Sailing Calista14 August 2023 – 21 August 2023
Leaving Pythagorion Port we sailed over to Agathonisi Island and anchored in the same bay we had anchored in last season. It was pretty gusty and with the anchor in a good sandy patch, the anchor held well.
With practically no internet reception we decided to go ashore in the kayak and walk up to the top to get some reception so we could check the weather update on windy.
The pathway has been finished and seats were erected at various stages along the pathway. Instead of being under a tree, the seats were out in the full sun.
It was sweltering and it was tough going. I had forgotten how far it was to the top where the main road was. As least it got us off the boat for some exercise.
Paul got the sailrite out and started to design and sew up a canvas bag for our yellow floating lines that we had recently purchased in Pythagorion Port. We thought the bags could be stowed in the lazarette and bought out when required. With buckles the bags can be attached to the stainless safety rails.
While Paul was happily sewing, I was sorting out photos for the blog. We kept busy pottering around with odd jobs, and it was nice to relax and take it easy while being in such a beautiful bay.
After two days, we left the anchorage shortly after breakfast and sailed over to Lipsi Island. We had a lovely sail and arrived into the busy anchorage of Kauloura Bay and dropped anchor out the back behind all the other yachts.
Out further in the anchorage there were some beautiful yellow cliffs. The colour looked rather striking against the blue of the sky and water.
After lunch we went for a kayak around the bay then later on in the evening, Paul took the rubbish to shore.
The rubbish skips were about 100m up the hill from the beach.
The next day after lunch we lifted anchor to head over to Patmos Island which was fairly close by.
There was very little wind so we motored around the next couple of bays and into Lipsi Harbour for a look around before continuing on over to Patmos Island.
Upon arrival at Patmos we anchored in Paralia Kampos in the Northeast corner of the island just out from the beach and beach bars. Once we were sure the anchor was holding, we went for abit of a paddle around the anchorage in the kayak.
The following morning we went ashore in the kayak and stopped for a coffee and orange juice at “Sea n Sun” . When we had finished we asked the owner of the Taverna to call a taxi to take us up to the Chora (Old Town).
We didn’t have too long to wait for the taxi to arrive. It cost us 28.00 euro for the trip, and I am sure we got ripped off, but the ride got us to where we wanted to go and certainly saved us a long walk.
The views from the Chora were amazing though it was quite hazy.
There were a few touristy shops along the narrow alleyway on the way to the main doors of the Monastery.
Looking down onto the main Port of Patmos,
The Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, a Greek Orthodox Monastery was founded in 1088 and named after St John of Patmos. He was the author of the Christian “Book of Revelation”.
The inner courtyard of the Monastery was quite impressive with its stone archways
From the Castle looking down onto the three windmills of Patmos.
When we had finished looking around the Castle, we wandered around the narrow alleyways of the Chora.
All the buildings were well maintained.
Another lovely courtyard outside the church below the Monastery
From the windmills it was a lovely view back to the Monastery perched high above the Chora.
Two of the windmills were built in 1588, the third one in 1863. In the 1950’s the production of floor stopped and the windmills abandoned. In 2010 they were restored.
As we had missed the 1.00 bus down to the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse, we decided we would walk down to the Cave as it didn’t seem too far.
The cave became a place of refuge for St John when he received visions of the final days of Earth, witnessing destruction of the old Earth and creation of the New Earth as the Holy City of Jerusalem came down from heaven. No photos were allowed of the Cave but it did look pretty impressive.
After visiting the cave, we continued walking the rest of the way down into the Port. It was about 5km from the top back down to the Port in 28 degrees of full sun, so we were looking forward to a drink when we got all the way back down to the bottom.
Just one of the many houses that you see where they have left some of the original stonework exposed.
On the waterfront we found a taverna and ordered a couple of white wines and rested our weary legs.
After our wine, we caught a taxi back to the anchorage and called back into the Sea n Sun Taverna where we had earlier had a coffee. We ordered some lunch while keeping an eye of Calista.
We enjoyed a salmon salad, as well some shrimps and grilled vegetables. A bottle of Sauvignon blanc complimented the delicious dishes.
It was a lovely still night in the anchorage.
The next day we decided to return back to Lipsi. The sea was quite rolly and not much wind, so we motored back across. We anchored this time, in the western side of the wide bay to the north of the Port.
We dingied the short distance into the Port and on our way around past the Taverna’s we spotted a pretty pink fishing boat. Maybe it is owned by a woman or just decoration as part of the Taverna’s colour scheme?
We left the dingy tied amongst some of the small fishing boats and wandered around the small town.
There was plenty of squid drying in the full sun but the wasps were hovering over them.
In the upper part of town we had a table on the verandah at the restaurant, Manolis Tastes. We were early and got good quick service. The meals were a little disappointing despite all the great reviews. By the time we were leaving, the lower tables were filling up with the locals.
The next morning we dingied into the Port again and went to the bakery and bought some pastries for lunch. When we got back to Calista, we secured the dingy on the davits and left the anchorage to head on down to Leros Island.
