Meis (Kastellerizo)

We are going to visit the island closest to Turkey… Meis (Megisti) now more romantically known as Kastellorizo! The island went through the same row of rulers as the other Dodecanese. A staging post between Rhodes and Cyprus it had a population of up to 9.000 in 19th C. At the beginning of the last century the island was occupied by the French, then in 1923 by Italy and eventually ceded to Greece in 1947 when the population heaved a sigh of relief… ’home at last’! But the logistics were not so easy!… Kastellorizo is a large triangular barren rock all of 115 km from Rhodes and a stone’s throw from the Turkish mainland. It has no water, no livestock… just plenty of fish. The Island’s pride is its horseshoe-shaped harbour which practically interlocks with its opposite number at Kas.
Behind the harbour’s pristine waters rise rows of stone cottages in four tiers. Prior to the arrival of modern technology an ‘upper-tier conversation’ could be had from the island with a Turkish quayside neighbour aided by a flag or a whistle. When the Islanders needed meat, binoculars were used to view the purchase of possible livestock. Rhodes too busy running touristic ferry services to the other Dodecanese Islands had little interest in Kastellorizo, except intent on supporting the diminished population, sent boatloads of much welcome charitable nonperishables every few weeks. As Turkey was not then in the European Customs Union such non-perishables as Whisky and Nescafe etc found their way to Kas and beyond via a sophisticated barter system set up in view of… but not by… the pertinent Harbour-masters! In return from the mainland fresh vegetables, spring water, livestock and most importantly fresh white loaves of bread would be exchanged…

According to custom on the appointed day the Turkish bakers would rise earlier than usual for a busier bake and any pre-ordered goats and sheep would assemble on the Quay, while vats of spring-water and vegetables would arrive from the surrounding hills; all to await the large fishing boat generally carrying the priest (who preferred Turkish tobacco to the everyday Marlboro) and the precious cargo. Within an hour and the time it took for the two harbour masters to agree that value was given for value accompanied by a conciliatory glass of Raki, the operation would be completed.
Almost at war Kastellorizo needed re-populating…… Over the next decade second-generation emigres from the island to Australia… all with Greek surnames but little of the language… were invited to return to their fatherland with the promise of housing and financial aid… they were known as ‘Kazzies’! And they came! They restored the beautiful harbour houses so typical of Dodecanese architecture, repainting the large wooden fronted doors in emerald, mustard, indigo… Those close to the harbour extended their front terraces; sea-food restaurants opened. Regular ferry services started from Rhodes… a 4 hour journey. In 1991 an award-winning film was made on the island and tourism truly arrived

Do’s and don’ts

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