Greece #5 . Read this before 'latest blog'

Blog #5 Greece

                      2^nd September ® 22^nd September 2014

Yasas ( howzit in Greek! )

My last blog ended off on 1^st September as we sailed into Corfu Island and we had our very first night of rain. Little did we know that this wet weather would carry on for the next couple of days. We went into the old town of Corfu which has beautiful buildings in Italian, French and English styles. They all occupied Corfu at different times. It was really strange seeing a cricket and croquet pitch on this Greek Island. I walked around the quaint town with my dad to look for a backgammon set made of wood. I thoroughly enjoyed my ‘moussaka’ I had for dinner. Later that evening Tadji and I bought glowing arrow plastic ‘helicopters’ which we played with in the big square. The local children caught them for us when they came flying down. It was such fun.

The next few days we spent time doing schoolwork inside, hiding from the rain. We said a sad goodbye to the Orzechowskis on the 4^th, we had had such an awesome, fun time with them.

 

On the 6^th we had a slow motor to our next stop Mourtos on the Greek Mainland and the surrounding Sivota Islands. We anchored in End Bay and I had to do the stern ropes, which means tying them to either a rock or tree using a bowline knot.

My dad and I discovered a cave in the bay around the corner and we swam through it. We saw loads of little fish and about six big fish we could have eaten for dinner.

 I was fascinated when we saw a guy from a Superyacht standing on a pipe and ‘flying’. This soft pipe was connected to a powerful jetski which blows water and air up the pipe at high speed. This lets the person go high in the sky and do loop the loops. I would have loved to have tried that.

We had our first thunderstorm anchored in Mourtos. It all happened very suddenly when a few big black clouds came over and drenched us with rain. The wind came up from nowhere and reached 30 knots and with that came big waves, thunder and lightning. We realized the anchor was dragging and we tried pulling it up and we couldn’t . It had then hooked against a rock so we were safe for the moment . It was all rather scary. In the middle of this my dad saved a huge, expensive dinghy that was nearly on the rocks. It belonged to a big powerboat anchored in the bay. It had broken loose. For his good deed they gave him two lovely bottles of good Greek wine. Luckily it was all over quite quickly as the wind disappeared, the sea flattened out so we slept well that night.

The following day we did an ‘aqua-race’ which consisted of a swimming, paddling and noodle races plus a skurfing event and a special jump off the bow. It was fun but exhausting. Later we went to ‘Turquoise bay’ for a snorkel in the caves. The water was extremely blue. My highlight of being in Mourtos was definitely hiring and sailing a Laser Pico sailing dinghy. I sailed it around the bay with my dad, he was instructing me as I steered and did the ropes. This is ‘proper’ sailing on a tippy, sensitive, small boat. I learnt a lot.

Next stop was the Island of Paxi. It was great to be here again and as always I love driving the rubber dinghy around it is such fun. I feel like I am driving my own car. Oh yes and my dad winched me up the mast. It was so scary!!

We enjoyed a vanilla cream pastry for breakfast in the most charming main town of Gaios. Later when we were in the town having a drink and getting WiFi we witnessed yet another Greek wedding. In my opinion the only thing that Greeks do is get married and sit in cafes and drink coffee!

Two days later we upped anchor for the Island of Anti-Paxi where we stopped for the day in the crystal, clear turquoise water which is what the Island is famous for.

We had been informed that it was not safe to anchor there overnight so we decided to move to the town of Parga another beautiful spot on the Greek Mainland.

I immediately fell in love with this special town up on the hill overlooking a small Island with a church on it and the port below. We walked up to the old Venetian Fort dating back to the year 1337 which protected their trade route bringing spices, silks and special metals to Venice and they called Parga the eye and ear of Corfu which is just to the north west of it. From the Fort the views were spectacular. I took lots of photos.

We loved meeting ‘Costis’ a Greek surfer and stand up paddleboarder. He told us that in winter Parga has great surf in the exact spot where we were calmly anchored. I could not imagine it. I loved the shops and the buildings. I was sad to say goodbye to Parga as we had had a special time there.

