Leaving Syracusa, we literally blew into Greece. After a 2 night sail with rip-roaring winds we blew in mightily to the Greek Island of Zakinthos. We learned that sometimes you really can sail too fast (especially at night with only one person on watch), so we reefed the sails and still sailed on at 8+ knots. Thus began our windy, tumultuous affair with the Grecian winds called the"meltemi".
We continued east throught the Gulf of Patras and the Gulf of Corinth (the gulfs between mainland Greece and the Peloponnisos Peninsula). The coastline in the Gulf areas was beautiful and we passed under a suspension bridge which is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world--impressive. We anchored overnight outside the minute medieval harbour and it's castle while the dolphins played around us. 
We spent several days anchored off a little island near Aigina and even took the dingy ashore to feed the wild peacocks, deer and goats. We enjoyed a sweet anchorage off of the island of Angistri and found refuge from the winds in a protected area around the island of Poros.
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You tell us---is this a goat, ram or some exotic African critter????
And then of course, we had to spend a little time doing the "tourist" thing at Athens. Spent a very hot day walking and exploring the Acropolis and all of the surrounding ruins with great food in the old city called the Plaka. It is awesome to imagine the magnificence of ancient Greece but we find that we are so much more interested in the people and places of the "here and now", present day experiences.
We have been wonderfully surprised with the friendly, ever helpful, warm and generous people of Greece-- and they speak English too!!!! We totally understand the saying "It's Greek to me" as we look at their writing and alphabet and are once again so thankful that English is the universal language. The Universe has definately taught us to ask for what we want and the wonderful Greek people have stepped up and met our wants and needs time and time again....Thank you.
So, "It's all Greek to me" has taken on a real life meaning for us since we arrived in Greece one month ago. So has "Don't have a clue" as we have navigated these new waters and territories. This past month has been the most challenging for us since we arrived in the Med 3 years ago. And while we are thankful for the lessons and new insights, we are tired and plain worn out! Seems as if we are continually "sailing upwind", and we know that is not an easy or smart thing to do.
Examples of "sailing upwind":
Buying a new Delta anchor as it is reported to be the best for this area, and watching it day or night "not stick" whether we are in an anchorage or port.
Watching it catch something it shouldn't have while a crazy French woman shrieks in middle of the night. (But that's another story too scary to tell).
Wondering why we didn't know it was HOT here in Greece. It remains 100+ degrees here every day,(but it's a dry heat-hahah). If this is what we wanted we could have stayed in the Tucson desert in our air-conditioned house drinking margaritas!!!!
Living in a hyper-alert state as we try to make peace with the ever present and strong meltemi winds (while our great anchor doesn't stick).
And this must be the year that our sacred sailing vessel needs loving care and tune-ups with a multitude of repairs.
The list goes on but let us say that we are hot and tired and spending some quiet time deciding what we want to be and do next. The opportunities to "be with what is" have been abundant and sometimes we meet the challenge and other times we don't. But it has given us pause to rethink and recreate what it is we do want, as we are real clear with what we don't !!! We love our life here on EcstaSea but think we will probably head back west and not go to Turkey this year as it is undoubtedly hotter there. We will rest in some sweet peaceful cove until our heart's desire leads us on.........
So, "It's all Greek to me" has taken on a real life meaning for us since we arrived in Greece one month ago. So has "Don't have a clue" as we have navigated these new waters and territories. This past month has been the most challenging for us since we arrived in the Med 3 years ago. And while we are thankful for the lessons and new insights, we are tired and plain worn out! Seems as if we are continually "sailing upwind", and we know that is not an easy or smart thing to do.
Examples of "sailing upwind":
Buying a new Delta anchor as it is reported to be the best for this area, and watching it day or night "not stick" whether we are in an anchorage or port.
Watching it catch something it shouldn't have while a crazy French woman shrieks in middle of the night. (But that's another story too scary to tell).
Wondering why we didn't know it was HOT here in Greece. It remains 100+ degrees here every day,(but it's a dry heat-hahah). If this is what we wanted we could have stayed in the Tucson desert in our air-conditioned house drinking margaritas!!!!
Living in a hyper-alert state as we try to make peace with the ever present and strong meltemi winds (while our great anchor doesn't stick).
And this must be the year that our sacred sailing vessel needs loving care and tune-ups with a multitude of repairs.
The list goes on but let us say that we are hot and tired and spending some quiet time deciding what we want to be and do next. The opportunities to "be with what is" have been abundant and sometimes we meet the challenge and other times we don't. But it has given us pause to rethink and recreate what it is we do want, as we are real clear with what we don't !!! We love our life here on EcstaSea but think we will probably head back west and not go to Turkey this year as it is undoubtedly hotter there. We will rest in some sweet peaceful cove until our heart's desire leads us on.........
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