Samos to Lipsi (2 - 9 August)
09 August 2018
We have had some issues with internet connection, hence we have not updated our blog for a few days. We are using a local Sim card (Cosmote, the local Greek provider). To update your data you purchase a voucher, log onto the net and follow the instructions - simple if it works! But the website comes up with an error message and will not function. We have moved the Sim into a different device but still no luck, we emailed their help site and received no reply. Tried purchasing credit on their web site – Can’t do. Today we cannot even get the webpage to open. Perhaps Cosmote has realised that there is a problem and attempting to repair it – we can only hope. This has been an exercise in frustration and would appear to be a wasted €30. We wonder if Greece has a telecommunications ombudsman!
Pithagorion (2 – 4 August)
We returned to the harbour at Pithagorion to pick up our batteries. These arrived on Friday as promised. Despite our reservations on how all this would go; the correct batteries arrived and were installed on board shortly after. At about 48 kg each the assistance of the guy who sold them to us was appreciated! We now have batteries that retain their charge throughout the night and the solar panels can effectively do their thing!
On Friday we hired a car to do a bit of a tour of the island. Samos is quite a large island and very green (compared to most islands here) and mountainous. There are many small hilltop villages on the island reached by very narrow winding roads. The villages are very old and must have been extremely isolated before the current roads were built. The views from these hilltops are magnificent. One of the villages, Manolates, has numerous artists and craft shops, selling local produce, jewellery and pottery, including the very odd Pythagoras mug. The mug was supposedly designed by Pythagoras to ensure equal sharing of wine, the mug is filled up to a line, if it is filled beyond this level all the contents drain out. An interesting application of physics!
Arki (5 August)
We sailed back to Arki on the way to Patmos. The sail from Samos across to Arki island was done in perfect sailing conditions, a nice breeze and almost flat seas. It was almost a shame to get there. We anchored in a very pretty little bay just around from the main harbour of the island. A great place to chill out for the rest of the day.
Patmos (6 -8 August)
Patmos is just 10 nautical miles from Arki and just over one hours sail as we averaged about 7 knots. Our first night here was anchored out in a pretty bay. There were just a few yachts and a taverna ashore although we decided that we would cook on the boat.
The next day we went into the harbour of Patmos. It is very busy but we were lucky that we could find a space, as the weather forecast was for very gusty winds for the next two nights. The yacht section of the harbour is not particularly attractive as we looked out to the islands power station and an expanse of concrete. The town consists of whitewashed houses in narrow winding streets which was fun to explore. For our first night we dined in a little taverna in the back streets, away from the harbour. The meal of slow cooked pork and a rocket salad washed down with rose was fantastic.
For our second day we caught a taxi to the Hora at the top of the hill, which has a monastery dedicated to St John, who apparently wrote the book of Revelations in a cave nearby. The monastery, which is still in use today, is more like a fort and was built in the 1100’s. The chapel is decorated with amazing very old frescos and a museum contains some very old artwork and manuscripts. It was incredible to see books printed in the 5th century still intact and legible (if you can read Greek).
The view from Hora was amazing, you could see all of the harbour and most of Patmos island – see the photo above. Also, at Hora were three windmills for milling grain. These had been in continuous operation for about 400 years until the 1950’s. They have recently been restored and are again fully functional. We have included photos in the gallery.
Lipsi (9 August)
Today we are in Lipsi as we head back to Leros to collect Nerida’s cousin Caroline and her husband Darren who are going to spend the next couple of weeks with us.