Port Leone

Gillyb
Sat 7 Jul 2012 10:43

 
Position:  38:35.97N 20:53.26E
 
11th June
 
We had a few days on Meganisi then decided to go back to Port Leone.   We had last been there with Kay anf before that with Caterine, Bill & James and Duncan, Mel and Immy.
 
This time we had a good sail towards Kastos tacking and doing MOB drill as we have not done any proper sailing for ages!   We motored into Port Leone past the derelict windmill and dropped the anchor on the east side, tying ropes back to the rocks ashore.
 
The first thing that struck us was that the church was all finished on the outside and looked all newly painted and smart roof tiles.  You might remember that this village was affected by the earthquake of 1953 and the villagers all left but the church is still maintained.   Last time I was with Kay when we were able to go inside and see the workman re doing all the tiles and painting walls etc.
 
The second thing that we noticed was all the rubbish!   There was so much more rubbish on all the little beaches around the bay.   At the back of the boat we had so much that Graham went ashore and collected one full sack of bits of string, fishing wire, and loads of plastic bags.   Its a shame but we don't think it was yachtsmen - mostly fishing rubbish.   I guess they have nowhere to put it and dump bags ashore.
 
Later more boats arrived and one boat next to us was not very good at anchoring and securing to shore so Graham went off in the tender to help with ropes and their boat ended up very close to us.    As the wind got up we were not very happy as we were being blown towards shore so we moved and free anchored on the far (West) shore.   It was not very busy - only about six boats there in total overnight.   We enjoyed the swimming and a BBQ of pork chops
 
Next morning we rowed the tender to the shore and walked up to the village.   The church was looking very smart and the workman that I had seen last year was painting the bell tower.   I spoke to him (his english is limited) but he was very happy to show us inside the church.   The tiled floor was all finished and the wooden screens all repaired and re hung.   The walls are all painted white and he had chairs all piled ready but he was saying something in Greek about the side walls which I didn't understand but perhaps there is more decorating to do. We shook hands with him, put our shoes back on and went down past the cemetery.
 
In the village there has been more clearing done and there was a notice near the jetty saying to keep it clear as the Pilgrims were visiting 1st July and 15th August.   Perhaps they pay towards the upkeep of the church and are coming to see it all finished.
 
After visiting the church we left and got back to the boat ready to go.   At the back of the boat we noticed a large blue fish with prominent fin swimming lazily on the surface.  Graham got the binoculars and decided it was a sword fish.   Very beautiful colour and it swam around quietly for several minutes.   We pulled up the anchor and followed the fish out of the bay where it disappeared into the deeps.
 
Bye for now.
 
Best Wishes    Gilly B

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