Left Skala Harbour, Patmos crack of dawn to find our own private bay to have a swim & breakfast. Decadent? Kerry & I took the kayaks for a run ashore, then a trot uphill to check out the Greek Orthodox church - plenty to choose from! Met Toby & wandered further uphill to see the Monastery of St John in the distance. We hadn't travelled far by sea, just seemed like it! A lazy day - sleeping, reading, making arrangements to FINALLY catch up with my l...

Overcast morning - spoilt, too cold for a swim! Sailed directly to Patmos, mooring in the harbour at Skala. Great place to revisit, with the 'castle', Monastery of St John & historic settlement of Chora, above the town, architecturally stunning, & a great example of a Greek Orthodox pilgrimage centre. Potential raiders of the monastery were spectacularly unsuccessful, the maze of narrow alleys were purpose built in all directions but direct to the monast...

Crept out of Kalimnos Harbour before breakfast & snuck into a glassed off spot for a swim. I swam to a tiny island overpopulated with goats & large gulls, the latter making a din when I climbed from the water into their nesting ground. Water as usual, clear, emerald tints to turquoise, some sea lettuce on the climb from rocks emerging from deep indigo water to shore. On return swim to the boat, a pod of small dolphins were dancing around a tiny nearby f...

There is something soporific about sleeping on boats - Ratty would agree. not an early start for me! Blue sky, clear water, a breeze. Boys heroicly hit the water first thing, rest of us sidled up for a breakfast fit for Kings. Pancakes, eggs which ever way you like, fresh yoghurt, fresh fruit, including best fresh peaches ever, even the smell a magnet, lightest of light cheese filo pastries (skimmer), ripe, full of flavor tomatoes, olives, cucumber, cheese, toas...

Our last day on Symi has crept up toooooooo quickly! Needless to say, as it was stinking hot, most of it was spent at our favourite spot, Nos Beach, a small beach only 5 mins walk from 'home'. With a personal beach umbrella and sunbed, the water one pace from the foot of the sunbed, and deep water only 3 meters from shore, paradise! The guy running the sunbeds also has the tiny (only) taverna on the beach, so yes, we indulged in the just made fish soup, dolmade...