The Sporades means scattered or sown. The northern Sporades curve in a sickle shape from the southern corner of the Trikeri peninsula, that we’ve just come from, up to the tiny sea-washed rock of Psathoura.
Today we are heading to probably the best known of these islands, Skiathos, 39 miles to the north east.
Unfortunately the wind is bang on the nose for the longest leg today but we want to get there to prepare the boat & provision for Diane coming so it’s going to be of a motor job for at least part of the way Not that I’m whining – I’ll leave that to the shaft.
We arrived at 14:30 and anchored in the bay (Ormos Siferi) just around the corner from Skiathos town. It’s no longer permitted to anchor in the bay just south of the airport runway, not that you would really want to with the amount of large ferry traffic around.
Ormos Siferi middle left
Airphoto from the Greek Pilot book – more ferries than that now !
It’s not an ideal spot but the only real viable option available. One of the sailing downsides of Skiathos are the limited number of possibilities for anchoring but there are a number of boats nearby similarly placed and it’s relatively calm weather. So all good.
Leaving the dinghy on the beach you can then take the bus to town or just walk in.
Having cleaned the boat & stocked up the night before Diane arrived we wandered into town to explore.
We have always wanted to visit Skiathos and although we imagined it would be quite touristy we were looking forward to it. The town itself was far busier than what we have become used to but I can easily see why you would choose it for a two week holiday. Lots of tavernas, some high quality restaurants by the looks, loads of bars and generally a party town atmosphere.
By chance we stumbled on a proper Indian restaurant – so sheer bliss for us that night and you could watch the planes arrive on their low level approach out in the bay into the bargain.
Diane duly arrived and we spent the next couple of days chilling during the day & visiting the town at night.