We were on our way to Two Rock Bay, our final anchorage before heading to the big town of Preveza on Mainland Greece. My dad spent time showing me how to do decorative rope work. I really enjoyed doing it and ended up making lots of interesting things ! Two Rock Bay was peaceful. We were the only boat anchored there and this was the first time we were alone in nearly three months.

The bay was full of little fish which we fed with bread crumbs. They devoured it greedily. Whilst having our lunch a little Greek girl came snorkelling by with her dad. We allowed her to look around the boat and we then gave her our inflatable crocodile since we could not take it back on the aeroplane. It made her day.

Most evenings I am ‘killing’ my dad at backgammon on his lovely new wooden set which was handmade in Corfu. Poor dad!

I am ending off now as we are about to arrive in Preveza. It is now the 22^nd September and our cruise is nearly over. It is here that we will prepare the boat to take it out of the water for winter.

Will  blog again soon

Lots of love Tristy XX

Latest blog

Blog #6 Greece

                     23^rd September ® 30^th September 2014      

Yasas ( howzit in Greek! )

We arrived in Preveza, on the mainland of Greece on 22^nd September. Here we went stern to on the main town dock and went shopping at once! There was some beautiful clothing and we bought up a storm! It helped that there were lots of bargains as the summer sales were on. I can’t believe how nice and friendly the Greeks are. So often when we go shopping for anything they will give us something for free.

My dad and I took the main sail and jib off and we spent the next few days working hard tidying and preparing the boat to take it out of the water for the winter.

On the 27^th we motored across to the Marina where the boat was to be hauled out of the water. I was fascinated watching the procedure as a trailer pulled it slowly out of the water. We were given a ‘parking place’ where we would live on the boat for the next two days. It felt really weird that the boat never swayed or rocked and we had to climb up a ladder to get to it. I met a little four year old girl from England who just wanted to play with me whenever she could.

 

I had to help my dad a lot with the final cleaning and packing away of boating equipment.

On the 29^th the taxi arrived at 7 am to take us on the five hour journey to Athens. When we drove away from the boat I felt sad to leave her as this had been our happy ‘home’ for three months. En route we passed over the Patras bridge and the bridge over the Corinth Canal. It was crazy to think we had sailed under both brides early in August. Weird seeing the view now from the top down.

Today is the 30^th and this evening we fly back home. In the last 24 hours we have walked Athens till my feet ached and seen all the major tourist sites. I really liked the Acropolis, the Panathenaic stadium where they held the first modern Olympic games in 1896, Temple of

Olympian Zeus and the Agora. We also strolled around the old Plaka area of Athens which was pretty.

I have had the most amazing adventure in Greece and Turkey and I have loved every single moment (not the school work)! I would definitely like to come back to these amazing places again.  I have learnt so much about the countries in many ways and of course boats and the life skills that come along with all of that.

Thank you all for reading my blog, I hope you enjoyed it and I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

Lots of love

Tristy XXX     

 

 

No. 4 from Greece

 

Blog #4 Greece

                           22^nd August ® 2^nd September2014    

Yasas ( howzit in Greek! )

Ti Kanete (How are you?)

I ended my last blog to you all on the 21^st August from Galaxidi on the Greek Mainland.

As we motored away from Galaxidi I felt sad to leave this amazingly beautiful place. We were now on our way to Trizonia where we went alongside a dock in a neglected Marina. We walked around the very cute, little town in a pumping 30 knot north wind which was blowing up our dresses!

Next it was a long sail to Ithaki Island. This island is famous for being the mythical home of Homer’s Odysseus. On the way we sailed under the huge ‘Patras’ bridge which joins mainland Greece to the Peloponnese.

