Sticks and Stones

Before we left Monemvasia we were visited by a turtle. I would imagine he / she was a good age going by its size.

Turtle swimming past boat in the harbour. Final view of climb up to St Sophia Church

We arrived in Lerakas around lunchtime

Well, Well, Well. We didn’t think there were any places like this left in Greece. Lerakas was beautiful. When we arrived we anchored in the bay at the entrance in about 10 metres.

Initial anchorage

However, after a few hours it started clouding over and got thundery so we moved further in and went stern too the harbour wall just in case the weather kicked off. A Swedish woman , who’s boat Gordon had kept an eye on in Pilos, brought us over a rum cocktail. He hadn’t even recognised them !

Bliss, because next to the harbour wall was a swimming area with steps down into the water, it was like your own private swimming pool with the added bonus of a shower. (Ed note: and wasps)

Pier berth and the “swimming pool”

The village was tiny, it consisted of three tavernas and seemingly a small shop, we never found the shop, I’m sure the pilot book has that wrong. There was a vegetable van came round playing loud music just to let you know he was there. Further round a small hotel and a further taverna but it is as if the whole place has been hidden away, practically untouched by tourism, heaven!

Our evening stroll the 1st night

We spent two days here, our first night was rudely interrupted at one in the morning by some teenagers mucking around on the harbour wall and thought it would be a laugh to throw chuckies at the boat. A bit of a shock in such a tiny wee place, but probably that’s the most exciting thing that teenagers can get up to there. (Ed note: probably cannie get glue to sniff – as no small shop, eh?)

Annoying, but it didn’t put us off staying another night. The locals were going to ensure the head man of the village was on the case , they were appalled.

Both nights we wandered along to the third Taverna for a small refreshment and some of the freshly caught calamari and whitebait. The best time was just before the sun went down, it was so peaceful other than the wasps which don’t head back to their nests till after sunset. Needless to say my Ouzo and glass took flight after it seemed every wasp in the place was after me. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to them? (Ed note: NAW!)

The morning before we left we had a wander up around the wee village. Great views of the harbour. In the old days they used to place a chain across the entrance to keep out attacking ships.