First swim of the year at Symi
Since 4 month we sail in the Greek Islands, Sometimes we tangle with all these islands names often ending with 'OS'. What "lose its Latin", Finally rather its Greek, between Naxos Paxos Andipaxos Pylos Poros Kythnos Serifos Sifnos Leros Kalymnos Amorgos... and many others still! Fortunately each island has its own character shaped by its past, its traditions, its geography, the possible presence of water... which creates a new experience on each island.
Thursday 10 March: Symi – Ormos Panormitis
It is downwind we leave Nissiros and arrive at the entrance to the Bay of Panormitis, on the southwest coast of Symi. An almost closed Bay where the fishing boats on dead bodies, leave very little room to get wet in the most sheltered area.
We find everything from even a stretch of sand where anchor. While the chain will scroll, a fisherman in anger challenges us in Greek with large sudden signs - it seems to say that we put our anchor where is his, While we are on starboard to his 60 metres of it, so impossible as we are its anchor! Because it continues to (probably )insult us in Greek with beautiful names of birds, We do not insist and will ask our anchor opposite the monastery where the sound of the bells rhythm our day.
Small overnight ride ashore until the mill without crossing person...
Tuesday 15 March - Ormos Pethi
The wind is and turns again! We go in Bay Pethi and throw the anchor in 7-8 m, opposite the beach. In preparation for Gale announced, We are 65 m chain. Our surprise there is a bus every hour to go to the town of Symi, but we prefer the market and markets through the narrow alleys.
At a time, Symi was renowned for its shipyards and its sponge fishermen. Carpenters still build the Caicos (fast craft long, narrow) but the island divers are more likely to the sponge fishing. It is off the coast of Cyprus that activity picked up. The city resembles a game of construction with its triangular pediment of blue houses, cream, amber or pink . There is a certain excitement around the port, traders are working to rehabilitate their grocery stores, taverns, small stalls... This isn't "the invasion of the barbarians" but the tourist invasion approaching... that agitation!
This gives us the desire to spend a few days at Wharf. But after we be filled with the police of the port which talks about formalities and procedures, then seeing goes it and comes ferries and the swell that enters the port, We change fast option. We will return in the annex do some shopping.
The next day a sunny, windless day looks, the opportunity to go in the annex in the small neighboring Bay.
A true paradise, a few umbrellas, a wharf and a sparkle to 17-18 degrees that Philippe hastens to test...
I did not have courage, I admit too cheap for me! But the small dock in the Sun makes my case.
Monday 21 March - Ormos Panormitis
The wind would change direction and we return to anchor in Panormitis facing the monastery. The gusts are strong and we remain on the boat for safety with the electronics market and alarm, anchor.
The wind calms at the end of 2 days, and before returning to the island of Kos, our next step, We explore the surrounding hills on trails lined with pine…
and the surprise of finding a flowery Valley where olive trees seem to take pleasure.
Friday 25 March - Kos, ormos Kamares
The wind turns to the Southeast for a few hours and we would like to go up to the North and the island of Kos. The Bay of Kamares is well protected from the North wind to Southwest and we get wet the long beach by 4 meters of water.
What a joy to have lived my first experience on a catamaran in the Greek Islands on Tao with Nathalie and Philippe !
Tao is a catamaran on which it is good to browse.
The cabins are spacious comfortable and convenient
My hosts are dedicated to satiate my cravings !
Philippe listens and takes pleasure to discover the most beautiful moorings
Nathalie is generosity personified : easy and happy she was able to put me at ease from the first moment. Every day its delicious dishes have allowed beautiful evenings of exchanges and sharing.
Thanks to you both and to Tao for these 2 weeks of dream