Month: August 2013

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Places we have visited in Greece

Greecemap

Places we have visited in Greece (in chronological order):

A.  Mytline (Lesbos Island)

B.  Psara Island

C.  Kea Island

D.  Kythnos Island

E.  Elafonisos Island

F.  Port Kayio

G.  Methoni/Pylos

H.  Koroni

I.  Kalamata

M.

 

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Cruising with the Vera

Dining in Methoni with Michael and Britta of Vera
Dining in Methoni with Michael and Britta of Vera

 

We finally met up with Michael and Britta of “Vera” in Methoni a few days ago. We have not sailed with Vera since Vanuatu 2008. We stayed a couple days in Methoni, dining at our favorite restaurant and touring the castle, and then went to Porto Longo on uninhabited Sapientza Island, and then to Navarinou Bay near Pylos. Wasps drove us out of Sapientza Island after only one full day.

Castle at Methoni
Castle at Methoni
Castle at Methoni
Castle at Methoni

 

Wildflowers, Methoni
Wildflowers, Methoni
At the top of the Palaiokastro, Navarinou
Michael and Britta at the top of the Palaiokastro, Navarinou
At the top of the Palaiokastro, Navarinou
At the top of the Palaiokastro, Navarinou
Voidhokolia Bay viewed from the top of the Palaiokastro, Navarinou
Voidhokolia Bay viewed from the top of the Palaiokastro, Navarinou

A 240 foot luxury yacht dropped anchor next to Vera and Sabbatical III yesterday morning. A 200 foot auxiliary vessel arrived and set up an inflatable water slide park and dropped off various other play things such as jet skis and tow rings, and then left. Security men in small craft patrolled the waters as a bunch of children and their parents had an all day party on the water slides and a bit of beach. When a guest zoomed off in a jet ski, a high-powered small boat with a security person aboard followed. Small boats with paparazzi armed with cameras and long lenses patrolled as close as they dare. Someone in an ultralight aircraft few overhead. No one was closer than Sabbatical III and Vera and we did not care enough to ask who’s party it was, although we thought the show was amusing and jokingly conjectured that it was Brad Pitt and family. Our hoped for invitation never came. The day before, a Greek Coast Guard vessel came by to check us out, confirming that we were from the US and asking us to keep our toilet valves closed (otherwise not required). I think that primary reason for their visit was to make sure that the neighbors of this high profile party were not paparazzi or unsavory in other respects.

The far northwest part of Navarinou Bay is quite lovely and a comfortable and secure anchorage. We have enjoyed our time here. This afternoon we will sail back to Methoni to provision and then head east to Porto Kayio.

M.