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(upbeat instrumental music)
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- Last series, I started in Athens
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and visited islands I
was really familiar with.
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This year, I'm starting
in the northernmost island
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of Greece, Thassos.
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And I'm visiting places
I've never been to before.
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I'm looking forward to it, man!
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In the first series of "My Greek Odyssey",
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I began unravelling the story
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of this spectacular and historic nation
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by travelling from Athens,
around the Peloponnese,
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and up to the Ionian Islands.
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It was a journey that took
in parts of the country
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that a lot of tourists know well.
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But, in amongst the
more frequented islands
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were hidden gems and places undiscovered
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by the holiday masses.
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This series, I'm back aboard
my beautiful boat Mia Zoi
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and heading to a region
of Greece I've never
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spent much time in before.
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The plan is to skip from island to island,
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taking in the northern Aegean.
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It's going to be a journey of discovery,
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where I'll be digging
deeper into the fabric
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that makes Greece so unique
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and immersing myself in
a centuries-old culture.
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It's unlike anywhere else on the planet.
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Along the way, you'll not
only see amazing sights,
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you'll also meet remarkable characters.
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I'll introduce you to the local cuisine,
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give you a bit of a history lesson,
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and most importantly, inspire you,
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so you can make Greece your
next holiday destination.
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(soft instrumental music)
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First stop, Thassos.
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It's the northernmost of
the major Greek islands
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with the mainland only
about seven kilometres away.
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It's a mountainous landmass,
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almost circular in shape
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with the towering peak of
Ipsarion standing near its heart.
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The climate here is fantastic
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with cool winters and warm summers.
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You don't get the stifling
heat experience further south
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nor do you have the high winds.
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Thassos is also relatively quiet,
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even during the peak holiday season.
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It's certainly not one of those
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highly developed tourists hubs,
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where you struggle to avoid the masses.
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Yeah, there's a couple of
beaches that get quite busy,
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but the fertile interior of the island
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and coastal areas away from the big towns
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give you a chance to escape the crowds
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and relax in peace.
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Thassos is not for the uninspired.
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It's not like your normal Greek island,
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everything's at the ready.
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You've got to go out and grab it.
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You got to get off the beaten track
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to find places like this
where you can sit back,
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do a little bit of work
in the best environment.
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You can go to a beach that's crowded.
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You can go to a beach that's secluded.
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Thassos has everything to offer
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but you got to go out and find it.
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Get off the beaten track.
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Greece is constantly evolving.
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One island might be booming with activity
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while another previously popular spot
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may be in decline.
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It happens all over the world.
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Only here, it's been going on
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for a couple of thousand years.
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Thassos is a great example
of a once-thriving island
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that endured some hard times.
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Now though, it's on the up.
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And one person that's experienced
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this change firsthand is Tassos.
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He grew up here,
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and in 1995, started a beach bar,
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setting himself up with
an enviable lifestyle.
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- Almost nothing here.
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Almost nothing.
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- There was nothing on the beach.
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- Almost nothing, almost nothing.
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- And since then, all
this has been built up.
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- Yes, and year by year,
comes more and more
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person visit to the beach.
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- So does it get very busy?
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Do you fill the chairs up here?
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- [Tassos] Yes and very
busy and we start earlier,
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almost the end of the April.
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- [Peter] From April til
when, how long is the season?
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- [Tassos] 15 of October, the last day.
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- [Peter] So do you
get young people coming
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or families, what do you get here?
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- [Tassos] For all ages.
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- [Peter] Everything?
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- [Tassos] For everyone, all ages.
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Very young, old persons,
is not problem for this
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because young person don't
need always have loud music.
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And for them have relax.
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And when, fill the place,
we get a lot for them
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come every day here.
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- Yeah, I need to touch you, Tassos,
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because look at you.
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You look young, you
dress like a young man.
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Look at this, fantastic.
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- Ha ha, yes, yes.
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- You're like a 20 year old.
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- Thank you very much, I'm 60 years old.
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- You're 60 years old?
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- Yes, I'm 60 years old.
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(speaks in foreign language)
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- That's a thing that
we do in Greek you know?
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- Yes.
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- To warn off the demons.
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But you look fantastic.
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- Thank you very much.
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- Listen, I'm gonna sit here for a while,
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do you mind if I sit here?
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- Yes, yes.
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- Well of course you don't
mind if I sit here for a while.
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- Because-
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- I've been sitting here all day.
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- Because I do that, I like
it and it make me feel happy
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and I think this is, it's come to my face,
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come to my show, because I do that I want
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and I feel very good for
the people I'm around.
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- You know what, Tassos?
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I'm drinking water, I've
been drinking water all day
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but now that I'm in the mood,
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you've got me thinking about it,
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I might have an ouzo, aye?
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- Ouze, ouzo.
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- Should I have an ouzo now?
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- Tsipouro.
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- No, not tsipouro,
tsipouro kills me, mate.
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- It's hard, it's hard?
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- Nah, nah, nah, too much for me.
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I'm Greek but I'm not all the way, so.
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Should we order an ouzo?
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- A lot of ouzo, yes.
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- Let's get one aye?
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- A lot of ouzo, yes.
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- Cheers.
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(upbeat instrumental music)
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All across Thassos, you
can find secluded spots
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with beaches where people bask
in the sun during the day,
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soaking up the rays
between refreshing swims.
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Then at night, the previously
quiet bars come to life
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as the sunbathers leave the sand
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and head for a sunset drink.
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It's an idyllic way to spend your days,
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albeit probably not the healthiest.
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You know, Thassos might be a
bit of a sleeper to most people
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but it's actually touched
us all in some way.
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I guarantee it's touched you
and you don't even know it.
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It's definitely touched me.
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Ah, it's definitely
touched me with this stuff.
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Thassos white marble.
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This beautiful crystalline rock
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is on bench tops and bathrooms
in over 150 countries
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in the world.
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Over the last two and
a half thousand years,
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they've been mining this
stuff and sending it
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all around the world.
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You've probably been to a
bathroom with this stuff in it.
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Anyway, I think it's time for a swim, ah.
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(soft instrumental music)
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If there's one downside to
the brilliant white marble
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covering the beach, it's the glare.
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If you come here, you'll
need some sunglasses.
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One of the most unfortunate
things about tourism in Greece
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is that the majority of
the 30 million tourists
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that come here every year
visit only five islands,
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Santorini, Crete, Corfu,
Rhodes, and Mykonos.
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The reason for this is
that you don't hear much
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about the other ones, unless
of course you're Greek,
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have a Greek friend, or were
lucky enough to marry one.
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The reality is, there are
so many other great places
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to visit in Greece like
Thassos that offer beaches,
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restaurants, views, history and culture
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just as rich and vibrant
as any of those top five.
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The best part is, it all comes
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without the hustle and bustle.
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Mind you, it won't last
for long so you'd better
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get here fast.
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(soft instrumental music)
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(upbeat instrumental music)
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Thassos has a rich history
stretching right back
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to antiquity.
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Since those times, much has changed.
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Empires have risen and fallen,
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the culture has evolved
and generations of families
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have come and gone.
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Along the way, the
different peoples that call
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this island home have left their mark.
