Friday 31 August 2012

Paros - Mykonos - Paros >> Aug 18 - Aug 31

Rolf had decided to take Kim to Athens by plane. There was no way we would be able to make it there and back with the boat and we didn't want to put us under the stress. Hence, we sailed to Mykonos, which has the closest airport. Once we arrived, we spent a great evening together with Kazaio. It started out with Mojitos and dancing in a beach bar and finished with a Swiss fondue on a French boat in a Greek bay. That's international, isn't it?!!
After that, famous Mykonos was a disappointment. The marina was desolate, I got bogged down by a bad cold and the locals we came in contact with were not the kind of Greeks we had encountered before, instead they were unfriendly and never smiled. No wonder we wanted to get away again asap, which meant that I never made it from the marina into Mykonos city, which was only 2.4km away. Everybody agreed that I didn't miss anything, though; The city being way too small for the huge number of cruise ship tourist that invaded it, and too many neon signs to still be experienced as a beautiful, little, Greek village. So we returned to the place we really liked: Naousa on Paros. Technically, we are on our way South to Santorini - but the storm.... it even has a name: Meltemi. So we are staying put in the same bay where we stayed with Martina and Hannah, and it's blowing.
PS: Kim arrived home safe and sound.
Beautiful Naousa on Paros



Octopus drying in the sun

Returning to the boat by "ferry"

We might be in Greece, but Sparkles dines as the Romans did...:-)

Saturday 25 August 2012

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Sunday 19 August 2012

Uninvited Guests

The storm is still blowing like crazy, we continue to be stuck on the boat. So, time for another update:
Funny enough, the two recent incidents I will write about both have to do with uninvited guests - guests that could not be more different from each other... :-)

The day we arrived in Corfu City, Rolf and I explored the town. There is always the thing with phone and internet to be sorted out. While Rolf spent his time at a Vodaphone shop, I got bored and checked out the supermarket next door. I always like to browse supermarkets in other countries, almost like a treat for me. Well, not that one. Barely inside, I saw a cockroach cross my path disappearing under a shelf. I turned around and left, slightly shocked if not surprised. We are in a warm country after all... The sight didn't leave me all day, I thought so much about it, I mentioned to Rolf when we were sitting on the flybridge together enjoying the evening, that we should probably stock up on anti - cockroach spray just in case to be prepared should the worst happen. Rolf agreed, we both still remembering the line of ants to and from Kazaio in the Provence... Now, when getting ready for bed, what do I find lurking out of under my shower bottom: tiny, thin feet belonging to some kind of insect. Argh! Rolf to the rescue. And it was...a cockroach!!! Oh no!!! Rolf threw it over board and I didn't dare to get back into the bathroom without light for the next few nights. My biggest fear: Where there's one, there could be others...So, we stocked up on cockroach poison and traps, Rolf nuked the bilges through the floor board holes and - knock on wood (toi, toi, toi), now that we are prepared, none has shown up again. I really, really hope so!!!! Guess it came on board via the docking lines in one of the previous marinas, but we will never know for sure. I AM very reluctant to stay in marinas since then, though...

The second story about an uninvited guest is a little more bizarre... We all went ashore to have dinner with the Kazaio crew. We found an amazing Greek Tapas Bar and enjoyed the food immensely, while a huge thunderstorm went over the town. It was dry again when we took the dinghy back to the boat - remember, avoiding marinas now... ;-) And, of course, it was dark, something around midnight or so. When we arrived at the back of our boat, Hannah said "There's a person under the boat!" I don't think that sank in with anybody, it was so unusual! But yes, actually, there WAS a lady holding onto the straps of our life raft which is tied up to the bottom of the boat between the two pontoons. And, shockingly, she was stark naked! Now, what is a naked lady doing under our boat at midnight??? Our question exactly "What are you doing here?" Her answer: "Is this your boat?" Well, yeah, why else would we be there...??? Anyway, long story short, first, here English wasn't too good, later it was better and she could talk. Rolf wanted her to leave, but she only got as far as our anchor chain and stayed there. Not good enough. Goodhearted Martina was concerned about the lady's welfare. I'm glad she was as I wasn't, felt too much like an intrusion of privacy to me, like when your house is ransacked by a thief... (me being melodramatic, I know...) Finally, we decided to take her back on shore, but remember, she was naked...Good Martina got some of her clothes (the not favourite kind) and gave it to her. Something was odd about that lady, as Hannah had to show her how to put on the pants. Was she drugged? Or mentally ill? Drunk??? Forever a mystery. Once Martina and Rolf dropped her off at the beach, two guys which seemed to be wearing uniforms were already waiting for her. Mystery over mystery! Why didn't those guys get a boat? Waiting on shore until she got back... actually, until she got a ride back...???? We'll never know. Bizarre!

Saturday 18 August 2012

Corfu City July 31 - Aug 8

Having arrived early in Corfu City, we stayed in the city as well as in it's vicinity, waiting for Martina and Hannah to arrive. So far, Corfu City was the hottest spot we have found on our trip. One night (!), returning with our dinghy, you got the feeling you had a heating element attached to the front of it, the wind was that hot. But we fell in love with the city regardless. It was so full of life and full of friendly people, people sitting outside at night listening to open concerts, little alleys full with fun shops, Chester being the biggest hit ever. The best new thing we tried: Greek Frozen Joghurt, Yum!!! Forget ice cream, Greek Frozen Joghurt it is from now on! Once Martina and Hannah had joined us from Hennef, we continued South, exploring islands and bays, enjoying lazy days on board, swimming in bathtub warm water, eating Greek food,... heaven!


Enjoying Greek Food with Martina and Hannah in Corfu City 
Buying 3.5l of famous Paxos Olive Oil

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Next Life going through the Channel of Korinth




Island Paros Aug 16 - today

On August 16, we arrived at the island of Paros, knowing we would be stuck here for a few days due to heavy winds. We did enjoy a few nice days with Marina and Hannah before the winds hit us, the girls getting adventurous in the water, the rest exploring the cute little village with the typical white and blue houses.

Latest update: Well, the winds have arrived last night, just after Martina and Hannah left for home. Didn’t sleep half the night due to noise and the constant worry we would lose something or the anchor would drag. Almost lost the flybridge sun lounger cushions despite securing them, but were lucky. Had to take the cover off the bimini, too much wind drag. Our heavy plank got moved from the net in the front to the sitting area just behind it by the wind, almost unimaginable. And it’s just been howling around us ever since, gusts of up to 40 knots of wind and more to come; the weather forecast predicts gale winds with gusts of up to 47 knots of wind the next 5 days. BUT, our anchor is holding, Rolf just set a second one just in case. So we should be save.

Rolf's new hairdo - thanks to Hannah

Kim and Hannah on water solos

Kim on a paddle board

Kim on a wake board

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