R&R in Nydri.

Nydri is an OK place to recover from a full on adventure break, it is very, very tourist orientated but there are shops to replace toiletries etc and a lady who is doing my laundry. I am taking it easy but I walked the town a couple of times yesterday and wound up the waiters in the restaurants by reading their menus then not going in but I had a pleasant relaxed meal in a taverna back from the waterfront. Today I went on the waterfall walk, it was interesting because the final 400 metres is into a gorge, however, it is a little farther than the guide books suggest, it takes about two hours there and back from the seafront. I also went for a tour of the island by car and found what could be an ideal lunch or overnight stop in the boat at Mikros Gialos, an inlet East of Syvota. Syvota itself, which we visited in 2014 was full with over 60 Sailing Holidays boats, today was changeover day. I popped around to Vassiliki but it is an unattractive concrete tourist resort aimed at windsurfers. So tomorrow I head north into the hills.

Three men in a boat.

I am on my own again in Nydri on the island of Lefkada, I dropped JB and Kevin off at the airport this morning. We had a great weeks sailing, probably the best we have had in the last twelve years. We had good winds most days and only one day off due to a front coming through that brought some rain with it. Our first stop was at Spartochori where we also started last time but thank goodness it was a lot calmer this time, the welcome and food were just as we remembered. Our next port of call was Fiscardo were we met another Kevin who was a yacht photographer (see sailing pics.com) and story teller, we had his whole life history in the short space of time we were there. Next stop was Sami where Stavros at the Faros tavern served up the best food so far but that was beaten again by the delicious stifado and roast lamb that we all shared at Nikos' taverna in Vathi on Ithaka. We stayed the extra day in Vathi and went to the same cafe on two days to be welcomed on day two like old friends by Betty (which apparently in Greece is short for Patricia?????), while there we also had a visit from the coastguard who inspected all the boar's safety gear. After a memorable 30 mile sail with Captain Kev on the helm we arrived at the immaculate Karnagio taverna in Vathi on Meganissi where the food went another step higher, the baked lamb was to die for. The owner, a super efficient Bulgarian called Alex told us that her nickname amongst the local Greeks is Hitler because of the high standards she demands from her employees. we also met Dougie McKenzie Iverson and his wife Jane who again gave us his life story mainly about sailing but the interesting side of his story is he owns the Thomas Wolsey pun in Ipswich which is not far from Keira and Kay, so Tom could well get a visit. Back in Paleros last night we caught the final between Saracens and Racing 92 in the Docks bar where the gorgeous Anna put Kev in his place by insisting that he was JB's dad. Our final meal was at the Dionysos restaurant run by a German lady named Sylvia and her Greek husband Myka, the food was good but not as amazing as what had gone before but the highlight of the day was when the waitress tried to teach us the Greek for cutlery which to our ears sounded like "my hairy Peroni" This blog is really just to remind us of what we got up to on the activity break 2016 because we found we had forgotten so much of what had happened on the previous trip.

Sailing and sailing.

Greece was on strike on Sunday so the Saturday night ferry was brought forward to 2pm but of course the Greek dockers wanted the extra days pay so the leaving time was delayed until 5pm so that we would arrive in Igoumenitsa at 2am. A Bulgarian family joined me at my table and talking to them passed the time on the long trip. I can recommend the Astoria Hotel in Igoumenitsa where I rested my weary head for all of 5 hours. After buying the provisions for the boat I met JB and Young Kevin at Preveza airport at midday and we went down to take over the boat in Paleros. So far we have been to Spartocheri on Meganissi, Fiskardo on Cephalonia, last night we got into Sami and today we are heading for Vathi on Ithaka. The weather has been great but rain is forecast for tomorrow. yesterday we had good winds and got the boat healing over and doing over 8 knots much to Kev's dismay, we have also had fun with anchor chains being crossed and other challenges. It is good to have company after three weeks on my own, I am coming to the conclusion that I enjoy the travelling more than the arrival and staying a week in one place.

Ramblings cut short.

Apparently there is going to be a strike in Greek ports on Sunday so my ferry will not be sailing at 9pm but now at 2pm which works for me now I can sleep in a proper bed rather than roughing it on an overnight ferry, excellent I will be able to greet the boys clean, polished and awake. Yesterday I did my final exploration, the weather has at last changed and the little white legs put in an appearance. The people over here seem to walk around with closed faces but engage them in conversation and they smile and open up especially out in the sticks but I suppose that applies to most parts of the world. Today's task was a slow admin session pottering around to get ready for next weeks activity break. I love a good potter. The fridge and larder are now empty so I will be dining at the local bistro tonight I just hope they have some real meat.

Further ramblings.

I have now explored the boot of Italy South of Lecce, I am not excited, a number of the small resorts have space for passing yachts and Castro could be worth a weekend visit but that is about it for me. I am going to try the local wines tomorrow apparently they have a good reputation but I was told this by a local chap so we will see also I will take some photos for the blog but also to show you what the area is like. I must admit I am looking forward to Greece for the kebabs and chops I have just about had enough pasta, pizza and paninis but I cannot fault the wine especially the huge range of good Chianti, if you ever get over here never, never, never drink the super cheap bottles in the supermarkets in fact you are better off buying the five litre plastic containers at least that won't rot your teeth or take the lining off your stomach.

Italian ramblings.

On my way down from the mountains I was passing Foggia when I caught a glimpse of a scantily clad young lady in the layby to my right, very nice I thought but a little further down the road another young lady in a skin tight purple dress and six inch heels was standing in another layby and this was at about midday, where these Layby Lils if so the police who were passing at the same time as me did not seem concerned. I was always under the impression that the Italians had a certain sense of style, now I know I am not known for my sartorial elegance but some of the sights I have seen over here are just amazing. I saw a very skinny young guy yesterday dressed all in black from pixie boots, skin-tight jeans and jacket and the biggest scarf you have ever seen wrapped around his neck topped by a shaved head with a tuft of hair left on top, he looked like a black ice-cream cone. The uniform for mutton just now is heeled pixie boots, black leggings, mini skirt and too tight top with OTT make-up and carefully teased out hair accompanied of course by the regulation huge sunglasses. Yesterday's exploring was cancelled due to pouring rain, so I stocked up with beer and wine at Lidl and read another book, fortunately it stopped raining at 5pm so I at least got out for a walk, I was starting to seize up with all this enforced relaxation. Today I caught the resort shuttle bus into Lecce and I was very glad I had, the traffic was mad and parking legally is impossible which probably explains why locals double park or park on pedestrian crossings etc, if I tried that I would get a ticket as I now know from experience. Lecce old town was interesting a little too baroque and full of tourists for me but after a couple of hours walking the streets I found a street cafe selling local craft beers to while away the time waiting for the shuttle back to the resort, a pleasant people watching spell.

Way down South.

The journey down from the hills on Saturday was very pleasant I think everyone was having a lie in, the hills and hairpins are now behind me, Puglia is a relatively flat and featureless province with long straight roads. My new accommodation leaves a lot to be desired but the one plus is it has the first sprung mattress since arriving in Europe, one of the problems here is limited WiFi so this could limit my blogging. The weather has also slowed me down along with yesterday's Mayday holiday but I plan to explore today.