An engineering wonder

Some pix of the Reno bridge, under which we slowly motored -- into the gulf of Corinth.

Other pix on my gmail -- well, I hope so, never really know with these etherial activities...

The mutterings of the Sybil...

So we have reached Delphi -- well, almost.
Many adventures, met many fascinating folk.
After leaving Corfu and Judith, we sailed southwards through the Ionian Sea and anchored the first night off Paxos (Paxoi) in a blissful small bay, sunlight glinting on the gentle wave-tops. Complete silence, only the occasional slap-slap of the water lapping against the sides of the boat.

Next day we progressed past Levkas to Cefalonia, passing Ithaca (a name to conjure with!) and me sitting in the back cockpit, writing a few poems.
These will be published later (!).
Went into harbour at Sami (where Captian Corelli's Mandolin was filmed) and enjoyed the sunlight and the colours. Had fine Greek fish-filled supper and walked round the quiet streets. Talked about Greek economy with sad restaurant waiters...

On towards the Gulf of Corinth and under the Reni Bridges -- see pix of our approach, view from beneath (awesome!) and the view from the rear (of course, it all depends which way you're travelling!).

We spent one night in Mesolungi, place of Byron's decease, and where I had a wonderful cold shower. Brr, but most welcome.
This was a perfect day's sail -- we turned off the engine and zipped along at six to seven knots, a broad reach. Note my professional terms, sailing guys.
Beautiful entrance along narrow channel with small fishermen's huts -- reminded me a little of the river Arno near Arnovecchio, all very peaceful; and apparently a bird sanctuary nearby.

All quiet for exit next day -- indeed, the waters were oily smooth, so had to motor, but engine over-heated. (I don't enjoy these moments...)
Later on, wind picked up.
Passing the site of the Battle of Lepanto (1570s if my memory serves me ???) we tried entering the crenellated walls curving round the tiny harbour -- but it proved too shallow, even with Stroemhella's centre-board lifted.
So we exited and continued.
On to the island of Trizonia where we were able to go alongside and were helped by some yachties from the Thames Royal Yacht Club. (Wind had got up.)
Met the jolly people on motor-ship (all electric) moored extremely close to us, and they invited us to supper, on the waterfront looking from the island towards the nearby mainland.
A most merry encounter and good mussels!

Here you see part of Stroemhella and our nearby neighbours' electric boat!
The harbour cat (one of the many!) came to visit and even stepped aboard. But I told him, no mice to catch -- so he jumped off and found a piece of cheese...

In the night it grew very windy and the rain pelted down. At four a.m. David woke to wind-still (well, comparative!) and decided to set off. I swam up from some pleasant dreams and managed to help extricate Stroemhella from her cramped position (with a little damage to the toe rail) and we chugged off through the dark (me at the helm) towards Itea and the Delphic prophesies...

Corfu from on hgh

Spent another day looking at the beauties of Corfu town and surroundings.
Probably sail southwards tomorrow to Paxoi (Paxos). David returns from a few days in the UK.
Today Judith and I passed one hour in the Vodaphone shop trying to establish internet contact via dongle -- didn't work...
So went to the wonderful market where we found vegetables and fruit and the most magnificent display of fresh fish ..

see pix above:

Our attentive host Spiros from the Argo hotel drove us into town and up to see the view of the airport landing runway and look down upon Mouse Island.

And one final picture of me, Judith and Spiro -- last day on Corfu.
Time appears to rush and yet at the same time creep-- or maybe it slithers at different rates.
One day appears very long -- yet when I think back to my arrival in Corfu (less than a week ago), the sequence is a flash...

A domani, thus

Language mystification...

Aha, English has reappeared, after little offerings of Greek, which did not help me to be blog-creative!
We are now in beautiful Corfu, which meets all the poems and dreams, glittering rippling blue blue sea, distant mauve mountians

Corfu United

No, not a football team -- today is the celebration of the unification in 1864, of seven islands off the west coast of Greece, with the mainland. Corfu was one of the islands.

We took the small bus along the zig-zag coast road into Corful town and walked up the marble-paved streets (reminiscent of Ostuni, Lecce and other Italian cities) towards the congregating crowds where music bands in 19th-century costume (!) were gathering, together with groups of women in their stunning costumes, bright-coloured embroidered blouses and flowery headdresses. 
The processions lasted an hour, wonderful to watch, many young (school) children, groups of boy scouts looking amazingly like England in the 1950s (except for the hair-length) and finally the Corfu sailors, with Kerkira in gold letters on their hats (Greek for Corfu).
The brass-and-woodwind bands were superb, a joy to hear. Very impressive, very nostalgia-making...

Meanwhile, I am conscientiously doing short audio lessons in Greek (BBC course on CD, played on the boat) so now can say at least ten words with great conviction!

Above some pix of yesterday in Corfu old town. Judith walking while Eleni studies the map.
It was a reunion -- Eleni came across by ferry from her home on the mainland. We first met in Manchester more than fifteen years ago, and Eleni was at our wedding in Manchester in 2002. Later she stayed in my house in Amsterdam when she was working there. We haven't met for about eight years. A very fine reunion!
Here a pic of Judith, Eleni and me, near the seafront where we had lunched before Eleni took the ferry back to Igoumenitsa.

Tomorrow will see another expedition into Corfu town to buy a dongle for Greece to encourage interent contact (after we have had to leave Spiro's wonderful Hotel Argo here in Benitses, where we ensconce ourselves each evening and Spiro has promised to teach me Greek dancing (like Zorba...)
On Wednesday the plan is to sail sountwards to Paxos...

Re-finding English in Greece...

We have reached Corfu. Blue mountains, glittering purple sea (or is it wine-red?) and black cypress trees pointing into the shining sky.
Really words come too short. I attach a pic or two.

And there are all the stories about Venice, Verona and so forth.

Now I just want to sit and watch...

That, of course, is Venice...

Lecce's limestone curls...

What a splendid city! Sumptuously decorated churches and palaces. Here some photos, showing the love of curling stone and plasterwork...

The streams of tourists have not yet arrived and the weather is just right, early May. The locals say it becomes unbearably hot in August. We admired  the rococo pillars in a fairly restrained cathedral.
And reached the Roman theatre at lunchtime -- deserted and serene in the midday sun.

Last night we ate Greek (for practice) with Heather (Amsterdam) and her sister Sandra (SF) -- both originally from Australia.

 This is a reminder of the sea at Gallipoli... How quiet and tranquil it can be at times...

This may be the last of my blogs for a couple of weeks.
Tomorrow I go to Como and spend a week up north (Venice and so forth) with cousin Nomi. On 16 May I fly from Milan to Athens...