Here we anchored in the beautiful bay of Kioni. I loved snorkelling here with my mom in the crystal, clear turquoise water. It was hilarious when my dad was swimming across the bay and the skipper on a 52 ft Lagoon catamaran shouted at him to get out of the way. My dad said “relax”, I am swimming. The skipper answered by saying, “When you are dead, I will not relax”! Another time we were all on the foredeck when Tadji jumped into the water and swam across the bay and sneaked aboard the big day ferry. Suddenly there he was on the top deck, jumping into the sea! This he did a few times. It was rather naughty, he was lucky that the Captain did not see him.

We had a lovely sail in flat water to the Island of Manganisi and here we anchored in Abelike Bay. We went for a snorkel right around a small Island. For the first time we saw some orange coral. We walked to Vathi Town but we got lost on the way in the dark as we took the wrong road. Eventually we found it and had a yummy souvlaki giro on the quayside. After dinner we shopped in the supermarket and on the way back to the boat in our dinghy we passed close to the most beautiful, old, vintage style powerboat.

The next day we had a waterpolo match in the water behind the boat. We made goal posts by tying fenders to the stern ropes. Tadji and I beat the oldies, dad and Wojtek by 8 to 5. They also got shouted at by referee Bloss because they wanted to put on lifejackets as they were getting too tired of treading water!!

The next morning we all went for a run. No one thought to bring any water and that was a mistake as it was about 30 degrees. On top of that my running shoes are too small for me so my toes were aching and I couldn’t get rid of a stitch that was with me on and off for the whole six kilometres.

We motored to the Island of Levkas. To get to Levkas Marina we had to go through the first part of the Levkas canal which is not nearly as spectacular as the Corinth Canal. Taking this short cut saved us doing at least 60 nautical miles. Our next mission was touring the Island in our 7 seater Nissan Evalia hired car. We stopped at the inland towns of Kayra and Englouvi but by far my favourite was going down the long, steep, narrow and very windy road to Kalamatis beach with its milky turquoise water and super high rocks to jump off.

We had dinner in the town at night and looked at all the lovely shops. I bought a pair of colourful espadrille shoes. They are so comfortable, I love them.

The following morning at 11 am we rushed to get out of the Levkas Canal as the floating bridge with a boat name on it opens every hour. We were now in the North Ionian Sea. Our next stop was Anti Paxi. We had a quick swim in the turquoise, blue water because it is not safe enough to anchor there overnight. We then moved on to Mongonisi Bay on Paxi Island. I was so excited as we hired scooters for 24 hours. My dad and I explored the Island.

It was perfect as it is not too mountainous. There are also beautiful places to see such as the towns of Logos, Lakka and Gaios and the incredible beach of Ermitis. To get there we had to walk down 280 steps but wow it was worth it. This amazing spot is surrounded by sheer cliff faces and we discovered a fresh water ‘well’ on the beach.

That night none of us could sleep because of a traditional Greek wedding happening at the taverna on the beach. The guests arrived at 10 pm and played pumping loud Greek music with only two English songs – ‘Staying Alive’ and ‘Mambo no 5’! Music was finally switched off at 5 am. Part of the celebration was an amazing fireworks display. We all wanted to join in the fun.

Most mornings I tell Tadji to get up onto the foredeck to do his stretching exercises. The moms giggle away in the background.

We had an exciting downwind spinnaker sail to the big Island of Corfu. Here we booked in at Gouvia Marina. That night the rain bucketed down. It felt weird since this was our first bad weather in our whole two months of cruising so far. I was happy we were safely tied to the dock.

Sorry I have to go now my dad needs me on deck.

Kali andhamosi (see you soon)

Love Tristy xx

Greece no. 2

12 August ® 21 August 2014   

Yasas ( howzit in Greek! )

Wow, what a great time we are having. It has been so busy onboard “Domicilium”.

We finally showed Bloss, Wojtek and Tadji the beautiful town of Naoussa on the evening of the 11^th August. They found it so quaint and loved the glamorous shops. The full moon was a great ‘torch’ for our dinghy ride back to the boat.

