After a second undisturbed night we started on our way back with the intention of stopping in Vonitsa – the large town at the entrance to the Gulf. We anchored outside the harbour late morning and took the dinghy into town to explore. Again this is not a tourist town but has a very nice harbour and a lovely beach that we were able to swim off after we had explored the town. Lots of different shops and restaurants that cater for the locals and again a town that livens up in the evening when people seem to come from far and wide for a evening out strolling along the sea promenade.
Once the strong wind dropped in the evening we decided to move into the harbour and found a nice spot beside a Wharram catamaran. This was of interest to Svein as in his youth he had built a small one and started a bigger one that never got finished.
Vonitsa is dominated by the Venetian castle (as many other towns and ports in the area) and its history is closely linked to the power struggle The castle was built in the 13th century and was under the control of the different rulers (Angevins, Orsini, Tocci, Dukes of Leece and Knights of Rhodes) before coming under the Ottomans and the Ventians. It finally came into the hands of Ali Pasha of Ioannina before it was incorporated into the Greek state in 1829.
We decided to stay here for the weekend and on Sunday afternoon we were joined by “Laerke” who had come from Preveza. They had ordered a new auto pilot system that was waiting for them in Nidri.