We left Kos for Symi (Simi, or Summy if you're a Kiwi) and had a very pleasant trip. A bit of fun on the way when we spotted MY Solaris, one of Abramovich's boats, (Russian Oligarch) clinging very carefully to the Turkish side of the line! It has since gone into Bodrum we hear and Turquie is letting it stay. Could be some economic strategic thinking on Turkey's part? It was just off our port side about 4 NM.

We called in at Panormitis Bay to start with. A very lovely, very protected bay with a famous Monastery where there is a bit of religious pilgrimage tourism. It was under some repair but we did look around a bit. On the point coming into the bay is an old windmill and an old war gun emplacement. Peter and I went for a walk to look at it and ended up sheltering there from a hail storm for half an hour. Managed to get back to Entre Nous before another bad rain storm but were still very cold. Come on, summer!

After another day we moved round the island to Pedhi (Pedi - I give up, every place has at least two if not three alternative spellings). A really pretty little bay again with a new marina addition. Captain Nicolaus waved us in despite the fact that we had thought to anchor. We ended up alongside a big concrete wall, so good for a bit of a blow expected the next day.

It turned out to be Greek National Day on Friday. Not to be confused with Greek Independence Day that we came across back in Pylos in October. So, on Friday we went over the hill by taxi to Symi Harbour (Euro7) and watched a really great little local parade. Cora and Kiki had decided to stay on board to try making ravioli in the new pasta machine so we came home to three varieties of very successful ravioli! At the parade we met up with Ted and Barb a Texan couple from the boat behind us at the marina. We had lunch with them at a very nice Taverna. We messed up with getting back to EN - as it was a holiday all the taxis had knocked off and the 4 o'clock bus left t 5. (Euro 2) We ended up in another very nice Taverna drinking wine waiting. Oh, well…..

Off to Rhodes tomorrow where we have a space on the Mandraki Harbour town wall arranged for us by our contact in Kos. Lots of contacts help lots we ae finding……