The hilltop village of Chora on Patmos is a charming village with labyrinth-like narrow alleys, photogenic white houses, and an expansive view of the harbour of Skala and surrounding coves. Althouh Chora is the administrative centre of Patmos and home to Patmos' No.1 tourist attraction, few visitors actually stay overnight in the village. As soon as the Monastery is closed, the whole village became deserted and the narrow winding streets found themselves in a state of strange quietness.
When the sun is shining and the sky is blue, Chora is a pretty place to be. The village has some nice little squares dotted with family-run taverns that serve unpretentious local cuisines and light snacks. It is worth spending an hour or two strolling through the little streets of Chora, perhaps sit down at one of the modern little cafes and sample the sights and sound of this holistic little village.
When the sun is shining and the sky is blue, Chora is a pretty place to be. The village has some nice little squares dotted with family-run taverns that serve unpretentious local cuisines and light snacks. It is worth spending an hour or two strolling through the little streets of Chora, perhaps sit down at one of the modern little cafes and sample the sights and sound of this holistic little village.
Many of the cafes and shops in Chora are closed in the afternoon, as the sun could get unforgivingly hot. If you are thinking of having your lunch in Chora, make sure you find yourself a place in the cafe or tavern of your choice before 1pm, otherwise it is likely you will be turne away by tavern owners and force to trek down to Skala in order to find something to eat. Remeber that this is Greece, and this is Patmos - the inhabitants, even though they are quite dependent upon tourism as the source of income, are still proud of their traditional lifestyle and are by no means ready to sacrifice their afternoon siesta for the sake of earning a few more euros from the tourists. In Chora, you will not find cheesy bars with loud music or cheap beers, only small family-run taverns and cafes with simple home-made foods and freshly prepared grilled meats and salads.
Chora is a place that you should explore at a leisurely pace. Take your time and wander through the little lanes laced with pretty flowers and white-houses. You never quite know what the next turn is going to look like.
For those who are interested in visiting as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as possible (don't laugh, such people do exist, especially in the Far East), Chora should be interesting for you.
The main entrance to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian. Make sure you check the opening time of the Monastery before planning your visit, as the hours vary during different days of the week.
Copyrights@2010. All text and photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved.
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