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To learn more about some
of the earliest inhabitants
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I checked out the
archaeological museum in Limenas
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where I met with Tony Kozeli,
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a French archaeologist who
has lived here for 50 years.
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- Hey, kouros, you can see from here.
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- Yeah, sure, sure, sure, sure.
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- It's beautiful isn't it aye?
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Unbelievable.
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Wow Tony, so this is the third
largest kouros in the world.
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- Yes, it's the third place.
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- And the second largest fully intact.
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- It is three and a half metre.
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- [Peter] Three and a half
metres, wow, its impressive.
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And it's holding the ram,
and what's that signify?
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- [Tony] It's for sacrifice.
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- [Peter] Ah, so they sacrifice it,
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because normally the korouses,
they don't hold anything.
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- But never finished.
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- [Peter] Never finished.
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- Never finished, it's
second work of a sculpture.
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I mean, it must be
finished in the Acropolis,
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in the place.
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(soft instrumental music)
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- I've learned through my travels
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that my expectations of
seeing completely intact
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ancient works of art and
sculptures are not realistic.
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Quite often, as is the
case with this kouros,
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they're incomplete, having been weathered
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by Mother Nature or
damaged by human impact.
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However, no matter what state they're in,
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they still tell a story.
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So Tony, I'm dying to see
something on Theagenes
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Because I've read so much about him.
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He's a bit of an inspiration
to Thassos, isn't he?
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- Yes, it's a hero of Thassos.
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- I see all these athletic busts here.
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I assume this is
commemoration for Theagenes.
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- Yes, Theagenes is very
important for Thassos.
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You know, here are
fragments of inscription
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of all he's won in Olympic games.
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- So I understand he won
boxing in two Olympic games.
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- Yes, he is sure, in Nemea,
in Olympia, in Delphi,
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in Isthmia, all these
important antique games.
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- [Peter] And he wasn't just a boxer.
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He won 1400 fights in,
where they wrestle and box,
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where they actually
almost kill the other man,
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is that right?
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- [Tony] Yes, he was very strong.
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- It was like UFC, he was probably
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the first UFC champion really.
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- Possible, yes, yes, I think.
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- Honestly, this is
the money box isn't it?
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- Yes, this is the money
box when the people who come
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to visit his sculpture in ancient Agora,
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they put help money for him,
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because after that he was also politician
255
00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,880
and this money box is
always staying in Agora.
256
00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:58,800
- And that's to help
Theagenes because he was
257
00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,040
a champion of Thassos.
258
00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,600
- Sure he was very, very
important for Thassos.
259
00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:04,440
- Fantastic.
260
00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:05,840
- Like athlete and like a politician.
261
00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,360
- Fantastic.
262
00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:09,880
Tony I understand, like this,
263
00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:11,600
they say this might be him.
264
00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,280
He was a very, very strong man.
265
00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,000
- Yes he was very strong
man, even when he was
266
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,400
nine-year-old boy, he is
passing from Agora from school
267
00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,000
and he saw this statue of Euracles
268
00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,960
and then he take it
and he bring it at home
269
00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,480
and after that, the people from Agora
270
00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,520
was very scared because Agora disappeared
271
00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,960
and then they said it was boy
272
00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,160
and didn't believe and the punishment
273
00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,920
was that he must bring it back.
274
00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,720
And he take it this bronze
sculpture and he bring it
275
00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,040
in the same place and put it on the base.
276
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,920
This is a story which we
know from the inscription.
277
00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,560
- Wow, amazing, amazing.
278
00:10:53,560 --> 00:10:55,680
Well it's a shame there's
no complete statue
279
00:10:55,680 --> 00:10:57,040
of the great Theagenes.
280
00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,720
It at least means I can
visualise my own image
281
00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:01,520
of this legendary Thassian.
282
00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,240
The museum collection
spans thousands of years,
283
00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,400
from pre-history right
through to the classic
284
00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,120
and Hellenistic periods.
285
00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,080
They're fascinating remnants of the path
286
00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:11,240
that inspire wonder.
287
00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,320
But what's great about Thassos
is that beyond the confines
288
00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:17,360
of the museum walls are
several easily accessible
289
00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:18,920
archaeological sites.
290
00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,280
To show me around, I
caught up with Tony Oswin.
291
00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,160
He's so knowledgeable about Thassos
292
00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,920
that he's created a series
of guidebooks on the place.
293
00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,480
So Tony, the last time I
saw something like this
294
00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,800
was the Agora in Athens.
295
00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,920
- Well, Limanes was
known, which is now known
296
00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,600
as Thassos town, was known
as the Athens of the north.
297
00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,680
It was one of the most
powerful of the city states
298
00:11:39,680 --> 00:11:44,280
and they built such a beautiful
Agora to complement it.
299
00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:45,920
It was all built of white marble,
300
00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,840
which was quarried on the
island, down at Aliki,
301
00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,400
which we'll see in the future,
302
00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:55,400
and covered the whole of
the island's capital here.
303
00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,120
- And what sort of buildings
are we looking at here, man?
304
00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,560
- Everything that's
needed within an Agora,
305
00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:05,680
so the Agora bulletarium,
which is your council chambers,
306
00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:08,880
the lower courts, and
all the ancillary offices
307
00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:10,600
that were required to run the island.
308
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,400
This is where everybody came,
this is where it all happened.
309
00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,280
People talked, people met, people traded.
310
00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,880
It was the hub of the city.
311
00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,280
- Now I want to see that ring
you were telling me about
312
00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:21,680
earlier, that ring of.
313
00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:22,520
- Yeah, yeah.
314
00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:23,560
- Can we go and have a look at that?
315
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:24,360
- Yeah, the only one in Greece.
316
00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:25,680
- Let's have a look and
have a look at that.
317
00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:26,880
- Over there, mate.
318
00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,440
And here's the monument to Theagenes.
319
00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,560
- Theagenes, Theagenes
is that famous athlete,
320
00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:35,480
one of the most famous in
Greece from what I understand.
321
00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:36,400
- Yeah, yeah.
322
00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,880
- I love the guy, 1400 fights, fantastic.
323
00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,560
Some famous people came from here.
324
00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:45,560
- We're walking the footsteps
of so many important people.
325
00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,160
We've got Brutus and Cassius
who were the murderers,
326
00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,760
or certainly were in
the front of murdering,
327
00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:52,680
Julius Caesar.
328
00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:55,440
His greatest friend Marc Antony.
329
00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,600
Octavian, who came with
him, who in the end
330
00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,280
became Augustus, the
first emperor of Rome.
331
00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,360
Hippocrates was here,
the father of medicine.
332
00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,600
- So where's this ring that
you were talking about, mate?
333
00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:06,840
- The ring is down here.
334
00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:07,760
- Oh there it is.
335
00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,480
- We believe, it's only
been recently found
336
00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:15,480
and we believe it's the
only tether for sacrifices
337
00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:17,920
in Greece that's in situ.
338
00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,360
So they used to tie the sheep or whatever
339
00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:26,360
up to the ring and cut its
throat and sacrifice it
340
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:27,320
to Theagenes.
341
00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:28,160
- Theagenes?
342
00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:29,000
- Yeah.
343
00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:30,600
- Well he must have been great man.
