Crete & Greek Islands

We left the Suez Canal at the end of March and after a short but cold and rough crossing we arrived in Crete. It was still bitterly cold (perhaps we have all grown soft after 2 years in the tropics!) but anywhere out of the wind the spring flowers were in bloom. After the dust and dirt of Egypt, this was a marvellous sight

We arrived a week before Easter and the celebrations were in full swing. Colourful Greek dancing in the street, and a party atmosphere, which went well with the rally mood, as for most of the participants this was the end of their rally, as they leave to cruise the Eastern Mediterranean

Once again Sue came out to join me, and we took a few days with some rally friends, to hire a car and make a tour of the island. Many of the villages in Crete, like most of the Greek Islands, are built on steep mountainsides or cliff edges. There are no roads for cars but the small streets are beautifully decorated with flowers and window boxes

Higher up, the hills are green and terraced, Crete produces some of the best olive oil in the world, along with wine, vegetables and honey, but there is still snow on the mountaintops

Probably the thing we have most enjoyed about the rally is the company of the rest of the ‘fleet’. We have made some wonderful friends and these are just some of them that we toured Crete with. John and Jenny Greenwood (Tzigane), John and Marian Morse (Saoirse K); David and Susan McKay (Stella)

One of the attractions in Crete is its ‘gorges’, created where the streams have cut deep valleys on their way to the sea. A number of them have been used for centuries as the route from the coast to the mountains and we took one of these paths for about 5 miles down out of the mountains to the South coast in spectacular scenery

We loved Crete and the time of year, before the start of the ‘tourist season’ meant that we were able to see so much without the throngs of visitors that we understand arrive in the summer. My enduring memory will be these wonderful flowery paths, winding between whitewashed stone houses

We then sailed slowly through the Greek Islands visiting as many as we had time for, all spectacular in their own way. Here, on the island of Santorini you can see the typical settlements perched precariously along the edge of the cliff. This island is part of the rim of a volcano and is thought to be the source of the legend of Atlantis

As we approached the bay of Athens we returned to some islands we have visited before with the family, on charter holidays. It was fun to re-visit but we were not prepared for the huge increase in boats since we were here last. This is the tiny harbour of Hydra taken in the middle of the day, after the charter boats had left and before the next lot arrive. In the evening the boats are moored two and three deep from the quays on both sides and the anchors are all crossed in the middle. The local divers do very well!

There are no vehicles allowed on Hydra (although the council now have a dustcart and a couple of tippers). Everything arrives by boat and is unloaded onto the town quay amongst all the visiting yachts. You can see the bow of the small freighter to the right of the picture. You can also see one of the local fishermen who arrive and set up ‘shop’ between the boats to sell their nights catch, and the other dubious attraction of the town – its thousands of cats!

It then has to be taken to where it is needed by donkey or mule. Here is some fresh stock for a general store…

..And here building supplies, block by block!

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