicht mehr um den Cache kümmern und bedanke mich bei allen, die mir geholfen haben, 10 Jahre durch zu halten.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Nisyros is one of the smaller Dodecanese islands, 41 sqkm and round in shape, 16 km south of Kos. Most of the 950 inhabitants live in the capital of Mandraki, which is also the main port with connections to Kos (Kos town and Kardamena as well as Kefalos in summer only), Piraeus, Tilos, Symi, Chalki and Rhodes.
The main attraction of the island is an active volcano, which can be reached by bus or private transport on a winding mountain road. If you are fit you can take the bus up to the volcano and walk back from the crater to Mandraki in about 3 hours.
If you want to see more of the island, such as the crater rim villages of Emborios and Nikia, the fishing village of Pali or the beaches of Lies and Pachia ammos, it makes sense to rent a car or motorbike. In case you just come on a day trip, besides the volcano, enjoy Mandraki, stroll around the narrow streets, where not even a car fits. The main square of Ilikiomeni (N 36° 36.639 E 027° 07.944) is a perfect place to relax in the shade under huge Ficus trees. Its the local meeting place for coffee, food or drinks. A special experience is the atmosphere in the evening, which you can enjoy if you stay overnight in Nisyros.
You might wonder, why the island is green even in summer. Most of the slopes of the volcano are terraced and were used as fields and olive groves because of the fertile soil, when the population was more than 10.000 some few hundred years ago. In order to reach the terraced fields by foot or by donkey, they where connected by cobbled paths or steps, so called monopatia (sg monopati).
On your way to the ancient fortress (Paleokastro) on a slope near Mandraki, whose fortified walls date back to the 4th century B.C., you will walk on such a monopati, in order to find the cache.
WP is at the main church, follow the Lagadi street southwards and then the sign to paleokastro.
WP N 36° 36.630 E 27°07.895
N 36°36'37.80 E 27° 7'57.20"
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Hfr nyy xvaqf bs zbabcngvn.