Chris and Desi come to visit

We were anchored outside Aegina in the bay but when the strong winds changed direction, the anchor dragged as there was so much weed on the bottom and it didn't reset. We decided to go into the harbour where we were due to meet Chris and Desi the next day. They had flown into Athens, stayed at an airbnb overnight and then taxi and ferry to Aegina.

The next morning, after a walk around town, stocking up with supplies, pita gyros for lunch, we went to explore the old part of town and came across this fortified house - the Markellos Tower from the Venetian era 

Making good use of the BBQ! 

One of our new favourites - imam bayaldi - Aubergine topped with onion, tomato and feta and then baked

From Aegina town harbour we motor sailed a few miles down the coast of the island and anchored in a beautiful , quiet bay - Marathonos bay.

From the island of Aegina across to the mainland south east of Athens we had quite a rough sail with strong winds and high seas. The next morning Chris found this poor fish on the deck - must have been washed up as the waves broke over the bow and then got stuck.

Music sessions in Chapel Cove

We spent three days in Chapel Cove waiting for the meltemi winds to ease. The cove is named after the chapel you can see in the distance where there were two weddings while we were there.

From Chapel Cove round Sunion Point - where you can see the temple to Poseidon on the top of the cliffs and into the port of Lavrion.

From Lavrion up to anchor in Porto Rafti. Even though the temperature in the daytime was in the mid thirties, it was still chilly at sunrise when we left the anchorage.

Sailing into the sunrise - lovely time of day, before the strong meltemi winds got up and before the seas got too big. It also meant we had the rest of the day in the bay to swim etc

Amazing colours of sunrise

The bay of Vasiliko on the small island of Nisos Petaloi. There were very few boats anywhere we went and we often had the bays to ourselves.

Another early morning start!

Fisherman returning accompanied by a flock of hungry seagulls.

Lunch at the small family taverna in Vliko bay.

Serenity looking a bit lonely as we were the only boat in the bay.

Another bay to ourselves, this time the bay of Tigani where the only building was the tiny chapel on the shore.

A trip ashore in the dinghy / swimming and an expedition through very spiky scrub to see the chapel.

One of our favourite stops was the village of Voufalo. Very traditional village, no shop but a quick jump into the dinghy and row ashore meant that we did manage to catch the fruit and veg van when it came round.

We were anchored behind the sand spit so this was the view looking out to the Evia channel.

Happy crew!

We went to the taverna in the first photo of Voufalo for dinner that night. Stella, the Moldovan lady who ran it had heard Dave playing guitar out in the bay in the afternoon and asked him to play in the taverna. A good sing song with Stella (on the left) joining in and also two Germans who were staying in a camper van in the village. An evening of English, German, Moldovan and Swedish (Viking) songs was enjoyed by all!

Stella requested some funny English songs but when Chris sang "My baby has gone down the plughole" and "Always look on the bright side of life" from Life of Brian she thought the English had a strange sense of humour - on reflection we had to agree!

Sunset looking out from the town of Eretria

In the port of Chalkoutsi waiting for our "prawn saganaki" - prawns in tomato and feta cheese sauce - wonderful!

Covid19: The tavernas in Greece are open as usual but, being quieter than normal we were able to keep our distance from other people and were careful to sanitise our hands - a lot of places provided bottles of sanitiser on the tables. All shops insisted on you wearing a mask and everyone abided by the rule.

Chris and Desi left by taxi to Athens airport the next morning.

We walked around the coast to the Boatclub boatyard where Serenity will be for this winter. We had a look around, met Sia one of the owners and were given coffee and cake.

As we were leaving Chalkoutsi the next morning we found this praying mantis on the boat. We carefully moved him on a pice of card and left him on the shore......

.............but when we were out in the Evia channel we found him back on the back stay!

 He travelled like this for the five miles across to anchor off Eretria and stayed with us for the evening- then I am not sure where he went .......maybe he is still on board somewhere!!