Crete and good-bye

Anchorage at Dhia island near Crete

We sailed from Santorini to a tiny island called Dhia about 6 miles north of Crete.  This was the longest sail we did in Greece; about 60 or 65 miles.  It also was the best sailing of the whole summer.  Dhia island is nothing but rocks.  Not even any goats.


The next day we sailed to Ayios Nikolaos on the north side of Crete.  The wind got really strong once and the boat went way over.  I don't like going over that far.  The marina said we could not come there until the next day.  We looked at several places to anchor but it was too rough.  Finally we anchored about a mile from the marina.  

Caught a fish!

Our fine catch!

While we were anchoring I found a tiny flying fish on the deck.  We have been fishing all the time we have been sailing all summer but never caught anything except 2 plastic trash bags.  Finally!  We caught a fish!


It was less than 2 inches long, but it was the only fish we caught this summer.  


 Papa and I are flying from Crete to Athens today.  In Athens I will get on a plane going to Houston.  Papa will fly back to Crete.  So I am signing off for this summer.

Signing off for the summer

Santorini (a/k/a Thera or Thira)

Uncle Aaron and Aunt Lynn went to Santorini for their wedding anniversary.  BeBe and Damien stayed with us on the boat in Ios for those days.  When Papa, Tutu and I sailed to Santorini we did not go ashore.  We just anchored inside the caldera next to the little island in the center where the new volcanic dome is formed.

We spent the night anchored inside an active volcano!

Here are a few of the photos taken at Santorini:

The towns are on the top of the cliffs

Road -walkway from Oia town down to small dock

The new volcano dome on Kammeni in the caldera

Oia town at top; tiny village at water level

Ios

From the first spreaders

Papa gave me and BeBe the test for midshipman while we were at Ios.  Elisabeth barely passed.  She is a good sailor but is too girlie for some of the stuff we did.  I passed and am now rated Midshipman 1st Class aboard S/V BeBe.  Papa gave me a certificate saying this.


We had to tie bowline knots.  I can do it with my eyes closed, but BeBe needs to watch what she is doing.  We had to tie deck cleats (of course).  We had to know how to throw the heavy dock lines and how to secure the lines to docks on bollards and cleats.  We had to know how to tie a midshipman's knot.  Tutu said this knot is also called a double clove hitch.  We had to know how to steer the boat manually and also how to use the auto-pilot.  

At the first spreaders

Of course we had to know the difference between port and starboard and which color goes to which side.  And we had to know which boat is the give-way boat and which one is the stand-on vessel when 2 boats are approaching.  Papa didn't ask us about every possible encounter position of boats moving, but I knew the ones he asked about.  I also know to tell Papa or Tutu anytime I see another boat approaching when we are sailing.


It was not on the test, but I also know how to follow a course on the electronic charts.  And how to identify AIS targets and find out if we are on a collision course or not.  

Here feet are barely off the deck!!!

Tutu said part of passing any midshipman test should be going up the mast at least to the first spreaders.  So I did that too.  It is really high up there!  I got a little scared after awhile up there, but now I want to go all the way up to the top next time.  Or maybe at least to the second spreaders.  I took a photo looking down at the deck.


BeBe was scared of going up the mast.  Tutu said she had to get in the bosun seat and go at least 3 feet up.  She barely made that.  She did not get rated 1st Class, but she did get a basic Midshipman certificate.  I don't know why she was so scared sitting in the bosun seat.  Her feet were barely off the deck.  

BeBe's 10th birthday

BeBe's 10th birthday in Ios, Greece

BeBe had her tenth birthday the day before she and her parents left.  

Church in background

Restaurant church in Ios

That night Papa and Tutu and I went out to eat dinner for our last night in Ios.  Tutu let me pick the place to eat.  I found a restaurant built next to a tiny church that was half underground.  The dinner was pretty good, but what was best was the desert!  I had Oreo crepes and they were delicious!  Papa said the crepes were big enough to feed 4 people.   He ate 4 bites and I ate all the rest.  Tutu doesn't eat Oreos so she didn't want any.  Good.  More for me!

Half underground church at restaurant

Naxos

Another Temple of Apollo; this one at Naxos

On Saturday July 30 we sailed to Naxos.  Yippee!!! Mexican food!  Tutu and Papa said their friends from Texas had eaten Mexican food at a restaurant in Naxos and said it was good.  We all wanted some Mexican food.


After many days of sitting around. Bebe and Bebe's parents went with me to the beach. Also while we were at the beach I found a starfish , some small crabs that hid in the sand. Finally we also went to the Temple of Apollo. 

Boat races at the beach

Several days later we took a decent sail to Vathi Bay. While at Vathi Bebe and I went to the beach a lot and we also went to the main town once and bought Tutu 1 vase. 

Competing boats

Also, while we were at Vathi Bay we built some sailboats out of styrofoam and other junk.  Then we went to the beach and raced them.  Mine won one of the races.