344
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,400
- They thought that he
was such a great man
345
00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,880
that he also had powers and
became, really, a demi-god.
346
00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,240
- I mean, it's huge, this place, mate.
347
00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,240
It's not exactly the Athens
Agora, but it's almost
348
00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,680
up there with it.
349
00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:46,320
It just lacks a stadium, a
theatre or something doesn't it?
350
00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,240
- There is a theatre and
that's up on the hill up there.
351
00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:49,320
- Shall we go up and have a look at it?
352
00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:50,120
- Yeah.
353
00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:51,480
- I didn't know there was a theatre.
354
00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,600
The location and prosperity of Thassos
355
00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,000
made it an important trade
and administrative centre
356
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,200
since antiquity.
357
00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,720
Add to this the good climate
and you can understand
358
00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,000
why this was a place that
attracted so many people
359
00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:06,640
of power and wealth.
360
00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,040
Naturally, the Agora had
to reflect the opulence
361
00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:10,760
of the island and its inhabitants.
362
00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:12,280
Hence the grandeur of it.
363
00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:15,800
(soft instrumental music)
364
00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:22,240
(upbeat instrumental music)
365
00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,080
(insects rasp)
366
00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,160
Bit of a work in progress.
367
00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,200
132 steps, middle of the day, 35 degrees.
368
00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,760
Cameraman Sandy, producer and myself,
369
00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,200
we're the only lemons
that are coming up here.
370
00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,120
Even Tony thought we were
fools for coming up here,
371
00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,160
but we're on a tight schedule
so we've got no choice.
372
00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,960
He told me the story
though, awesome story.
373
00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,640
Built in the third century
B.C. by the Greeks,
374
00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,240
and it was used for
plays in the afternoon.
375
00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,600
It was then overtaken by the
Romans first century A.D.
376
00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,720
and they used it as a Coliseum for fights,
377
00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,560
gladiator fights and crucifying Christians
378
00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,680
and just around here horseback,
379
00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,200
all sorts of stuff happening.
380
00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,240
Those walls were built by the Romans
381
00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,960
actually to keep the wild
animals from jumping over
382
00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,600
and killing the people watching.
383
00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:19,520
And if you look over there
closely in those seats
384
00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,240
you'll see some engravings.
385
00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:22,920
And that's engraved names of people
386
00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:24,480
that sat there.
387
00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,400
That was actually saying
that they had season tickets.
388
00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,320
Why don't we go and check it out.
389
00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,920
(upbeat music)
390
00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,360
While the backdrop for
the theatre is one thing
391
00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,480
the structure itself is
far more spectacular.
392
00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,080
For such a small island,
it's amazing to find
393
00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,080
a theatre of this size and quality,
394
00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,880
but that's a testament to
just how wealthy and powerful
395
00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:47,880
the people that lived here were.
396
00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:48,800
You don't build something like this
397
00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,440
and the nearby Agora
without a lot of money
398
00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,320
and the need to put
that prosperity on show.
399
00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,120
Most of the island's
wealth came from the mining
400
00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:57,920
of precious metals and marble.
401
00:15:57,920 --> 00:15:59,280
It was also famous throughout Greece
402
00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:00,280
for its wine.
403
00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,080
However a lot of the fortune accrued
404
00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:03,520
by the wealthy people that lived here
405
00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:05,440
came from their mining
and other operations
406
00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:06,480
on the mainland.
407
00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,080
They brought that money here,
spending it on a lifestyle
408
00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,680
similar to that enjoyed by
their contemporaries in Athens.
409
00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,320
I think the guys here had it much better
410
00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:14,360
than those in the city.
411
00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,600
Thassos would have been far
more scenic and peaceful,
412
00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,440
not nearly as busy as the big smoke.
413
00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:25,680
You know, I'm so obsessed
by the classical period,
414
00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,080
300, 400, 500 B.C. that sometimes I think
415
00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,000
I may have actually been here.
416
00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,240
Now if I was here,
417
00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,920
coming to Thassos now, I
think I would have liked
418
00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:37,840
to have been here.
419
00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,720
Maybe I was one of the
Christians, swimming in the water,
420
00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:44,280
enjoying myself, in the Agora,
421
00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:49,120
come up here, caught by
the Romans, crucified,
422
00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:50,200
but I'm back.
423
00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:54,240
Or maybe I was one of the politicians
424
00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,680
and spent my days debating in the Agora.
425
00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:58,960
Then again, I could have
been a military leader,
426
00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:00,600
fighting against the Persians.
427
00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,360
Now that would have been cool.
428
00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:03,560
I do like to lead.
429
00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,280
Nah, chances are I worked
in the marble quarries
430
00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:07,560
or one of the vineyards.
431
00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,120
(upbeat music)
432
00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,840
(machinery rattles)
433
00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,280
One remnant of the distant
past that remains in practise
434
00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,520
still today is the making of olive oil.
435
00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,440
Every island in the Mediterranean does it
436
00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,120
and while the techniques
might have modernised a little
437
00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:30,920
it's still a basic process
that hasn't changed much
438
00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:32,280
in centuries.
439
00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,640
Here on Thassos, Sotirelis olive mill
440
00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,200
shows you how industrial
development took olive oil
441
00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,120
manufacture from hands-on, tireless labour
442
00:17:40,120 --> 00:17:41,200
to mass-production.
443
00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,200
This particular machine
was run by a water wheel.
444
00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,880
The continuous flow rotated the huge wheel
445
00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,080
which in turn activated
the grinding gears.
446
00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,600
The heavy millstones would mash
the freshly harvested olives
447
00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,680
and the resulting
emulsion was then layered
448
00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:59,320
between hemp mats and pressed.
449
00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,680
A full day of operation
would yield 200 kilos of oil.
450
00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,040
The system was used from 1915 to 1966.
451
00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,200
Electricity was then
introduced to the island
452
00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,680
and these machines took
production to the next level.
453
00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,200
They make 400 kilos of oil an hour,
454
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,760
but have been superseded
with even more efficient
455
00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:19,000
and modern presses that turn
out four times that amount.
456
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,160
That's almost 60 times
the volume being produced
457
00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:22,200
a century ago.
458
00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,760
For over four generations,
the Sotirelis family
459
00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:30,520
have been in the olive oil industry,
460
00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,680
so they've seen firsthand
how things have changed.
461
00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,080
Sotirelis follows in the
footsteps of his forefathers
462
00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,320
and does so with pride and passion.
463
00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,800
It's evident in the way
he beams as he shows me
464
00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,040
these photographs of his family.
465
00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:44,960
It's hard to fathom how someone
466
00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,400
can continuously be inspired by olive oil
467
00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,520
for so many years, but after
spending a couple of hours
468
00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,240
with Sotirelis, you leave with more
469
00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:53,200
than just an understanding
470
00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,160
for what he considers to be a craft,
471
00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,720
you develop a genuine appreciation for it.
472
00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,080
(machinery rattles)
473
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,120
From one staple of island life
that's found around the world
474
00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:06,520
to another product you've
probably come across, marble.
475
00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,800
Now being a builder,
I've made my poor wife
476
00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,120
move house 17 times and
one of the fondest memories
477
00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:13,760
of the first time we built together
478
00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,240
was the selection of
marble for our bathrooms.
