Even during our unplanned longer stay on the peninsula two years ago, we were tempted to visit the shipwreck. The small but forbidden 2-day tour took us across the Mani, but not to the wreck. Forbidden because at that time we interpreted the curfew more broadly than the government had decreed.
Now the time has come: just before we reach Gythio, the wreck towers high above the dunes. Do they say dunes in Greece? The road winds along the coast, with olive trees, tall bamboo and unfamiliar undergrowth obscuring the view of the sea. Every now and then we see the turquoise sea, the bright beach and the rusty shipwreck.
In the distance, on the beach of Selinitsa, five kilometres from Gythio, the imposing wreck of the "Dimitrios" has been lying since 23 December 1981, which coincides with my sixth Christmas.
There are many myths surrounding this mysterious ship. Some claim it was one of the many illegal cigarette ships of the time or even a ghost ship with no known owner. The true story behind the legend reveals a different fate for this impressive wreck, which is now part of the region's beach and tourist attraction.
The ship with the name "Dimitrios" (formerly Klintholm) and a length of 67 metres saw the light of day in 1950. On 4 December 1980, the ship headed for Gythio, as the captain had to be taken to hospital due to a serious illness. However, the mooring of the ship led to financial difficulties for the crew and problems with the engine related to insurance claims from various creditors.
As a result, the crew was dismissed and the ship was anchored in the port of Gythio. In June 1981, the ship was still lying in the same place, but was classified as a danger to the safety of the surrounding area, while at the same time it was leaning to the right due to a water ingress in the hull. As the ship's owners did nothing, the ship was still lying in Gythio in November 1981.
In December of the same year, bad weather tore the ship from its anchorage and washed it up on the beach of Selinitsa, northeast of Gythio. Deserted there, no one seemed interested in the fate of the ship any more.
Except for us. And many other people who like to look and take pictures.
Merci for "travelling with us
We are thinking about taking another break from travelling in the summer and visiting our families in Germany and Switzerland. One of the ideas is to organise a Lecture about our long journey to the Persian Gulf to prepare. If you would like to, what would interest you the most? We will also tell stories here that don't find a place here on the blog. We're thinking of the Bern and Berlin area - simply because we have family there. But other places are also conceivable. Feel free to write to us.
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