Ioannina is the biggest city of Epirus and the capital of the
prefecture with a population of 100,000. Built in the west shore of
lake Pamvotis on an altitude of 500 meters, the city enchants with
its beauty, its warm atmosphere and its rich history that spans
centuries.
In the lake there's a small island (called "Nisaki", which means
"islet", by the locals) with traditional settlements and about 250
inhabitants. It is connected with the city with small boats that go
back and forth regularly during the course of the day. Apart from
the island's distinctive natural beauty, there are 7 monasteries
built during the 13th century, none of which is operational today,
although 3 of them are open to visit. The old cells of the
monastery of Agios Panteleimonas house the museum of Ali Pasha,
where Ali found shelter and was subsequently killed by the army of
the Sultan in 1822.
More information about the city and the island:
http://www.about-ioannina.gr/
Access to the island is possible with small boats that go back
and forth between the city and the island every 30 minutes during
the summer and every hour during the winter season. A one-way
ticket costs 1.80 €. The route takes 10 minutes.
To find the cache, pass by the museum of Ali Pasha from the left
(having the museum on your right) and keep on walking in the
pavement that later becomes asphalt. Continue straight ahead for
about 5 minutes and in the spot N 39° 40.655 E 020° 52.666 you will
notice a huge rock on your right and, right after that, a subtle
path in the vegetation that ascends. Follow the path and once you
are up there, apart from the magnificent view, you will see a small
hut (used to shelter chickens). Pass by the hut from the right
(having the hut on your left) and go on for a few more meters until
you reach a small plateau. Right after that, there's a small slope
-- ascend it.
The cache is a small plastic container with the following items
initially:
- 4 Family Guy plastic coins of varying colors
- 2 marble balls
- 1 Spanish fridge magnet with an attached thermometer
- 1 small robot toy figure from the WALL-E movie (Eve)
- A small pencil to sign the log book with
- A log book
- A cache declaration