479
00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,960
Whether it was through
creativity or patriotism,
480
00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,480
Helen chose a Greek marble, Thassos white.
481
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:24,800
At 28 years later, I
couldn't miss the opportunity
482
00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,560
to visit the place of its origin,
483
00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,480
along with the chief engineer
of the quarry, Gerasimos.
484
00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:33,240
(speaks in foreign language)
485
00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,680
(water splashes and machinery grinds)
486
00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,960
So what I've been seeing, the
blocks come from the quarry,
487
00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:46,360
they go here and that diamond
saw cuts the first slice.
488
00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:48,800
They then lay it on its
side, on its flat side,
489
00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:50,800
they can slice it up into slabs.
490
00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,280
We're gonna go and have
a look at that now.
491
00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:56,000
(speaks in foreign language)
492
00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,760
Unbelievable, what's
happening now is the block's
493
00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,840
being cut into slabs.
494
00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:05,720
It's gonna take 12 hours
for those diamond saws
495
00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,840
to cut through that slab, unbelievable!
496
00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,640
(machinery rattles)
497
00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:16,560
Have a look at this machine.
498
00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,200
It looks like parts of the
olive press we just saw.
499
00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,560
It's that old, but don't
let appearances deceive you.
500
00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,400
As they say, they don't
make them like they used to.
501
00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,320
This machine runs 24 hours a day
502
00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:29,920
and it's doing the same
work that equipment
503
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,720
a quarter of its age does.
504
00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,840
And despite how long
it's been in operation,
505
00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,080
the end product is faultless.
506
00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:37,720
Looking at the sheets of marble at the end
507
00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,800
of the process line,
you get an appreciation
508
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,160
for why it's in demand all over the world.
509
00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,200
It's nearly perfectly white,
geometrically flawless,
510
00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,160
and quite simply, beautiful.
511
00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,120
You made a great choice, Helen.
512
00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:52,640
(soft instrumental music)
513
00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:55,080
(machinery rattles)
514
00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,480
Coming into the quarry, the
first word that left my mouth
515
00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,280
was an expletive that I'm not
allowed to say on television
516
00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,280
so let's just say, wow,
is an understatement.
517
00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,800
(soft instrumental music)
518
00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:14,200
45 years, they've been digging
in this quarry for 45 years
519
00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,160
and they reckon there's another 50 in it.
520
00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,200
What's amazing here is that this marble,
521
00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,800
this snow-white Thassos marble
522
00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,320
that's loved through the world
523
00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,600
is formed here, thousands
of years of pressure
524
00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,280
on the mountain have created
this metamorphic rock,
525
00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:33,960
the dolomite that creates
this beautiful stone
526
00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:35,600
that goes to the factory and gets cut up
527
00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,080
into kitchen slabs and
bathroom walls, it's awesome.
528
00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,120
(soft instrumental music)
529
00:21:41,120 --> 00:21:45,080
(speaks in foreign language)
530
00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,160
Everybody loves a view
overlooking a harbour or beach
531
00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,080
and there's always something awe-inspiring
532
00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,480
about being on the top
floor of a tall building,
533
00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,840
taking in the panorama of a cityscape.
534
00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,360
But when you're a builder, engineer,
535
00:21:57,360 --> 00:21:59,600
or even a home handyman, there's nothing
536
00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,960
like the cavernous expanse
of an open-cut mine or quarry
537
00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:04,440
to get the heart thumping.
538
00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,920
(soft instrumental music)
539
00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,200
(upbeat instrumental music)
540
00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,720
Two miles west of Limeni is
another Thassos hidden gem,
541
00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:42,240
this beautiful paralia, beach.
542
00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,280
It's aptly named Marble Beach
543
00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,120
and 7:00 in the morning
it's filling up already
544
00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:48,680
so I'm gonna go for a swim.
545
00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:52,360
(upbeat instrumental music)
546
00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,080
Water looks awesome.
547
00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,160
(water splashes)
548
00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,840
(upbeat instrumental music)
549
00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,240
I love this place and
clearly it's by no means
550
00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:12,400
a secret spot.
551
00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:14,280
It's a famous stretch of sand,
552
00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,760
or should I say marble, in
a quiet part of the island.
553
00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:19,920
The amazing thing is, the open-cut quarry
554
00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,120
is only 200 metres away.
555
00:23:22,120 --> 00:23:23,640
The work going on just over the hill
556
00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:25,520
isn't bothering a soul.
557
00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,000
In actual fact, the
tailings from the quarry
558
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,000
have given this beach its own identity.
559
00:23:31,120 --> 00:23:33,360
Throughout the summer, it's a busy place,
560
00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:36,160
but because there's no
surf, it's quite relaxed
561
00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,080
with people lazing in the sun,
562
00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:40,280
lying on deck chairs beneath umbrellas,
563
00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,200
or floating about in the shallows.
564
00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,240
It seems as the temperature rises
565
00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,240
the level of activity goes down.
566
00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:48,000
Come to think of it, I reckon I was
567
00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:49,520
the most active person there.
568
00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,480
(soft instrumental music)
569
00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,480
Wow, two hours and it's
changed completely.
570
00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:58,920
The music's pumping, the place is crowded.
571
00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,320
I don't want to leave this place, man.
572
00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:02,480
It's too good.
573
00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:07,920
(speaks in foreign language)
, excuse me for the way
574
00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:09,320
I'm dressed but I just
got out of the water
575
00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:10,360
at Marble Beach.
576
00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:12,920
I had to catch Kyriakos
before he cooks lunch
577
00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,360
and it's a local
provincial dish of Thassos,
578
00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:19,160
(speaks in foreign language)
579
00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:20,480
- Dill.
580
00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:21,320
- Parsley.
- Parsley.
581
00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:22,160
- Spring onions.
- Spring onion.
582
00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:23,240
- [Kyriakos] And mint.
583
00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:24,560
- [Peter] And what's this.
584
00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:25,520
- This is vine leaves.
585
00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,760
- Vine leaves, vine leaves, okay.
586
00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,920
- It's from grapes and it's very nice.
587
00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:35,040
(speaks in foreign language)
588
00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,200
- Olive oil, which we need,
now some lemon for later.
589
00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,600
Pepper and salt, and some rice.
590
00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:40,920
- Some rice.
591
00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,400
- Okay, what are we gonna do first?
592
00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:44,840
- We make all this mix here.
593
00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:46,520
- Okay, let's put it in, let's go.
594
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:49,320
Now this is easy.
595
00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:55,320
This is such an easy
dish because you just mix
596
00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:56,480
all the stuff in basically.
597
00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,920
(speaks in foreign language)
598
00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:00,320
Just stick it all in, it's that easy.
599
00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,440
This is actually the stuffing.
600
00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,840
Check this out, look at that, woooah, wow.
601
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,000
(speaks in foreign language)
602
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,200
Local, local olive oil, of course,
603
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:10,040
but if you haven't got local olive oil,
604
00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,360
I don't think that
matters and we just mix.
605
00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:15,760
Now this is like (speaks
in foreign language),
606
00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,600
but the difference between
(speaks in foreign language)
607
00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:19,680
and (speaks in foreign language)
608
00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:21,640
is that (speaks in foreign language)
609
00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:22,480
don't have minced meat in them.
