Remains of a German ship near Marmari

Some 600 meters east of Marmari, near the Tigaki Salt Pan lie the remains of a German ship F131 Leiche MG (LMG) that was  sunk on the 20th of October 1943 by the British battleship MTB 307. This was one of the landing boats that were initially built by the Germans for the transport of troops from Dunkirk and Pas de Calais to England during their planned assault of Britain "Sea Lion" which never went ahead. These types of boats were later used in smaller scale landings and were proved to be very efficient.

They were built in parts that could be transported by train, trucks or ships as they could be easily assembled, taken apart and reassembled. They could transport up to three tanks and a large number of troops and supplies. They were forty meters long and five meters wide.

On the third of October 1943 the F-131 was part of the flotilla that transferred (from the island of Crete) the German troops that took over the island of Kos and then went on to conquer Kalymnos and Leros. The British at the time were masters of the sea while the Germans were the masters of the air as they controlled the airport of Antimachia. Therefore, the British operated during the night and hid during the day while the Germans operated mostly during the day. The F-131 was used to channel supplies and ammunition from Kos to Kalymnos and Leros out of Marmari where it used to spend the night, in hiding, along with two other boats of the same type. On the 20th of October 1943 the Germans had amassed fuel and ammunition close to the shore in Marmari, ready to be transported the next morning. The night was clear and there was plenty of moonlight. At two o'clock in the morning three British torpedo boats appeared out of Kalymnos and discerned the shapes of the three boats on the Marmari coast. They came up close and fired a couple of torpedoes. The first one missed its target skidded on the shore and hit the ammunition dump and fuel, turning the night into day. The other torpedo hit the F-131 in the bow. Soon water filled the boat and it sank where it now lies as it was deemed unrecoverable. In the following years all useful parts were taken apart by the locals. All that is left has become rusty and weather worn. 

Reference: Το Ναυαγιο στο Μαρμαρι by G. Androulakis

The Kermete Mosque

The Kermete Mosque is situated in the Platani region near Kos Town. It is the only fully operational Mosque on the island of Kos. The surrounding village originally known as Kermetes was renamed Platani in 1964 in an effort to limit the appellations of Turkish origin. Most of the 1500 muslims living on the island actually live in this little village. The Mosque was built in 1778 by Hadji Hasan Pasa.  There is a small building close to the Mosque which is used as a library and houses a number of old Turkish books. There are also a couple of taps used for ablutions. The remains of the original ablution area are situated opposite the Mosque on the other side of the street.

The Ambavris windpump

This stunning windpump is situated on the road to Ambavri some 200 meters from the main road and has been highlighted as a monument in recent years. This is a relatively old system that has not been actually used for years due to its inefficiency compared to more modern means of pumping water.

The Mastichari Bay Hotel piers

The two wooden piers in front of the Mastichari Bay Hotel in Mastichari are extremely popular amongst photographers and quite rightfully so. Here are a few of my shots:

The watermill near Aghios Theologos

This watermill embedded in the rock just beneath the church of Aghios Theologos is in relatively good condition. Finding it might be a little tricky if you do not know where to go...

Coal mine shafts in the Miniera area

These are a couple of deserted coal mine shafts that remain relatively intact in the Miniera region in the Dikaios area on the island of Kos in Greece. They are situated in a field some 300-400 meters after the Triantafylopoulos winery on the road that links Lagoudi to the main road.

Casa Romana

The Casa Romana (Roman House/Manor) is situated on Grigoriou Pemptou Street and has been reopened to the public in the spring of 2015 after some extensive restoration which has effectively highlighted the different elements of this unique manor.

The Casa Romana was found and excavated right after the devastating earthquake of 1933. The island was at the time under Italian rule and the local administration decided to proceed to the full restoration of the house, a project that lasted until 1940. The site is comparable to some of the manors that can be found in Pompei, and basically dates back to the 3rd century A.D. although it was definitely built on top of the ruins of a House of the Hellenistic period as attested by some of the statues and a fresco that were found inside. The statues have since been moved to the Archeological Museum of Kos where you can admire them.

The facade of the building will not seem impressive as you approach the site from the road but that should not deter you. One of the most stunning sights of the island awaits you once you pass its door. The building is composed of  36 impressive rooms while the three atriums that invariably include a fountain/pool and plush greenery are soothing sanctuaries that give you an idea of the environment in which a wealthy individual would spend his days during the Roman era. These particular openings also happen to be an essential architectural trait of the structure as they channel the necessary light to expose or reveal the hidden treasures in the more dark, secluded or withdrawn rooms that are situated in their periphery. Frescoes of pristine quality abound and date back to the 3rd century AD for the most part. The most incredible frescoes are to be found in the atriums where the ample light divulges their true essence. The third atrium is by far the biggest, a space of monumental symmetry to which the added extra floor has given an altogether different and definitely interesting perspective.

The abandoned quarry in Eristos

This abandoned quarry on the hill at the edge of Eristos beach on the island of Tilos is full of machinery from another era. The silence is somewhat disturbing. The number of spiders is also quite impressive, with spider webs filling all available spots.