This is the first of a series of four multicaches that will each require a visit to some of the small settlements in Ano Meria, the beautiful northern part of Syros that is often overlooked by visitors to the island. Ano Meria, the soul of Syros, rises from the most dramatic and isolated of its beaches up to its highest peaks with breathtaking views of many of the Cycladic islands across the sea. The region is reached by car from the road north out of Ano Syros above Ermoupoli.
To find this cache, you will have to visit Finikia (Φοινικιά), Richopo (Ρηχωπό), Kiperousa (Κυπερούσα), and Senero (Σενερό) which are close by each other on the road north from Ano Syros.
The given location is not where you'll find the cache, but marks the start of the short trail to the small catholic church of Agios Antonios (Saint Anthony) in the valley below the settlement of Finikia. There is plenty of space for roadside parking. The trail will take you down to the valley, up the other side and through a wooden gate (as it says on the gate, please close it behind you). When you reach the church (N37 27.591 E24 55.784), you will find the key in a small wooden box built into the upper-left of the door frame.
Syros is unique in the Greek Islands for the happy coexistence of many Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. The easiest way to tell whether a church on Syros is Catholic or Orthodox is the visibility or otherwise of the altar: in an Orthodox church the altar is hidden behind a screen, while in a Catholic one it is not.
You will need to enter the church and look at the icons and paintings to find the following two numbers:
A=The number of doves painted by B. Vasco
B="S. Antonio da Padova N.?"
When you leave the church, please lock the door behind you and return the key to its little box.
The small settlement of Richopo lies on top of the hill overlooking Finikia. To reach it by car, you have to take the road north through Mitakas and Kyperousa until you see the sign to Richopo and the southward climb up. At the top, you are greeted by the lovely view east across the sea to the islands of Tinos, Mykonos, Dilos, Rinea, Paros and Naxos.
Richopo (N37 27.857 E24 56.112) lies on the hiking route from Ermoupoli to Chalandriani. At the given coordinates, you can find the following two numbers:
C=ΚΤΗΜΑ ΙΟΥΣΕΦ Ι.ΡΟΥΣΣΟΥ 197?
D=How many more minutes it takes to walk from Πανάχραντος to Πλατύ Βουνί than from Φερεκύδη to Ερμούπολη (assuming the walking times on the two signs are correct.)
When you have finished in Richopo, you can return down to the settlement of Kiperousa (N37 28.057 E24 55.919).
You can park on the side of the road near to where the above photo was taken and take the path down towards the given coordinates. You will arrive at a well in a small paved area overlooked by large fig trees. Ahead, you will see the entrance blocked by a small pair of painted metal gates. Each gate has 3 horizontal bars and two diagonal bars.
E=The number of vertical bars on each half of the small gate.
Your next stop will be at the church of Agia Irini Chrisovaladou (Saint Eirene), a short way to the south in the settlement of Senero (N37 27.857 E24 55.810). As the road is twisty and narrow, you are advised to park any vehicle up by the bus shelter in Mitakas and to walk down to the church. The church is likely to be locked, but it is easy to see inside through the large windows.
You can find the following number at the church:
F=The final digit in the year on the plaque above the door
You will find the cache hidden at N37 27.(B+C)(D-C)(D-A) E24 55.(C+E)(A+C)(F-E). Please be mindful of the traffic on the road when locating the cache, and return it safely to its hiding place. The cache you are looking for is yellow and small enough to fit inside a hen's egg.
W (a.k.a. DidianRay)
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.