Early morning wake up call to set sail for our next Island of Kithnos. Bye, bye Paros once again you gave us such a good time. Luckily we had more than enough wind to put all the sails up and to reach a speed of 8,7 knots. We anchored next to a sandspit and went stern to the rocks in calm, turquoise water. Tadji and I spent hours jumping off the high rocks into the crystal clear water and snorkelling.

 

 The following morning we went off to go and look for the thermal spring in the next bay that we had read about in the guide book. We found it eventually in amongst the rocks on the beach. It was a natural bath right on the shoreline with hot bubbling water. We all lay in it, it felt soothing. We laugh so much on board that my mom often has tears pouring down her cheeks. That evening we lay on the trampoline on the foredeck and we gazed at the stars, it was so warm, still and beautiful.

Hydra was our next Island.

On the way we stopped for a swim in the middle of nowhere and sadly in the distance we saw a dead turtle lying on its back and fishes were hiding underneath it. We put the fishing lines in but once again no such luck. We anchored in the beautiful bay of Mandraki and walked in the boiling hot sun into the main town. The architecture was totally different from the white washed typical Greek buildings of Patmos, Paros and Kithnos. Here it was very green with luscious cypress trees and Italian style villas overlooking the port. On this Island there are no cars so to get around so you either have to walk, take a water taxi or hire a donkey.

As we arrived we could hear the priest preaching loudly from the church on the dockside. We ate dinner nearby and we could hardly hear ourselves think let alone talk. As we were finishing off our meal everyone filed out of the church behind the priest and his helpers and paraded through the town holding candles and paintings to mark the festival of the ‘Assumption of the Virgin Mary’. The next day Tadji and I discovered a beautiful private villa on the rocks with a big diving board. We were a little naughty and just had to have a few dives off this springy board into the blue, blue sea.

We sailed to Poros and there in the anchorage my dad pulled Tadji and I behind the dinghy on our lilos. We were laughing our heads off as they kept on nose diving.

Korfos was next. Here we tied up to the local docks that were owned by the tavernas (restaurants) and you could get free water, showers and WiFi on the boat! Tadji and I made handlines to try and catch some small fish using stale bread, bits of the left over pork chops and raisins. We were not successful but it was fun. After dinner that evening we went shopping and I bought a white dress and a black skirt which Tadji (also known as Angelina) was prancing around in the shop. The assistant, a lovely old Greek lady was in love with him. We laughed so much that night.

Next day we were finally to go through the Corinth Canal. It is just over 3 miles long and 25 metres at the widest part. The sides of the canal rise to 76 metres at the highest point. Going through this canal saved us 450 nautical miles and a lot of time. At the entrance we saw a replica of an ancient Viking long boat. The Russians on board looked really dirty but they were friendly. They were all wearing traditional Russian clothing and shoes. Tadji got hoisted up the mast in the bosuns chair to take photos from above, he loved it. The Corinth Canal was an amazing experience which I will never forget.

We are now in the Ionian Sea. We made our way to the really beautiful town of Galaxidi on mainland Greece. We all fell in love with this place immediately. We met a lovely Greek woman called Stella who invited us to her home. Here we tried some local Greek chocolate and she gave us a tour of her old ‘ship captains’ house, one of only ten left in the Town. The top floor was a huge open plan area which used to be an old sail loft for repairing and drying the old cotton sails. From here we left very early in the morning by local bus to get to the ancient town of Delphi about 45kms away. Delphi was a religious sanctuary in its time. It is set up high on a mountain amongst olive and cypress trees. We wandered around for about three hours looking at all the amazing ruins dating back thousands of years.

 I loved Apollo’s temple and I found the old stadium with its grass track very interesting. Afterwards we toured the old museum full of artefacts and amazing statues.

Later in the town Tadji and I bought Greek ‘worry beads’ after getting a demonstration from a local Greek man on how to play with them. Back in Galaxidi we dived for sea urchins as my dad and I are planning to make a heart of urchins on a white canvas.

I am a little behind on my blogging as I have to do schoolwork now. This news is up to the 21^st August. I promise to write again soon.

Adio

Tristy xx