610
00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:23,320
Now you can put minced meat in them
611
00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,160
and we might do a couple
of those for me later,
612
00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:26,800
you know, because I'm not a vegan.
613
00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:27,640
(speaks in foreign language)
614
00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,080
I've been told to do some work.
615
00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:34,000
Now what he's gonna do now is
he's gonna grab those leaves
616
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:35,800
that he's been soaking away in water
617
00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:37,720
and he's gonna put them in
the colander and dry them.
618
00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:38,960
Let's do that now Kyriakos.
619
00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:40,280
Am I running the show
or are you running it?
620
00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:41,120
What's going on here mate?
621
00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:42,080
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
622
00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:45,520
Into the colander.
623
00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:47,720
This looks awesome.
624
00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:49,200
Look at this, it's awesome!
625
00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,560
Look, smell it, beautiful,
626
00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:52,400
(speaks in foreign language).
627
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,320
The aromatic herbs that we've put in there
628
00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,000
just give it the best aroma, it's awesome.
629
00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:57,800
Now what are we gonna do now?
630
00:25:57,800 --> 00:25:58,640
We're gonna lay the leaves out.
631
00:25:58,640 --> 00:25:59,760
We've got some that are dried.
632
00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:00,600
(speaks in foreign language)
633
00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,000
He's making the mix, he
doesn't care about that.
634
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,160
Yeah, you want to be sure,
you're like the captain.
635
00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:05,080
You don't trust me.
636
00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:06,800
He's like the producer,
doesn't trust me at all
637
00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,400
with the drone or anything, right?
638
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,840
(speaks in foreign language)
639
00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,640
- It's a little bit more hard.
640
00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,080
- Okay, so you put the
actual root of the leaf up
641
00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:18,560
not down when you're folding them.
642
00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,640
So we're gonna put the
stuffing in these leaves.
643
00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:22,240
Now it's fairly important
that you understand
644
00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,600
these leaves are vine leaves from grapes
645
00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:25,640
but you can use any leaf.
646
00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,080
My mother-in-law used to use the leaves
647
00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,960
from the backyard, any
sort of leaf is fine.
648
00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:33,200
(speaks in foreign language)
649
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:34,680
One spoon, is that all?
650
00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,440
We might need two spoons in mine though.
651
00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:38,280
(laughs)
652
00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:40,920
Okay, look at how quickly he wraps, man!
653
00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,320
Dude, you're a quick wrapper.
654
00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,600
(speaks in foreign language)
655
00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:48,960
Ok well show me, can I?
656
00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,080
(speaks in foreign language)
657
00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:54,400
Okay, all right, all
right, let me do that.
658
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,840
(speaks in foreign language)
659
00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,000
See, anyone can do it, even
a builder like me can do it,
660
00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,200
look at that.
661
00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:03,800
Mom, watching up there, look at that.
662
00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,000
My first one, they look good.
663
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,600
And we're gonna put them in here, right?
664
00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,120
(speaks in foreign language)
665
00:27:10,120 --> 00:27:10,960
So tight up against each other.
666
00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:12,560
(speaks in foreign language)
667
00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:13,680
Like this?
668
00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,200
So you do the circumference first.
669
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,640
I've never rolled one of these in my life,
670
00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:20,760
but I picked it up pretty quickly,
671
00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:22,840
so clearly anyone can do it.
672
00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:24,960
It's a very simple recipe and complements
673
00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,840
many other Greek dishes
like egg and lemon soup
674
00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:29,920
or even as an hors d'oeuvre.
675
00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:31,760
Now I sound like some sort of food expert.
676
00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:36,120
(speaks in foreign language)
677
00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:38,520
(both laugh)
678
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:41,360
I hit my head, I got blood on my head
679
00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:43,280
because I hit this corner of this thing
680
00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:45,160
and I'm blaming the cameraman for that.
681
00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,280
He's pushing me hard, I'm working so hard.
682
00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,560
The recipe in process is simple enough
683
00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,120
but to make a meal's worth
of these tasty morsels
684
00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:55,320
it takes a while.
685
00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,160
Now this is a Greek household,
686
00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:58,800
so we're not making just a few.
687
00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,200
We're churning out 50 of them.
688
00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:03,280
In the meantime, Thesandra
grabbed me a bandaid
689
00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:04,440
for my head wound.
690
00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,480
This presenting business sure isn't easy.
691
00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,160
That's a little bit of olive oil.
692
00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:10,240
Look at that.
693
00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:12,800
Oh, that smells so good.
694
00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,560
(speaks in foreign language)
695
00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,560
And then we put some leaves on top.
696
00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,520
Now this is the trick at doing
(speaks in foreign language).
697
00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:25,720
You put a plate on top as a weight.
698
00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:27,040
Look at that.
699
00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,200
(speaks in foreign language)
700
00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:31,080
And we put some water as well.
701
00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,280
(speaks in foreign language)
702
00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,360
So we keep putting water in until
703
00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,600
the water covers the plate, basically.
704
00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,440
(water splashes)
705
00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:48,200
(speaks in foreign language)
706
00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,880
Okay, so the trick is
to put it on a low heat
707
00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:58,320
for about an hour so that the
(speaks in foreign language)
708
00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,960
can take the water in and drink it all.
709
00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,120
We can now go for a swim.
710
00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:03,560
(speaks in foreign language)
711
00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,800
(both laugh)
712
00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:08,960
An hour later, we opened
up the pot and voila,
713
00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:10,480
it's almost done.
714
00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,000
The strong aroma of the
herbs brought back memories
715
00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,720
of walking through my
mom's kitchen as a boy.
716
00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,720
Mind you, my mother-in-law,
God rest her soul,
717
00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,200
took these guys to a different level,
718
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,080
a taste sensation.
719
00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:24,440
Now the big taste test.
720
00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:25,760
We have the (speaks in foreign language),
721
00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,160
we have a local Thassian wine,
722
00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,680
and more importantly,
the local Thassian olive,
723
00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:33,760
the (speaks in foreign language),
724
00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,080
which you can actually
eat straight off the tree.
725
00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:38,880
They're awesome, mmmm, mmm.
726
00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:43,080
Anyway, hands, no knife and fork.
727
00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:46,160
Let's see.
728
00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:50,160
Oh, Kiryakos.
729
00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:54,800
He's done it again.
730
00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,280
These (speaks in foreign
language), they're fantastic.
731
00:29:58,280 --> 00:29:59,480
Oh, oh.
732
00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:02,040
They're beautiful, mmm.
733
00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:05,120
Cheers.
734
00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:12,400
Mmm, (speaks in foreign language)
735
00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,600
The French might be known
for their hors d'oeuvres
736
00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:16,880
but we Greeks are pretty good at them too.
737
00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:18,480
Maybe they should add
(speaks in foreign language)
738
00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:19,880
to their menus.
739
00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,400
(soft instrumental music)
740
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,640
(upbeat instrumental music)
741
00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:38,920
(gulls cry)
742
00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:42,880
In my quest to visit all
227 inhabited Greek islands,
743
00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:45,560
the opportunity often
arises to step foot on some
744
00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:47,920
that aren't populated at
all but have something
745
00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:49,680
peculiarly worth checking out.
