39:05.86N 26:33.83E

We found a space with ease this time in Mitilini on the island of Lesvos.  Filled the water tanks, provisioned for the week and then decided the time had come for our first Ouzo.  The guidebook said that we should go to an ‘Ouzeris’ for the full experience which included a variety of dishes to nibble while enjoying the drinks.  The recommendation for Mitilini was a bar we had noticed the week before as being very busy serving locals so that seemed to tick all the boxes.  And it did.  The Ouzo with lots of ice and a slug of water was tasty for the experience but we won’t be buying a bottle as full-on aniseed is a bit weird with a meal which is how everyone seemed to be drinking it.  The food was fabulous.  We were expecting small portions as they were described as ‘snacks’, but they were huge so we, literally, made a meal of it.  The Octopus braised in red wine was particularly stunning and delicious with stuffed courgette flowers.

Early to bed ready for Sue and Charles arrival on the 7am ferry from Athens.  It is always fun to watch these huge boats negotiate their way in to tiny harbours........

....taking pictures of Sue and Charles on the ship (they are on the balcony just under the left hand end of the lifeboat) .........

.....taking pictures of us.

We had breakfast, headed to the greengrocers, butchers and bakers for fresh rations then set sail and anchored in a very lovely inland ‘sea’ that was probably the crater of a volcano originally.  Nothing for it then but to have a Martini.

We sailed to the southwest point of Lesvos and anchored in a small village called Sigri where we had one of the most surreal conversations of our travels.  We went ashore to explore, have a beer and see if we could persuade the taverna to give us some ice.  The owner was apparently out of the village for an hour so the chap minding the shop gave us a beer and said he would ask about the ice.  The owner shortly re-appears and, normally enough, asks us where we are from.  ‘England’ we chorus ready to make the usual small talk about which part of England and the weather.  We are always ready to discuss the World Cup and occasionally go off-piste with a chat about food or what there is to see in London.  Not this time...... “England....  You came last in the Eurovision Song Contest”. 

None of us had seen it; we had no idea we were last and not a clue what the song was.  This guy was a real expert and more than happy to fill us in on all the detail of our performances over the last few years.  Fortunately he was more than happy to provide a large bag of ice as well.

So back to Tashi Delek to get ready for a 4am start and our 12 hour sail to Limnos.