8th June 2013, Monemvasia or Clinging to the Rockface Think Mont St Michel or St Michael's Mount, add sunshine, Byzantine with a hint of Turkish city fortress of honey-coloured stone and terracotta roofs, houses and fortress walls, churches, cisterns, more houses, little squares, more churches all rising up and clinging to the rockface, topped by a ruined Citadel - and that is Monemvasia. Fabulous views from the top (another vertiginous climb!)It is actually a li...

6th June, Gytheion And now for the good bits There is an upside to going round these capes (the alternative is the Corinth Canal, which we may well do on the return). The headlands all have impressive fortresses (like Pylos previously). We went progressively around Ak Soukouli to Methoni, then Ak Akritas to Koroni, Ak Tainaro to Porto Kayio (boo hiss ) and up from there to Gytheio where we now are.We wanted to come here to visit Mystras, Free Spirit had a dead al...

2nd June 2013 Porto Kayio Rounding the Capes - The Mishap We have been rounding the bottom of the Peloponnese. There are about 5 capes to get round, 3 of them major. These major ones are the ends of three long fingers of land stretching out to sea, each with a ridge of mountains down their spines. The winds here are very unpredictable and gusty due to the high mountains (some still with snow on) and the deep gulfs. The last cape is the most infamous - there are ...

Monday, 27th May Pylos, Home of Ancient Greek myths, 16th C Forts and recent Wars Mind the Gap Kiparissia done and dusted, we are in the Peloponnese town of Pylos, famed for several things. To get here you sail past the island of Sfaktiria that forms a protective side of what is effectively an enormous bay (Navarino Bay) - offshore rocks provide gaps through which the adventurous can sail and the pounding of waves has formed the shape of an arch through one of th...

Friday,24th May 2013 Kiparissia Vengeance of the Gods? Well, we've had a bit of a time of it! Did we upset the Gods or something? Had a good sail to Kiparissia, the timing was right as the wind was due to pick up a bit (F7?) and go to the SW then SE - staying in Katakolon would not have been an option. We arrived at a civilised time, got ourselves anchored and tied stern to the harbour wall. Next to us was an Austrian boat and we were soon joined on the other by...