38:39.70N 20:47.89E Port Atheni, Meganisi
Monday, 15th August, 2011.
We spent Sunday evening at the English Yacht Club in Nidri having dinner with new friends talking about our experiences over the last three years. We had a wonderful roast beef dinner and lovely desserts which we duly enjoyed. Next morning we had a leisurely start and said goodbye to our neighbours and off eagerly to discover new islands. A number of jelly fish started to appear so we thought it was time to head off.
Only 2 miles off of Nidri is the private island of Skorpios where Jackie Kennedy after her marriage to Aristotle Onassis spent her summers. His motor yacht Christina was often seen moored to two large buoys between Skorpios and the other island the family own of Skorpidhi. As we motored around the island we could see how the island of Skorpios has been planted as a park and we saw a farm and farm machinery which supplies fresh milk and meat. There is a generating plant and employee’s houses spread over the island. We did not stop but many boats were anchored but it is strictly a private family island and no landing on the harbour wall or beach is allowed. With the wonderful views over to Levkas, main land Greece and the mountains and down to Meganisi it is not surprising how Jackie Onassis loved the peace and quiet the island gave her. She favoured a small beach house in a cove on the south west which we passed. The day trips from Nidri run trips around the island for visitors. The island is currently owned by Athina Onassis, the granddaughter of Aristotle.
The strait between Meganisi and Levkas is the Stenon Megansisiou and it is lovely with the high slopes of Levkas and the lower more gentle slopes of Meganisi. The depths of water in the bays can sometimes be 40 or 50 metres nearly up to the beach so we have to be carefully where we anchor. We visited Spartakhori and saw what a wonderful place it was to stop with the taverna’s just a few feet from the boats. We had lunch and swam and enjoyed the afternoon sun before we motored around to Port Atheni and dropped our anchor just opposite the village quay and spent a very quiet night. Ongoing ashore the next morning we meet several English couples who told us the quay was free, internet at the bar, 1.50 large beers up in the village and water and electricity at 1.50 per night. Great so we decided to move and we were able to charge the batteries, Jim was able to get his water carriers filled and we were able to visit the super little village on the hill. While we sat in the “social club” where the youngest young member of the club must be at least 85 years old having a beer we were sheltered from the sun by the grapes growing on the vine. On our way back to Ariel we spotted the small round castle in some one’s garden. A red dragon fly landed on the rail and took a few seconds rest and then flew off. It is very beautiful and very small but just a super little place to stop. The ice-cream at the bar came covered in Greek honey and nuts, delicious.
We are approximately 8 miles from Nidri and the locals who know this area pop over for shopping or go to Lefkus town for bigger supermarket shopping.