Greek Holiday

On the afternoon of the 13th July, Derek departed from London Gatwick Airport, while I departed from Dublin Airport. We eventually met up at Athens airport at around 9.00pm. A forty minute train journey took us into the centre of Athens and we booked into our respective hotels nearby. We ate a leisurely meal at midnight in temperatures of 30C. The next morning we caught the coach at 7.00am and a six hour journey took us to Keflada Town, on the Island of Keflada. Within twenty minutes we had caught another coach to Nidri and after a further half-an-hour, we arrived at the entrance of the boatyard, where Saracen - my boat was situated. The temperature was now over 40C and was to reach that temperature, each day, for the next three weeks. Drastic temperatures required drastic action and so we were to spend most of that afternoon, eating and drinking cold beer, while overlooking Tranquail Bay.

The next day and most mornings thereafter, we would spent doing the few jobs that Saracen required - based on the Surveyors report. Usually time was called around 12.00 when the temperature became just too hot. We followed a routine of eating lunch, going to an Internet cafe and this was followed by a few hours on Nidri beach. In the evening we usually had a more substantial meal at a quayside restaurant. Food and drink was exceptionally cheap. After walking to Nidri Town the first day (about a mile away from the boatyard), we hired some bikes and this served us well during the next three weeks.

We got to know many of the local characters, including Sarah, Kelvin, Mike, second hand Ron and George, who's restaurant boasted the best Gyros in Nidri.