July 25, Pam and Bob Prokop and Marcy Dearth waved to the Kintners and Rosens departing in the highly secured, post 9-11, airport of Karpathos. We lunched at Helios Taverna. Then we arrived at the recently gel-coated Migration. Very impressive. Marcy was wowed by her spacious and beautiful living quarters. We enjoyed a refreshing swim as the sun set.
July 26, Pretty Amoopi Beach. We went into Karpathos, shopped ate, swam and slept. Grand time in paradise! July 27, At sunrise we set off for Lindos, Rhodos. Fair winds and seas, but on the nose, so we powered. Mike spotted two large green sea turtles off Lindos. What a treat to see! Upon landing in this beautiful resort town with a large looming acropolis, Mike called an American acquaintance from last year's visit whose name is Sheila Markiou. She runs the local laundry and book lending library (reach her at 2244031443 or sheilamarkiou@hotmail.com). We arrived Saturday in the late afternoon and were scheduled to leave early Monday morning. The concern was that she would not be open Sunday. She said that normally she would be closed on Sunday, but since they were closed Saturday for her best friend's wedding, they would indeed be open on Sunday. Mike thanked her for last year's wonderful taverna recommendations for Rhodes and asked her for some local taverna ideas. Sheila responded, "You must come to the wedding; we have plenty of food." We were both surprised and thrilled to be invited to a Greek wedding. Wahoo. Some had seen the new movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." After checking with his suddenly electrified crew, he gave her the big affirmative. To Mike's surprise every sailor on board was able to find suitable attire and shoes. We had all been given strict orders to bring only tee shirts, swim suits and thongs. You never know. We stepped off the lovely Migration in full dress onto the little 10' rubber dinghy to slowly, without spray, chug to shore. We very carefully climbed and stayed clean and dry, to the 6' high dock. "Be careful of Bob's new digital movie camera," someone warned. Needless to say the Greek wedding was a blast. Lots of music, wine, food and dancing, traditional Greek dancing and more dancing.
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July 28, Lindos touring and shopping was on top of the agenda today, while Mike and Sheila did chores. Town was crowded with tourists today. We mounted the acropolis and photographed. The view of Migration moored in Lindos harbor and St. Paul's Bay were breathtaking! Later we met and invited for cocktails a Canadian couple, Mike and Kathleen Niell, who anchored their trimaran, "III Sheets to the Wind," next to us. They had just finished the Eastern Med cruise and had many stories to tell.
July 29, We left Lindos after a difficult anchor pickup made easy by Mike Niell and his scuba gear. We learned from Kathleen, who had just made a hand/finger gesture to a water ski boat that came too close, that Greeks can be overly sensitive to it.
We arrived in Rhodes City at 1500 hrs. Mike did customs, turned in the Transit Log, etc. in preparation for departure from Greece. Sheila had dealt with the officials in Preveza in the spring when the boat was launched. She repeatedly reminded Mike he would owe over $500 Greek cruising fees. The Greeks know how to sock it to the non-EU boats. Later Mike was thrilled to tell Sheila it cost him $6. They had overlooked the new fees. Marcy and Pam donned armor and were officially recorded as Knights of St. John. The old city, walled in, was so picturesque. Shopping was excellent.
We sailed directly to the nearest point in Turkey named Serce. A perfect little cove, surrounded with high cliffs. Free range stock of cattle, sheep, and goats. We went to the local family-run restaurant where owner Hassan was smitten with Marcy. She was not as enthusiastic.
July 30, The coastline on the way to Marmaris was intriguing. The harbor is large and active with water and summer sports. Many full service marinas and mooring possibilities. The town has a fortress or castle and many restaurants and bars as well as a bazaar with many rug merchants and pottery. Gulets for hire line the waterfront. We shopped until we dropped with some results. We dined at Caria's on the waterfront. Then we enjoyed homemade ice cream cones from the local street vendor. After cruising Bar Street with its houka/coffee bars and tattoo parlors galore, we retired to Migration to listen to the music from afar and watch the loonies bungie-jumping from the two large towers on the other shore. The night was cool and sleeping perfect!
July 31, Today we did Customs check-in, errands, and more shopping. Many shop owners remembered us by name from the day before. The Turks are very friendly and gracious to us, as there are very few Americans here. Many have acknowledged their sadness over last year's 9-11 events. Sheila and Pam, pleased with their bargaining skills, made a pottery killing. We all rendezvoused for lunch at the Sofra restaurant. Fabulous Turkish breads and spices. Tshere are 5 calls to prayer each day, but most keep on about their daily business and silently say "God is Great." Dinner again at Caria's. Fabulous food, especially the Raki.
See August 1 to 12 cruise for more on Bob and Pam Prokop's adventures through August 4th.
