Crew: Heath Smith, Bob and Jean Henning
August 17, Early Mike, Sheila and Heath arrive by Olympic Air. Lunchtime they meet Bob and Jean who arrive by high-speed ferry from Spetses. We immediately went to 7 Brothers Taverna and heard the Henning’s 3-day experiences with their Spetses friends and generally caught up. At Migration we were indoctrinated by Herr Sheila on the proper use of marine toilets, showers, and other adaptations required. We shopped, relaxed, showered, then to Galatas for Sheila’s favorite Taverna, ice cream shop, and early bed at the equivalent to 2am New York time.
August 18, Early Mike was off to the carpenter to have the new bulkhead compass mahogany bracket fabricated. We departed late at 12:40pm for Serifos in light air. Once out of the lee of land we found 30 to 35 knots breeze with 4 to 6 foot seas. Perfect for rolling out the genoa. We arrived at 9:00pm, much later than our daily 5:00pm routine. As the sun set behind the mountain tops, visibility into Livadi harbor did, too. We were too late and tired to hit the taverna, so Sheila prepared a light candlelit supper.
August 19, After a great sleep, we awoke to a cool breeze, breakfast and off to Livadi and a climb to the Chora. Wonderful views of the Med., old architecture, brilliantly painted doors and windows surrounded by geraniums and bougainvillea. Returning to the Migration we were tempted into a bakery to get tomorrow’s breakfast. After a swim, shower, nap, cocktail hour we enjoyed a beach tavern as the moon rose from behind the almost black mountain.
August 20, It was too windy for anything but a lay day. Watching some of the other boats having a variety of difficulties broke up the serenity of reading, especially the large Greek Government boat, marked in large letters on the side, "Customs Financial Investigation." It tried to anchor 3 times near us. We then tied up to the ferry pier, only to have to move again as the ferry approached. Finally a swim, shower, cocktails and to an excellent dinner at Cyclades Moonrise.
August 21, After a beautiful sail to Kamaris, Sifnos we ventured to Apollonia by bus then walked to Artemonas, viewing elegant townhouses, chimney pots done with flowering wild caper and seed pods and numerous other horticultural wonders. Sheila and Jean bored Heath as they tried to identify them all! They convinced Heath to walk to a wonderful ancient village perched on the cliff called the Kastro. We walked on and admired the marble path was surrounded by old stone walls, shepherds huts, goats, sheep, and thyme. We ate mushroom pie leaning up against an ancient sarcophagus.
August 22, The lovely sail to Paroikia, Paros was uneventful, except for the lovely rock formations. After a swim, shower, and cocktail hour we headed for Mike and Sheila favorite Christos Taverna. Returning to the boat we picked up some wonderful figs, melons and peaches for tomorrow’s breakfast.
August 23, We sent Heath off in a cab to the airport to catch her flight to Athens, where she had planned to tour… That afternoon Jeanie had read about a festival in the nearby fishing village, Naoussa, commemorating the defeat of Barberossa the pirate in the 1500s. We rented motorbikes and took off for this evening’s entertainment and dinner. Most of the young adults, dressed in 1500s clothing and thoroughly made up, reenacted the battle. This included the pirate ship arriving with fire works and explosions, numerous hand held torches, sword fighting, shouting…later the businesses of the town opened their doors for the young actors to eat and drink and be merry for free. Enthusiasm ran high. The crowds were delighted.
August 24, With Bob’s constant encouragement we were off to an early start to motorbike to Antiparos to see the famous Caves. From the tall ferry from Pounta we saw wind surfers and power gliders scurrying back and forth on the turquoise blue water. After the Caves we stumbled upon a near by swimming beach and associated taverna run by an English couple. "Still Waters" became one of Mike and Sheila’s favorite. On the way back we visited the "Butterfly Valley." That evening we had a light meal on Migration of Greek Tea, red wine, Paros & Sifnos Cheese and oregano crackers.