Another day, another bridge. Well two bridges actually, both in Vrysses - bridges seem to be a bit of a theme recently!
First a visit to "Elliniki Kamara" This 2000 year old Greco-Roman bridge spans the Vrisakos River east of the village and stands 6.4 metres above the river. Not far away are the remains of roman buildings.
This year the winter was exceptionally dry and though at this time of the year there is usually only a trickle of water, this year it is absolutely dry
Amazing to think of all the travelers who have passed over the bridge during its long life
It is a dry stone structure covered in cobbles
Just next to the bridge is the church of St George. Local stories have it that during the Turkish occupation this building was taken over by a turk who demanded a toll for each traveller to pass by, until one night when several men came down from the near by village of Kalamitsi and murdered him. One of the men was said to have tried to remove the gold rings from the body but not being able to , he cut of the fingers and put them in his cummerbund - where he forgot them, until the smell reminded him - and everyone else.
Still a lot of greenery even though there is not surface water. The only sound to be heard is that of the National Highway which passes next to the bridge, spanning the same river in the same place that the romans did so many years before.
Now on to the other side of the village and to "Koutsos" bridge
The bridge is located between the villages of Vrises, Embrosneros and Vafes. It looks very similar in style to "Elliniki Kamara" and one might think it is another Roman bridge in a better state of preservation.
The bridge is still in use by cars and was built during the last decade of the 19th century by local craftsmen.
The name Koutsos (i.e. lame) comes from the lame owner of the water mill next to the bridge.
The bridge spans the river Boutakas which gets water from the melting snow of Lefka Ori.
The river bed runs dry beside the old water mill..
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