Well we’re back in Greece, having delayed our flight deliberately to just miss the Greek Easter celebrations (a week later than our Easter). Unfortunately Cleopatra’s Marina is inaccessible unless you have a car, your boat is on water, or if you fancy a long walk! so with only 2 accessible tavernas and a small shop we didn’t want to run the risk of them all being closed over Easter.
The journey out here went to plan, although with 26kg of hold baggage and 2 heavy rucksacks it was a good test of stamina. I’m not sure why we had so much, perhaps it was the 2 water pumps, an angle grinder, multi saw, battery and charger, pilot books, electrical cable….
Thankfully the taxi driver was able to enter Cleopatra’s and drop us at Jacana, otherwise it would have been a struggle with our bags. Jacana looked well and once on board we peeled back the (slightly worn – a job for Ann) covers to reveal a dry albeit dusty boat and immediately off to the Panos Taverna for delicious chicken, cheese and courgette pie, home cooked chips (the best in Greece), a beer, water, bread and a complimentary dessert all for 20€.
Despite booking a month ago, the earliest lift in slot available was the 26th, 6 days away, so plenty of time to get our jobs done…..
Fit water pump, test engine for leaks, sterilise water tanks, clean hull, polish hull, grease prop, grease rudder, replace anode, repair boat cover, clean decks, inflate tender, glue in opening windscreen (it fell out just as we left the boat last autumn), repair deck caulking, antifoul, fit sails….
One thing really nice about Greece is the friendly people. On Thursday morning we took the Cleopatra’s ferry across to Preveza to buy a few essentials. As we walked past the Mermaid Taverna, it’s owner, Tasos insisted that we sit down for a chat and have a complimentary drink, and we’d only eaten with him about 4 times in the past 3 years!
Enough chatting, on with the jobs!
