Tuesday 6^th July – Finakounda, Peloponnese – Methóni, Peloponnese

36:48.917N 21:42.537E

This morning we went over to Nisís Sapiéntza early to have breakfast off this small isolated island off the coast.  The water in the bay was so clear I could see the anchor setting in 6m water a couple of boat lengths away!

This island is a designated preserve of the native Kri-Kri (wild goat), some of whom we met in Samaria Gorge, although we have read since that there is a Kri-Kri hunting season here on the island, so we are unsure what the story is here.

All went well over breakfast, we had a fabulous spot just off a tiny beach with a surrounding early morning mist and a desert island; then, about half an hour later, a rib arrived and we were disappointed that they hadn’t gone further down the coast given that there was plenty of space.  Well, they were clearly a professional beach couple with sun shade, towels, cool box, and a poodle, but in their haste they seem to have forgotten their clothes J.  Turned out they were a naturist couple who had found a quiet beach not frequented by tourists and were using it as their holiday beach.

A little later, we went ashore, said hello, and went for a walk up the hillside through the bushes to look for Kri-Kri.  Richard was walking ahead and came upon a Kri-Kri grazing in a small opening.  He called for me to join him but by the time I arrived, it had scurried off into the bushes and all I heard was it barging through the undergrowth, bah.

We came back to Pyxis as the heat built and went for a swim to cool off – it was beautiful.  Later we motored on to Methóni and anchored off this small town.  The harbour is dominated by the large Venetian fort and the Turkish tower on the end of Ák Soukouli.  I relaxed with a book this afternoon (having decided not to tackle another Venetian fort – though it turned out to be an ancient castle and closed at 15.00 in the afternoon – saved myself a walk).

This evening we went ashore to a taverna recommended in one of the guides we have and it was a good one.  Although the name was not something to recommend it to sailing folk, being ‘To Meltemi’, the food was really delicious and the prices equally good.  I had a fish slouvaki and it was excellent, and Richard finally had moussaka.

Finakounda

Nisís Sapiéntza

Methóni

© Pyxis 2010