PREVESA

Our impressions of Prevesa were not good from the moment we first entered the port. It is usual to berth stern-to or at worst bow-to ( in difficult situations). Here we noticed all the boats were moored alongside both on the quay and in the marina. Our approach was not well timed and that in addition to my clumsiness left me falling over onto the wharf and nearby coffee drinkers rushing to help us. We eventually tied up safely and then settled down to 3 days of peace love and quiet, NOT!

Every port has its plusses and minuses. Preveza has the 'volta', a tradition of strolling up and down the esplanade for hour upon hour in the evening, occasionally taking a break to eat ice creams or eat dinner at one of the many tavernas lining the quay.

This was all terrific until we decided to go to bed at about 10 or 10.30.  This must have been a signal to the many bars to increase the music (heavy rock) to earsplitting levels which continued till dawn. If wasn't for the injury we would have left the next morning!

Aubergine and fetta with Greek salad

In site of the setbacks, it was still pleasant wandering through the backstreets, dining at small traditional tavernas and just watching the world go by.

This tree trunk was entirely covered in staples and bits of old posters

We continued our saga with the port authority and registered our transit log for the first time. We discovered that our original instructions at Igoumenitsa were not quite correct and experienced the annoyance of the officials. Apparently the govt was doing a thorough passport check and ours had to be approved again by the police.

The customs official also warned us about the 'Greek Reciprocal Tax', which sounded rather frightening. We'll face that obstacle when it happens.




 
Our exit from the port was exemplary and we headed across the bay the 8 miles to Lefkas.

PARGA

We left Syvota early in the morning and travelled the 15 miles to Parga.

First impressions were of a bay with typical umbrella-covered beaches with many houses dotted across the hillside and a few tavernas along the beach. We anchored in the bay and tolerated the wave surge during the afternoon from the fast ferries and the speedboats towing inflated tourist covered rafts. In the evening, the swell from the bay gently rocked the boat.

Next morning we moved the boat to calmer waters inside the old quay. At first, there were only 3 boats and by early evening the number swelled to 24, most being from the Nielsen and Tip Top sailing flotillas. Once again we experienced problems with anchors overlapping anchors especially when the wind is not helpful!

We ventured around the corner of the bay by small ferry and found the main town of Parga, a tourist town that reminded us a bit of Bali, (including the smell!). Lots of tourists, trinket shops, bars and tavernas in every alleyway.

Happily, we returned to the peace and calm of the bay and our boat.

SYVOTA

Slow living at it's best. Somehow life became even simpler once we reached Syvota. Unlike many small ports, Syvota had excellent moorings right up against he town quay. Not only did we NOT have to walk more than 2 mins to get supplies, visit the local ice creamery etc, but also the taverna delivered coffees to the boat 6 metres away.

 And, every day the diesel truck came by and personally delivered fuel!

The town appears to have dedicated itself to pleasing visitors, both those on boats and the many who seem to descend on the town after dusk. Roads are beautifully paved, there is no rubbish to be seen and everyone seems happy.

We loved being in Syvota and found excuses to stay the extra 3 days. Nighttime was amazing. Hundreds of tourists emerged from who knows where and strolled (doing the Volta) up and down the paved promenade. As usual, we petered out by about 10pm and this was just when the action seem to start. Tucked up in our boat we enjoyed sitting, watching the world go by until late in the evening.