Peloponnese Greece

Harbour from atop Monemvasia

Monemvasia old town

Monemvasia

Elafonisos island anchorage

Sheltering at Gythio

Sheltering from the meltemi

Kythira town

Narrows Samaria gorge

Rescue team Samaria gorge

Samaria gorge

Samaria gorge trek

Souda War cemetery

Hania

Tourist transport Hania

Hania harbour

Hania harbour

Hania harbour view

Relaxing harbourside Rethymno

Rethymno

Harbourside market Rethymno

Rethymno

Well, We are now secured to the quay at Porto Kheli in Greece, not far from the island of Hydra, and a lovely spot it is. Before leaving Crete, we sailed west to Rethymno, with a maze of cobbled streets in an old town surrounding its port and on to Hania, another small city with an old harbour. While there, we visited the south coast and the Samaria Gorge national park. There we walked 18 km from the top of the gorge at around 4000 ft where the temperature was 12C to the coast where it was 40 C. It was a testing hike with very steep descents and lots of stoney river beds, but the scenery was majestic. The gorge narrowed to about five metres at one point with cliffs either side towering to 500 metres. Certainly gave the old legs a good workout. Nearby at Souda was the allied war cemetery where lie the remains of 1500 servicemen including 200 Australians who died in the battle for Crete. From Hania we quickly sailed north attempting to beat the meltemi, but not quite succeeding. By the time we arrived at Kythira island the wind was up and our rubber dinghy took on magical powers. Approaching the harbour we had it secured to a forward stanchion when it suddenly appeared flying straight and level in the wind above the top guardrail. Next day we scampered further north torwards Cape Malea, one of Greece`s windiest spots only to have that confirmed, so we scurried away across the Lakonikos gulf to sheltered anchorages and towns. Once things had calmed down we ventured east around the cape and up here via some beaut locations including Monemvasia, an old walled village clinging to the cliffs of a large rock island. We are noticing a slight change in the weather with temperatures a little down in the morning and evening. Still swimming lots and have bleached blond hair. And we certainly back in euro-land; our cost of living having risen substantially. Compensated for somewhat by the much cheaper cost of alcohol and diesel than was the case in Turkey. At this stage we are looking for a Greek boatyard where we could winter the boat rather than return to Marmaris.