746
00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,200
One such land mass is
this one, Thassopoula.
747
00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:57,560
Man as you come around this
point, look at all those birds.
748
00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:01,600
That is unbel, in the water
out there, look at them all.
749
00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,600
(gulls cry)
750
00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:06,040
Let's go to that little
building over there.
751
00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:08,040
Let's see what that
little building is, aye?
752
00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:11,480
(gulls cry)
753
00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:18,120
Now they say that Thassos
is the northernmost island
754
00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:19,320
of Greece.
755
00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:22,480
It's actually northernmost
main island of Greece.
756
00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:24,880
This is the northernmost island of Greece
757
00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,800
and it's uninhabited except
for this manmade thing
758
00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:31,360
which we think, Yonni reckons,
it's a fisherman's hut.
759
00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:35,320
So Yonni, leave me so I can
be here for a while on my own
760
00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:36,320
and just take it in.
761
00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:39,560
There is a population here though.
762
00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:40,840
All these birds.
763
00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:44,320
And now that the sound
of the motors have gone,
764
00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:47,560
all I can hear is seagulls.
765
00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:49,840
There's thousands of them everywhere.
766
00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:52,240
Look around, they're in the
water, they're everywhere!
767
00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:55,440
Anyway, I'm gonna check
out this fisherman's hut.
768
00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:58,160
(soft instrumental music)
769
00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:01,120
This tiny island sits
directly between Thassos
770
00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:02,880
and Keramoti on the mainland.
771
00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:05,680
It's part of a Natura 2000 protected area,
772
00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:08,400
one of thousands across Europe
that have been established
773
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:10,800
to protect some of the
continent's most valuable spaces
774
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:12,040
and habitats.
775
00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:14,760
The abundance of bird life is
due to the food-rich waters
776
00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,360
and plant life of the island.
777
00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:19,600
So I've worked out why they're all here.
778
00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,280
All the fig trees and olive trees,
779
00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:22,880
they're eating them all.
780
00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:24,120
Anyway we're going.
781
00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:27,320
See you, Thassapoula!
782
00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:29,240
Move it aye, move, move!
783
00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:31,480
Move, move!
784
00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,000
(motor roars)
785
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:37,960
Thassos has a beautiful coastline,
786
00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,240
but when you travel inland
to some of the secluded
787
00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,080
mountain villages, you
get to its rural heart
788
00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,600
with a more authentic cultural experience.
789
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,000
Some of these settlements have been here
790
00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:48,400
for many hundreds of years,
791
00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:51,320
relatively untouched by outside influence.
792
00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:53,000
What a beautiful village.
793
00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,360
- It's a very beautiful
village, very traditional.
794
00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,960
Kastra village is one of the
oldest villages in Thassos.
795
00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:02,560
It was firstly mentioned
in the 12th century.
796
00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:05,760
That was very well-known
and famous and crowded.
797
00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:07,760
This village is abandoned nowadays.
798
00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,680
All of the houses are used
only in the winter time
799
00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:13,600
and all of the owners of
the houses are local people
800
00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:15,320
that live in Limenaria.
801
00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:18,920
So no tourists, nobody
lives here in the summer.
802
00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:21,040
- That's what I want, I want
to meet some local people.
803
00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:22,640
I want to have a coffee
with someone local.
804
00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:23,680
- Of course we can.
805
00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:26,360
Let me introduce to
Kostas, where you can have
806
00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,800
a refreshing frappe and a nice yoghourt
807
00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:31,160
with honey and walnuts.
808
00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:32,320
- Oh that would be great, can we go?
809
00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,080
- We will go in the local
tavern now, let's go.
810
00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:34,880
- Okay.
811
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:36,560
Kosta owns the only tavern in the village
812
00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:38,680
but you can imagine
that it doesn't exactly
813
00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:41,600
do a roaring trade but
that's the way he likes it.
814
00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:43,720
After all, it's his retirement.
815
00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:45,240
He moved back to Greece from Germany
816
00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,920
to enjoy the peaceful
life he had growing up.
817
00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,320
His days are spent serving
the occasional visitor
818
00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:51,920
and winter locals and his specialties
819
00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:54,800
are the yoghourt and
honey he makes himself.
820
00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:57,960
The only problem is, I'm
not exactly a yoghourt fan.
821
00:33:57,960 --> 00:33:59,000
So he wants us to smell it?
822
00:33:59,000 --> 00:33:59,840
- No smell.
823
00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:00,680
- Are you sure?
824
00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:03,440
- (laughs) Maybe a little bit of smell.
825
00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:04,280
- Little bit, little bit.
826
00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:05,680
- Little bit.
827
00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,640
- Ah, of course. (all laugh)
828
00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:10,880
- Thank you very much.
829
00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:12,200
- You're welcome.
830
00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:13,520
- Thank you, thank you.
831
00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:14,520
- Bon appetit.
832
00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,040
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you.
833
00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:17,200
- You should try that.
834
00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:18,040
- No, no, sorry.
835
00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:21,800
Sorry I'm the only Greek
that doesn't eat yoghourt.
836
00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:23,120
And I know how good it is.
837
00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:24,320
- [Eva] Really?
838
00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:25,440
- You know what, I might
go for the first time
839
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:27,920
in my life having some yoghourt, ahh.
840
00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:32,440
- Come on, come on funny
goat, you can do it.
841
00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:37,000
- Ah. (Eva laughs)
842
00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,200
It's not that bad, it's not that bad.
843
00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:40,040
- It's very delicious.
844
00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:42,200
- Love the mulberries
man, they're awesome.
845
00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:43,040
I don't want the yoghourt.
846
00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,800
They're from that mulberry
tree over there, apparently
847
00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:48,760
and there're some walnuts
in there as well, aye?
848
00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:50,640
- There are some walnuts, that is honey,
849
00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:52,520
raw honey made from Kostas.
850
00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:54,080
- Oh what a change.
851
00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:56,920
- You will feel like Superman after that.
852
00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:58,600
- Yeah?
- Yeah. (laughs)
853
00:34:58,600 --> 00:34:59,440
- Mmmm.
854
00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,120
For such a small island,
there's an incredible diversity
855
00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:06,120
in the landscapes and ecosystems.
856
00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:09,640
In just a short drive
you can go from the coast
857
00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:11,800
to a desert mountain and into a rainforest
858
00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:15,360
that feels like those you
find in New Zealand or Brazil.
859
00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,400
(soft instrumental music)
860
00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:22,440
It's a multi-layered landscape
that's easily discovered
861
00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:25,040
via a myriad of hiking
trails across the island.
862
00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:27,760
And if walking isn't your thing,
863
00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:29,320
you can also explore some of them
864
00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:30,960
on a four-wheel drive safari.
865
00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:34,880
I was lucky enough to meet Eva,
a local who knows the island
866
00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:36,840
like the back of her hand.
867
00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:39,040
She loves to take visitors
to the hidden gems
868
00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:41,520
off the beaten track and
not in the guide books.
869
00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:43,880
She's full of information and energy
870
00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,960
so be prepared for a big day
of adventures and education.
871
00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,040
(soft instrumental music)
872
00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:54,000
This is absolutely amazing Eva.
873
00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:55,000
Tell me something.
