We wanted to get to Santorini today but the problem is that there is too much wind and it is too deep to anchor. So, we head to Ios to make a base, and travel to Santorini by ferry.
At IOS the wind is blowing 25-30 knots, but we find a great anchorage in the south at 'Manganari Beach'. It is a beautiful sandy beach with very clear water. There is only one restaurant on the beach. The main town and port are in the southwest about 15 Kms on very winding roads. By insistent inquiry using a number in the lonely planet guide, we get onto a travel agent who puts us in touch with a taxi driver, Maria. What a gem she turns out to be as she becomes our friend and guide over the next couple of days.
Ios is known as a party island, full of 20 something's who dance away the night until 6am, then get up late and go to the beach using quad bikes which line the roads.
Maria takes us to Hora town. After we see the small museum we walk to the port and buy our ferry tickets for tomorrow, for Santorini.
Ios is a very barren island which lacks water. It has lots of goats a few cows, but doesn't even grow olive trees.
Back on the boat it is captain Paul's 40th birthday dinner.
Jack and MB cook the BBQ. We all eat together tonight and toast our great captain who relates to us fabulous adventures of his years before we met, including his early working days before his boating career. We consume nine bottles of Australian red wine and have lots of laughs.
JB and Mick