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Turkish Tower Methoni
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Methoni Castle
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| Sailing Companions |
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Zakynthos
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| O.Peri Pighadi Anchorage |
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| O.Peri Pighadi Anchorage |
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| Parga Town |
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| Corfu adventure tour |
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Tony in Greek
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Achilleon Palace
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Neighbours - Garitses Helicopter Surveillance
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Turkish Tower Methoni
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Learning to row O.Peri Pighadi
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Methoni has been a short stop for us in the past. This time
we anchored in the sheltered bay and dinghied ashore, visiting the prominent
Turkish Tower and Fort. The town square
had the obligatory restaurants and we enjoyed a milkshake. Walking along the
waterfront we stopped for lunch at a very pleasant restaurant for pizza
lunch. It was well worth the visit and
we were pleased we went ashore this time.
This is beginning to sound like – ruins, drink, lunch and in
some ways {interspersed with swimming) this is what travelling the coastline is
like.
Pilos was the next stop. Another pretty town with buildings
arranged around a large square on the waterfront. Slightly different from the
usual Greek layout the town had a French influence. From here we took a bus to
Kalamata to fill in some land travel which we often miss.
Katakolon – further up the Pelopenessos coast is another
enjoyable and safe anchorage where we stayed a couple of nights before heading
for Zakynthos and the Ionian Islands.
Zakynthos. We tied to the town Quay and went looking for
Vaughan and Zana who were to join us for the journey to Corfu. We located the
hotel nearby and had our first fresh water swim in the rooftop hotel pool since
Auckland. Next day we all set off for Ay Euphemia on the island of Cephallonia.
There V & Z visited the Melanissi Caves by taxi. A very efficient driver
had them visit the caves, jump the queue for tickets and back on Wild Indigo
within 2 hours, so wev left and went to O. Peri Pighadi on Ithaka. This is a
lovely sheltered clear water anchorage on the East side of the island. It has
become a popular stop for flotilla charters and we were fortunate enough to
have the bay to ourselves for most of the time. Joined occasionally by other
yachts. We stayed overnight.
Vathi on Ithaka was our next stop. It was close to Sue’s
(Othali) birthday. There is a very good spit roast restaurant there, so the
seven of us celebrated Sue’s birthday as it was to be the last time we saw
Othali for the year.
Next day we headed for Tranquil Bay on Lefkada Island. Nidri
town is a place we visit often. We wanted to have the outboard serviced after
its capsize in Spinalonga Lagoon. This took a few hours, so we spent the time
wandering around the familiar town. Service completed we went back to Wild Indigo.
Negotiating the Levkas Canal is always an interesting
navigation exercise and we duly waited for the floating bridge to open before
going on to Preveza. There we had dinner at the “Mermaid” restaurant.
Again, this is becoming “another day – another bay as we
continued to Parga where we took the Road Train to Ali Pasha’s Castle – which
has been there since about 1810- comparatively recently. We also visited the
fort as it is a pleasant flat walk after the uphill section of negotiating the
path between Valtos Beach where we anchor and Parga town.
Mourtos/Sivota – Monastry bay was our next stop on the way
north where we had the obligatory pizza on the waterfront.
We are now in Garitses Harbour – Corfu Town. The anchorage
has been improved since our last visit with a wasteland converted to a park
with a sea wall. Also tripper boats now load and unload from steps that were
previously cordoned off as work was being carried out. Clarity of the water has
improved and consequently with all these changes the area is much more pleasant
than previously. We are still woken around midnight though with wash from the
Venice-Patras ferry.
During our time between Zakynthos and Corfu we noticed
considerably more yachting activity even though it is late in the season. However,
apart from Ay Euphemia where there was a large flotilla fleet, we have been
able to avoid overcrowded anchorages. The noticeable drop in temperature is
welcome, especially at night.
Yesterday was a road trip of the island, visiting hill
villages, narrow winding roads, Paleokastritsa Beach, and Pontokonissi for a photo shoot.