874
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,560
What is that mountain that
I can see on that island
875
00:35:57,560 --> 00:35:58,400
over there?
876
00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:00,520
- This is Mouth Athos, where it stands.
877
00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:02,400
- Wow, Mount Athos, that's
where I'm going next!
878
00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:03,480
It's fantastic.
879
00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:05,920
This part of Thassos is like
I'm in a different country
880
00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:08,000
to where it is on the seaside.
881
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,160
It's just completely different.
882
00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:11,840
It's green, the trees are magnificent.
883
00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:13,840
- You know something,
there's much more to see.
884
00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:14,680
- Let's go, let's go.
885
00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:15,760
- Let's go.
886
00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:19,440
(upbeat instrumental music)
887
00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:27,880
- Eva this is unbelievable.
888
00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:31,640
I don't think I've ever
seen anything like this.
889
00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:33,680
- This is my favourite spot.
890
00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:34,840
- Your favourite spot.
891
00:36:34,840 --> 00:36:36,520
And not many people know about it.
892
00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:37,360
- No.
893
00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:39,240
- Where exactly are we?
894
00:36:39,240 --> 00:36:41,760
- We are at the back side of Ipsarion,
895
00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:42,960
the highest peak.
896
00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:45,640
So behind this beautiful rock formations
897
00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:48,200
you can find the highest peak Ipsarion.
898
00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:50,680
So now we have only a
small part of the view
899
00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:52,480
that we will have from the top.
900
00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:53,720
- It's so beautiful.
901
00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:54,800
I look at this and I just want to sit here
902
00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,640
in peace for a moment and take it all in
903
00:36:57,640 --> 00:36:59,200
and maybe meditate for a minute.
904
00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:00,600
- I think it's the best place to do that.
905
00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:01,440
- Okay.
906
00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,880
(insects whir)
907
00:37:06,240 --> 00:37:08,680
After a brief moment of contemplation
908
00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:10,600
it was a short walk
further along the trail
909
00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:12,720
to another magnificent viewpoint
910
00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:14,320
that gave a totally different perspective
911
00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:15,240
of the island.
912
00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:18,360
So Eva, tell me where are we?
913
00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,160
- Now we are at Ipsarion,
the highest peak.
914
00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:24,040
You can see all the hiking
trails that are here
915
00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:27,880
and I'm planning to take one of them,
916
00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:31,880
maybe in October, and reach up here.
917
00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:32,880
- [Peter] All the way up here?
918
00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:34,760
- [Eva] All the way up here, yes.
919
00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:36,920
- When I first came here, I said,
920
00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:39,280
"Thassos is the place
that you have to go out
921
00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:40,520
"and find things."
922
00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,760
From up here it's all in front of you.
923
00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:47,720
My next destination is right
over there at Mount Athos
924
00:37:47,720 --> 00:37:49,680
and I'm really looking forward to that,
925
00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:51,800
but I'm sad that I'm leaving.
926
00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:52,640
Let's go.
927
00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:57,600
But before leaving, I've got
a couple more places to see.
928
00:37:57,600 --> 00:37:59,400
One of which is at the
southern tip of the island
929
00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:01,640
and harks back to the earliest
days of the marble trade
930
00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:03,200
on the island.
931
00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:06,880
(upbeat instrumental music)
932
00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:13,200
(upbeat instrumental music)
933
00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:22,960
All along the coastline of Thassos
934
00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:24,360
there are hidden gems.
935
00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:26,280
I could spend weeks exploring the island
936
00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:29,120
and still not unearth
all that it has to offer.
937
00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:32,040
That's fine with me, because
just about everywhere I go
938
00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:34,360
I like to leave a few stones unturned.
939
00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:37,640
That way I have an excuse
to come back again some day.
940
00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:39,880
On this occasion, despite
being on a mission
941
00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:41,720
to get to our next major port of call
942
00:38:41,720 --> 00:38:44,680
there was one place I
just couldn't cruise by
943
00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:45,720
without stopping for a look.
944
00:38:45,720 --> 00:38:48,560
Leaving early, we made our way
to the bottom of the island
945
00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:50,760
to a place where you can
see the earliest remnants
946
00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:52,800
of the island's mining heritage.
947
00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:54,400
We've travelled from
the north of the island
948
00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:56,120
almost to the southern tip.
949
00:38:56,120 --> 00:38:57,720
We're almost there.
950
00:38:57,720 --> 00:38:59,280
We've come to the bay of Alikes,
951
00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,720
which is, or Aliki,
which is right behind me.
952
00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:04,680
It's named Aliki because this area here
953
00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:06,880
used to be a salt flat and alikes
954
00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:09,720
is basically salt flats in Greek.
955
00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:14,280
But I think the geology of
this place isn't natural
956
00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:15,720
and we're gonna find out why.
957
00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:19,040
My man, let's go.
958
00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:20,680
When it comes to archaeologists,
959
00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:22,800
there's certainly no
shortage of them in Greece
960
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:24,840
or at least that's what you'd think.
961
00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:27,840
The problem is, there are so
many sites being discovered
962
00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,040
every year, there's just not enough money
963
00:39:30,040 --> 00:39:32,440
and therefore specialists,
to research them.
964
00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:33,600
But that's another story.
965
00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:35,840
In this instance, I was
lucky enough to have Manuela
966
00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:36,840
to show me around.
967
00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:38,960
She's an archaeologist and an architect
968
00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,840
and knows everything about
this remarkable place.
969
00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:43,520
You're an architecture by profession
970
00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:45,600
and you come from Strasbourg
971
00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:47,800
and yet you're doing
archaeology in Greece.
972
00:39:49,240 --> 00:39:52,080
- I was just in love in
archaeology and I found a course
973
00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:54,760
on architecture and archaeology in Paris
974
00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:56,960
that brought me in Greece to study
975
00:39:56,960 --> 00:40:00,920
and so I falled really
in love in archaeology
976
00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:02,080
and I stay in Greece.
977
00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:02,920
- And you've been here every since?
978
00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:03,920
- And I stay, yes.
979
00:40:03,920 --> 00:40:04,840
- How many years is that?
980
00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:05,800
- 30 years now.
981
00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:07,320
- And you married an archaeologist.
982
00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:10,520
- Of course, an architect and
archaeologist together, yes.
983
00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:11,720
- Fantastic.
984
00:40:11,720 --> 00:40:13,480
- Why, because we have to share this love.
985
00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:15,440
- So what I've been really
looking forward to, Manuela,
986
00:40:15,440 --> 00:40:17,600
is that you're an expert, a PhD,
987
00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:22,080
on quarries here, on the old
ancient quarries, 600 B.C.
988
00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:22,920
Can we go and have a look.
989
00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:25,000
- Yeah, of course, great.
990
00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:27,240
- Let's go, looking forward to this.
991
00:40:27,240 --> 00:40:29,000
Manuela, you don't have
to be an archaeologist
992
00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:30,640
to work out that humans were here.
993
00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:32,560
The way things are cut so symmetrically,
994
00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:33,800
looking at this here.
995
00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:36,920
- Yes, exactly, here we
will have a nice example
996
00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:38,960
for the first, the oldest extraction
997
00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:40,040
made by the Parians.
