We left Athens by taxi for a 3 hour trip to Patra on the Gulf of Patra.
We cross the Corinthian Canal which we cruised through on 4th July. The coast on the south side of the Gulf is the Peloponnese Peninsula which is lush with pencil pines, for trees and large rugged mountains.
Patra is a thriving town being a major ferry terminal to the islands of the Ionian Sea. We take a 3 hour ferry trip to Sami on Keffalonia. It is a large ferry fully booked out. We arrive in Sami about 3.30, staying at the 'Sami Beach Hotel', owned and run by Maryanne Doriza's family. They are very friendly. Penelope Cruz and Nicolas Cage stayed here when they filmed Captain Correlli's Mandolin .
We had dinner at a small family restaurant nearby. The father is a fisherman so we have good fresh fish. Gurnet grilled.
Saturday 4th. We meet Andy and Dene, with Pete and Jo Wenzel to board Black Pearl.
We cruise to Vathy in Ithaca. It is a beautiful bay.These island are so different to south and eastern Greek islands,lush forests,high mountains,Italian influence architecture.
We take two taxis to drive north to have lunch at Frikes. On the way we stop at a small archeological museum in Stravos.
Ithaca claims to be the home of Odysseus. The museum say they think they have discovered his palace. They have some very nice treasures from his period around 13 th century BCE but no real evidence relating them to Odysseus. It is difficult because these islands have been so ravaged by earthquakes.
Frikes is a small town at the northern end of the island with lots of waterfront restaurants. We have lunch at Odysseus. Nobody is here until four ferries arrive bringing in 800 people. The lunch is so Greek but delicious.
Back on the pearl we introduce our guests to deck coits. They are now addicted. We show an episode of Spartacus which we enjoy, but it horrify's everyone else and sends them to bed.
Sunday, MB goes to church, it is Greek Orthodox very interesting but impossible to follow what the ceremony is about.
We are now off to what is supposed to be the town that has not been damaged by earthquakes, at the northern end of Keffalonia, 'Friskado'. It turns out to be a bit of a let down as its not much different to all the other towns on the island.
As the anchorage here is difficult we cruise to the next island 'Lefkada', in a wide bay in 'Vasilik'. It is very windy and the bay is full of windsurfers. We decided to christen our new toy 'Airhead' the doughnut pulled behind the tender. It is a bumpy exhilarating ride and exhausted Janet, Peter, Andy and MB. This sport is brought to an abrupt end when a ferry nearly runs over Peter.
After dinner we watch the great film 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin'.
JB and Mick