A Visit to Some Tunnels Has Left Us Intrigued
Every Sunday we meet up as part of the Zakynthos Walking Group and explore the island. The group leader, Derek, has shown us parts of the island that we would never have seen if it weren’t for him.
He’s not only shown us the off the beaten track walking trails, but also shown us ruins, natural caves and man made tunnels that we would never have known about otherwise.
Last Sundays walk was a stunner , taking us to the top of the island and down to some old monastery ruins. After we had finished the walk, Derek took us to explore some man made tunnels that run deep into the hillside in Volimes. And what we found left us intrigued.
The tunnels are said to date back to WW2 and are barely visible from the outside. The floor of the tunnels were littered with animal bones (or quite possibly the bones of other intrepid explorers who didn’t know when to turn back).
Some of the group ventured quite deep into the tunnels using the torches on their phones for light, but after going in so far and realising the tunnels run deep, they turned back (sensible, don’t you think?). Even I was tempted to pass the entrance, and I really don’t do confined spaces.
The decision was made that we try to find out a little of the history behind the tunnels and return in a few weeks with proper torches and a plan. Needless to say we are all intrigued to find out what we can, as Zakynthos really is steeped in interesting history.
Apparently, during WW2 the Zakynthians did not surrender Jews to the Germans, instead they protected and hid them, taking young children into their families. Maybe these the tunnels were used to help hide the Jews. There are said to be ‘rooms’ off the main tunnel, which would indicate that they were used to store or hide things, and not just for getting from A to B unseen (the tunnels are said to have an exit up in the hills).
I don’t think there is one of us from the walking group that haven’t been investigating the history of Zakynthos this week, and to add to the intrigue, this Sunday Derek has planned to take us on a walk around Kilomenos, stopping to visit more caves. The Church tower in the village sports some strange engravings, which are said to be connected with pirates (more intrigue).
I will admit that I am rather hesitant to venture too deep into the caves, anywhere past the entrance gives me a sense of foreboding, but I think that intrigue will get the better of me and I’ll venture in with the others… And I’m not one to miss a photo opportunity!
Would you be tempted into the tunnels and intrigued by their history? Or is that just us?
© 2016, Debbie. All rights reserved.
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