998
00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:44,120
You recognise here the wedge holes
999
00:40:44,120 --> 00:40:46,680
for putting the wedge onside.
1000
00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:47,600
- [Peter] So that the
block would fall off.
1001
00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:49,400
- [Manuela] Yes exactly.
1002
00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:50,240
- Amazing, so when you say Parians,
1003
00:40:50,240 --> 00:40:51,840
you mean people from Paros?
1004
00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:55,640
- Yes, people from Paros
came here with their hews,
1005
00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:57,200
with their tools, and the techniques
1006
00:40:57,200 --> 00:40:58,640
for extraction of marble.
1007
00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:00,440
- [Peter] So how long ago was that?
1008
00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:03,120
- 600, 6th century before.
1009
00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:04,560
- So this is 600 B.C.?
1010
00:41:04,560 --> 00:41:05,400
- Yes.
1011
00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:07,880
- Wow, we should keep
moving, this is interesting.
1012
00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:11,680
(soft instrumental music)
1013
00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:16,680
- So that is biggest cut of
quarries, of a front quarry,
1014
00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:20,040
in the classic and archaic time.
1015
00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:23,280
Every length's a work of
the different time of work.
1016
00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:25,360
- The Parians would
have been here in that.
1017
00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:28,880
- On the top we have still Parian traces.
1018
00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:32,200
- Parian traces and were they
doing this in classic times
1019
00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:33,040
as well?
1020
00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:33,880
- Yes.
1021
00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:34,680
- And what about Byzantine.
1022
00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:35,840
Were they cutting here in Byzantine times?
1023
00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,200
- Byzantine times they
go on the sea quarries
1024
00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:39,440
that we will see now.
1025
00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:40,280
- Can we go?
1026
00:41:40,280 --> 00:41:42,000
- Yes of course.
- Thank you.
1027
00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:43,680
(soft instrumental music)
1028
00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:46,160
- Here you have all the
Byzantine's quarries.
1029
00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:50,400
- Wow, so we're talking
sort of up to 600 A.D.
1030
00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:51,200
- [Manuela] Yes.
1031
00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:54,320
- So from sort of 100, 200, 600
A.D. they were cutting here.
1032
00:41:54,320 --> 00:41:57,240
Before that, 600 B.C.
they were cutting inside,
1033
00:41:57,240 --> 00:41:59,640
the Parians, the classic Greeks.
1034
00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:00,840
And then the Romans.
1035
00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:01,680
- And the Roman came here.
1036
00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:03,760
- And the Romans came
here, they plundered, left.
1037
00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:04,920
- Yes.
1038
00:42:04,920 --> 00:42:06,600
- And the Byzantines kept cutting.
1039
00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:07,440
- Exactly.
1040
00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:09,040
- Let's keep going, huh?
1041
00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,840
(footsteps crunch)
1042
00:42:11,840 --> 00:42:13,680
Why did they leave it behind, Manuela?
1043
00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:17,400
- They left it behind because
they couldn't take it away.
1044
00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:21,760
This quarry had stopped
at 619 by an earthquake
1045
00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:25,040
and so the column stays here.
1046
00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:29,520
- So this column's 1400 years
old, 13, 1400 years old.
1047
00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:30,360
- Yes, yes.
1048
00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:31,520
- Wow, so.
1049
00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:33,840
- And you see it was
ready to be taken away
1050
00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:35,600
because it's finished.
1051
00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:39,560
You have the plate here,
you have still the marble.
1052
00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:42,160
Everything is done, he
is ready to go away.
1053
00:42:42,160 --> 00:42:43,520
- How heavy do you think this is?
1054
00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:45,040
- About 16 tonnes.
1055
00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:49,000
- Wow, unbelievable, 16 tonnes.
1056
00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,720
The machines they would
have had to lift this thing,
1057
00:42:51,720 --> 00:42:53,560
1400 years ago!
1058
00:42:53,560 --> 00:42:56,680
- [Manuela] A huge machine
with the double-hoisting masts.
1059
00:42:56,680 --> 00:42:58,160
- [Peter] How do you,
you've worked this out.
1060
00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:00,160
- [Manuela] Yes I worked
it and I wanted to know
1061
00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:03,000
how it could be, how big it was,
1062
00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:06,640
how it can lift 16 tonnes.
1063
00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:09,720
- All right, we'll do the,
do the big walk up aye?
1064
00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:10,720
- Of course.
1065
00:43:10,720 --> 00:43:14,200
(soft instrumental music)
1066
00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:16,680
- For more than two and
a half thousand years
1067
00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:19,280
this island has been
exploited for its marble.
1068
00:43:19,280 --> 00:43:20,680
You'd think it would have shrunk a little
1069
00:43:20,680 --> 00:43:23,760
thanks to so much of it being
shipped around the world.
1070
00:43:23,760 --> 00:43:25,160
Well in some parts of Thassos,
1071
00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:28,520
it has made a significant
impact on the natural landscape.
1072
00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:29,920
You can see it on this peninsula
1073
00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:32,160
where the Byzantines have
excavated the marble,
1074
00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:35,080
leaving a flat expanse
that you can almost think
1075
00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:38,360
was a natural low-lying coastal feature.
1076
00:43:38,360 --> 00:43:40,120
One thing that has impressed me here
1077
00:43:40,120 --> 00:43:43,120
is that you don't need
to be an archaeologist,
1078
00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:45,760
an architect, or a builder to enjoy this.
1079
00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:47,280
The walk is magnificent and at the end
1080
00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:48,800
there's this beautiful swim.
1081
00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:51,040
So why don't we go for a swim?
1082
00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:51,880
- I think so.
1083
00:43:51,880 --> 00:43:53,280
- After you Manuela.
1084
00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:54,920
Let's go up this way,
that's a bit more dangerous.
1085
00:43:54,920 --> 00:43:56,160
Look at how I'm...
1086
00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:58,080
(soft instrumental music)
1087
00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:01,480
In the next episode, I'll be
making my final stop on Thassos
1088
00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:04,560
before going to one of the most
significant religious sites
1089
00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:06,680
in Greece, the Mount Athos.
1090
00:44:06,680 --> 00:44:09,160
It's the monastic centre
for the Eastern Orthodox
1091
00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:11,320
and home to 20 monasteries.
1092
00:44:11,320 --> 00:44:14,400
There's no wonder it's often
called the holy mountain.
1093
00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:16,720
It's a part of Greece
that's shrouded in mystery
1094
00:44:16,720 --> 00:44:19,520
and my plan is to unravel
just a little bit of it.
1095
00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:21,560
I'll be spending a day
in the life of a monk
1096
00:44:21,560 --> 00:44:24,160
and experiencing firsthand the lifestyle
1097
00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:25,800
of these most devout people.
1098
00:44:25,800 --> 00:44:28,560
But don't go thinking the
episode is all about religion,
1099
00:44:28,560 --> 00:44:30,000
because I'm also be heading to Samothrace,
1100
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:32,280
an island that's off the beaten path
1101
00:44:32,280 --> 00:44:34,000
and known only to the more active
1102
00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:35,640
and adventurous travellers.
1103
00:44:35,640 --> 00:44:39,160
(soft instrumental music)
1104
00:45:01,960 --> 00:45:04,720
(flame whooshes)
84357
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