Sailing to Ios

Sleeping while sailing

When we left Vathi there were mammoth sized waves so I chose to go to sleep. 




While at Ios we had some of the best gryos since we got to Greece, and while we were here Bebe and Bebe's parents left to go back home. Ever since they left things have been a lot more calm. 


We have a very bad Internet connection.  I will upload photos and more stuff later.

19 - 27 Hello Bebe's Parents

On the 19th of July we went to the beach had lunch played on our DS some, and had a good time.


Then we had a late dinner watched Horatio Hornblower and went to bed.  Every night I read a lot before going to sleep.


 
On the 20th of July we headed to Syros for the 2nd time. While at Syros we took  a walk. Then after a short walk we went back to the boat then had dinner and watch M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 21st of July we sat around most of the day. Although we did take a walk around. Then after the walk we headed back to the boat had a good dinner then watched M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 22nd of July we sat around again, but when we went out for dinner we went to the giant hot dog place, and the man there was drunk. What surprised me the most though was that he was able to make french fries in hot oil and cooked hot dogs with no injury of an kind and the hot dog was pretty good.  He wanted to give Papa a free beer but Papa wouldn't take it.  He also wanted to give BeBe and me free ice cream but Tutu said no.  We walked to another place and bought ice cream treats.  Tutu said she was tired of the drunk man.


After all of that we went back to the boat watched M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 23rd we went to Mykonos so we could pick Bebe's parents off of a ferry. when we arrived we ate dinner and just went to bed.  The wind was blowing strong and Papa had a hard time docking the boat.  No one came to help us with the dock lines.


On the 24th of July at 1:05 we met Bebe's parents and the baby.  They came on a ferry.  We all had a good conversation; had dinner and played with the baby; and then went to bed.

On the 25th of July we took a long trip to the town on a bus to find groceries and look around. We never found the grocery store.


 
While I was there I bought a hat and a bracelet that had a symbol on it that meant long life. I also bought some turquoise earrings as a gift for someone. 




We found a place to eat gyros and ice cream.  We walked up a hill to some very old windmills.  

Then we walked all the way back to the bus stop to go home.  Then when we got back from the trip we had dinner and went to bed.

 



On the 26th of July we took a ferry to a sacred island called Delos. When we arrived I thought about going to the ancient amphitheater, and on the way up there we saw the home of the God of the Vine and we saw the home of the God of the Trident.   The mosaic tiles were still on the floors after 2500 years. 







   

After that Bebe's dad and I went  cross - country and then came back down to go to the museum.   We went around the museum, then Bebe's dad and I went up the steepest mountain I had ever climbed, and the mountain old stone stairs made it even harder for me to do it. In the end I made it to the top and I made it to the bottom. Then we went back to a ferry and went back to the boat and ate dinner then went to bed.  I liked being back at this dock because we had electricity and could have air-conditioning and watch as much TV and play on the computers as much as we liked.


On the 27th of July we went back to Syros for the 3rd time. When we were secure to the dock we went to get a little bit of groceries and some drinks. When we stopped to drink Bebe's mom gave her baby some tea and the baby drank it all then cried because he couldn't have anymore. He cried for three blocks and until we got to the boat. After that Tutu made dinner and we then ate dinner then went to bed.

15 - 18th July Rider !!!

1st time getting on Rider

On the 15th of July we sailed really quickly to Kythnos. When we got to Kythnos we sat around and played DS for awhile. Then things started happening. First the wind got a little breezier. Then we got in the dingy, and in the end people started crying (not me).

Just getting started

After the wind died down we got in the dingy and took the float named Rider with us. We then tied Rider to a long rope on the dingy.

And away we go!!!

After that Bebe got on Rider and Papa started towing her around slowly on Rider. Then I got on and I zoomed around extremely quickly, and made a giant wake.



After all of that fun we went in and ate dinner, watched movies and M.A.S.H. then went to bed.

Really fun!  Going fast in giant wake!

On the 16th of July we went to the beach, made sand castles and tried to kill fish. Then we went back to the boat, and had lunch. Then we played DS some and then ate dinner, did the usual night time stuff and went to bed.  I slept in the cockpit and looked at all the stars.



On the 17th of July we went to the beach and only tried to kill fish. Then we went back had lunch and talked to each other. Then we went and had a really fun time on Rider. BeBe went a little faster this time and did not cry when Papa went too fast.  Tutu finally found her swimsuit and she went swimming with us off the boat.  She cleaned the water line on the boat while Papa pulled us on Rider.  We then had dinner, watched Horatio Hornblower, read our books and went to bed.

On the 18th of July we went to the beach and did the same thing as yesterday. Then went back to the boat. While I was on the boat I zoned out for 45 min then shortly after went had a really fun time on Rider again.  Tutu went swimming with us again off the boat.  Then we had dinner, watched the final episode of Horatio Hornblower and went to bed.  I slept in the cockpit again.  BeBe and I took turns sleeping in the cockpit while we were anchored at Kythnos.  Tutu would not let us both sleep in the cockpit at the same time.  There were even more stars this night.  Tutu fell asleep in the cockpit with me, but she later went to her own bed.  I like sleeping in the cockpit.

