19th century windmills by the sea / Ανεμόμυλοι Λευκάδας

If asked what's the first thing that comes to your mind considering Greek islands "Urbex" will be among the last ones not only for alphabetic reasons. Sun and Sea are not much better alphabetic wise but win hands down for obvious reasons. However, be sure you'll find a lot of interesting ruins too like I did while touring the island of Lefkada on my bike:

What you see in the image above in the background (above my iron horse) is one of the many windmills that used to be around the island in the early 19th century. They had a lot of contribution in the olive oil production. Today non of them is in working order and only very few are maintained for aesthetic reasons.

Let's have a closer look on this first one:

As you can tel by the sandy uphill we're not far from the sea and yes, the latter offers its sweet blue background as I stand in front of the windmill's entrance:

Inside the windmill things are not as scenic though. A football fan's spray plus the modern concrete add ons take this thing even further away from its old grace:

I know you're now curious to see what's upstairs, I'm glad you didn't have to take the way up cause I did and there's nothing worth mentioning. Unlike the view to the South including a soon to be visited windmill which definitely worth picturing:

The level of corrosion on the windmills steel arms is impressive but not such a big surprise considering the extra corrosive environment it's been exposed to unmaintained for ages:

For the above artwork eating up steel like peanuts but also for the artwork below pleasing our eyes you can blame her majesty the Sea:

Remember that second windmill in the background South side? Time to take a closer look:

How lovely. And how lonely. As I go round to picture it from its entrance it looks like a cartoon thing:

Wanna take a look inside? Of course you do but not sure you'd like it:

I should have compromised long ago with the attitude humans have to vandalise and litter abandoned buildings but I don't and I thing this is one of my vital signs. Look at this mess:

Upstairs things are better:

And the views from the windows effortlessly stunning:

Not that this view from the windmill's base is any worse:

Ready for windmill number 3? Let's go:

I'm glad that this one has its original stone stairway though obviously not in perfect condition:

Don't blame the original builders, the island suffers from some of the strongest earthquakes in Greece so it's almost a miracle it is still standing. Now who wants the view from its top?

Time to go down,

and say goodbye:

I'm glad you can't feel the freezing wind chill as I do so you can full enjoy this view:

Ready for windmill number 4? Hope so cause it's the most well maintained one:

First of all the maintenance competition is pretty low as some of them are not even taken care off and secondly this one is part of a restaurant property so they have reasons to keep it looking at least decent. Nice one though. No interior pictures as they keep it closed.

No worries cause outdoors the view remains fantastic:

And there's more to explore walking North this time:

Approaching windmill number 5:

Let's check out this guy from all viewing angles:

Again glad to see its interior close to its original stone state:

View to the inside from its top:

Ready for the view from the top? There you go:

The view from its window is not bad either:

Fancy a video? Ignore the wind noise and enjoy: