We have recovered from Easter and in particular the enormous firecrackers that were being set off day and night. On Good Friday there was a procession of the statue of Our Lady round the harbour of Pali. People have been going to church every day and the culmination was the Saturday when the service started at 23h00 and went on until gone 02h00. Caryn went to the first part and left the church just at the firecrackers were being set off in front of it. Svein went out to get some more video and was met by Anna (our sewing friend) and was dragged in to sit through another hour. It was a strange ceremony as the congregation kept wandering in and ut all during the service and lighting candles whilst the priest chanted. Then just before midnight the lights were dimmed and everyone rushed forward to light their candles from those held by the priest. Pictures

Caryn cooked an Easter leg of lamb which was shared with Niels and Ellen from “Laerke”. The weather is still not settled with strong wind from all directions. We have been into Mandraki several times to shop and also made a visit to Kos as we wanted to stock up before our trip to Turkey as we have heard that everything is expensive there except fruit and vegetables. We also saw “Laerke” in Kos harbour where they have left the boat whilst they take an emergency trip back to Denmark.

Svein did some work for Antony in the pitta gyros restaurant and we were treated to a homemade moussaka as a thank you. We have also said goodbye to all our friends on Nisyros. It was sad leaving but we will be back there in July.

Svein has installed the remaining 85W solar panel on the coach roof. Originally there should have been two but unfortunately the second one got smashed to smithereens when Svein tried to take off the frame. We have also scrubbed the dinghy bottom as it has managed to get very dirty lying in the harbour water. Pictures

Another very busy time where the improvements have come along very rapidly. We at long last received the solar panels and wind generator. They were quickly installed but only the solar panels were connected as we still had not received the regulator for the generator. This, however, duly arrived and now the wind generator has also been installed. The new lazy bag has also been installed and is looking very good. The remaining sewing now is the new bimini that is coming along nicely with the top already made and installed and the sides are being made as I write. Pictures

There have been several anniversaries that were duly celebrated in style both in a restaurant or on “Laerke”. Pictures 

We also found some time to visit the island again and found some places that we had not seen before. It really is an incredible spot and this time Caryn went down to the crater. Pictures

There are still new flowers to be found growing wild and they are really unbelievable. The pictures already out on the net have been added to and there are still more to come! Pictures

We are eagerly awaiting Easter and the island celebrations that seem to be out of proportion in relation to the size of the island. As soon as Easter is over we should be moving on and starting the season as we will have finished all the tasks we set ourselves and made the boat shipshape for the new season.