3rd September 2010
Time to say goodbye to Terr Iona who will be wintering in Tunisia this year and to head for Nisyros where we will meet up with “Sybaris”. Although NW winds were forecast we got W and in addition had some very choppy seas for the short journey to Nisyros. After a short journey we were able to moor in Pali harbour (despite the cross wind) safely and will now be here for the next week.
4th September 2010
Per has returned from his travels but Elly is still away. We spent a while getting our bearings and relaxing by going to the nearby beach for a swim as it is no longer possible to swim in the harbur. Very nice harbour at a fraction of the price of Kos and the surroundings are better also. Many German boats but most people use it as an overnight stop.
We have worked on the website, had some good meals in the local restaurant and been every day to the beach to swim and read our books. Svein has also helped Per with some maintenance on his boat.
We have decided to hire a scooter to visit the island. We duly set off (with a very dubious Caryn as pillion) and climbed the hills up to the crater that forms the central part of the island. Needless to say Caryn had problems so whilst she waited at the top Svein continued down to the crater to get his photos. We then continued on to visit the mountain village of Emporio. A dellightful place carved ut of the rocks and perched high on the top of the crater rim. We wandered around the streets but unfortunately not many inhabitants. Many derelict stone houses but those that are being restored are being beautifully done. We then went to Mandraki (the capital) and met Per who had come to collect Elly off the ferry. On returning to Pali we discovered that there was a festival/party in Emporio that same evening so we organised a hire car to go up there. No way Caryn was getting on a scooter again and certainly not in the dark. Mike at the firm “Eagle’s Nest” was very helpful and gave us a car for a very good price. It was a good evening with good food and very good music and plenty of locals dancing in the village square.
We had long discussions with Per and Elly concerning the Red Sea as a possible alternative to wintering in Greece and Turkey and it only remains for us to do the calculations to see what it possible.
Per and Elly leave today (08-09) to go to Simi and then Marmaris before heading for Cyprus. We are here for another day and have spent it quietly on the boat doing the last minute jobs (washing, epoxy the saloon hatch). We leave for Tilos tomorrow which is a short hop and will then continue to Khalki and Alimia before reaching Rhodes. We have really enjoyed Nisyros and hope to be back here again another time.