Most fun ever!!!!

7 July - 14 July 2011

Town of Hermoupoulis on island of Syros

On the 7th, We took a long bus ride to town, and on the way there we meet some singers from Oklahoma on tour. When we got there in a town called Hermoupoulis we walked around and found a place on the waterfront that sold pizza.  Tutu said," We could eat pizza here after we buy Bebe some earrings and a couple charms." 

Hermoupoulis town

After we bought Bebe some charms and earrings, we walked back to the waterfront and ate pizza and some spaghetti.  Then we walked and ate some ice cream.  Then we went home, ate dinner and went to bed.

Lunch on the waterfront--BIG FERRY!!

On the 8th, 9th, and 10th we took walks.  We saw Marvin and Bob (who were the biggest fish in the Marina waters).  I quacked "Aflac" to the ducks at the Marina.  On the 10th I quacked "Aflac" to a duck and the duck started quacking back at me and we all laughed.

Playing computer games

In all of our spare time on these days we played DS or computers since we were at a dock and had electricity.  We also watched movies.

Waterfront at Hermoupoulis

In the big town of Hermoupoulis I noticed that there were a lot of motorcycles.  I think this is because gasoline is so expensive here in Greece.  It costs about 4 times as much as it does back home in Texas.  So lots of people ride motorcycles instead of driving cars that use more gasoline.

Near Ano Syros village 

On the 11th we rented a car for a day and went to the town to find two churches named ST. Michel's and ST. George's. ST. George's was in a mountain village named Ano Syros.  It was a long way up on the mountain.  This village was settled by people who fled the big town by the sea when Arab pirates attacked them hundreds of years ago.  They could not defend themselves against so many well-armed pirates, so they moved way up in the mountains and built a village with a very thick wall all around it.  

Narrow streets at Ano Syros

Thousands of stone steps

There were 7 huge arched doorways in the wall around the village.  There were heavy doors in these doorways.  They locked the doors at night for security.  Today there are 2 of those doorways left.  We couldn't find either one.   Later, Tutu found one when we stopped to buy some water to drink.  One of those doorways was right next to the store where we stopped.  We saved ourselves a lot of step-climbing because we didn't see this doorway at first.  And we took the car farther up the mountain and entered the village higher up.  

Inside St. George's Cathedral

The village does not have regular streets.  There are no cars or motorcycles here.  There are very narrow alleys all through the village.  And thousands of stone steps to climb up and down.  The church was located on the very top of the mountain.  It is the only Roman Catholic church here.  All the other churches are Greek Orthodox.   I don't really know the difference and don't really care.

Praying in St. George's

Lighting candle

While at ST.George's Catholic church Papa lit a candle.




I pretended to pray.  The inside of the church was pretty. 

Water spigot in St. George's courtyard

Outside there was a water drinking spigot.  The view way down over the town was pretty.

View from St. George's courtyard

On the way back Tutu and Elisabeth went a different way.  Eventually we all met up again at the entrance near where our car was parked.  

Tiny ST. Michel's

Grape arbor at restaurant

While at ST. Michel's settlement we visited the little church and then we went a restaurant.  We waited in a grape arbor while we waiting for the restaurant to open.   There were lots of loud crickets all around us.  Tutu and Papa had traditional Greek  pork dishes and those tasted really good.  My pork chops were all bones and overcooked and dry.  But we all had enough to eat.

walking through San Michalis settlement

 Then we went shopping and went back to the boat, ate dinner, watched a movie, read our books and went to bed.

On our long walk

On the 12th Papa and I went to the top of a tall mountain, and saw a huge building being built. On the way down I picked up what looked like a good rock that could skip on the water. When I saw a good place, I threw the rock. When I threw the rock it hit a metal part of a dingy and brook to pieces.


After awhile we ate dinner and went to bed.  I read each night before we go so sleep.


On the 13th we took a walk and saw Marvin and Bob and the Aflac ducks.  We had a good lunch, ate a dinner; and then went to go get ice cream. After that we read and went to bed.


On  the 14th we bought a float that we could ride on while Papa was driving the dingy. We named the float Rider. We cannot play with Rider until we go somewhere else.

Pull-ups

About a week after I arrived I started doing a pull-up (or trying to do a pull-up) every time I went up or down the companionway.  At first I could not do one full pull-up correctly.  My dad tried to do a pull-up and the whole boat creaked.  My cousin tried to do a pull-up and she can't budge herself upward.  But then she is just a girl and not strong like me.  She does a "hang-up" rather than a pull-up.  


Papa said that if I tried to do one pull-up every time I went down the companionway then I should be able to do 5 pull-up by the time I go home.  


Already I can do 2 pull-ups correctly.


Making progress!