Karistos - Island of Evia

Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Sat 9 May 2009 17:11
38:00.7N 24:25.0E

Saturday 9th May
Straightforward crossing to Karistos which is on the southern end of the
large island of Evia.

Pilot book and the GPS charts all very much out of date as this little town
has clearly done a lot of work to improve its harbour and quays. So much
room indeed that we joined the other boats here in mooring alongside which
is almost unheard of out here!

Wonderful little town and certainly one of the nicest places we have stayed
for a while, with a great selection of tavernas, mini markets, shops and no
less than three hardware shops. (real treasure troves....try to picture the
ironmonger's shop sketch from the two Ronnies....) Lots of space, no traffic
and come to think of it, very few people! Having said that, we were
accosted almost immediately by an English couple who live and work in Athens
who were on the island for the day looking for somewhere to keep their boat
(as yet un-purchased) and we joined them in a cafe for a few coffees and a
long chat. They had to get on and we needed some lunch, so we returned to
Serafina and were immediately approached by three ladies on holiday from
Australia and New Zealand!

Depending on the weather, we will either set off tomorrow for a 70 mile trip
to Nisos Psara, a small island in the Eastern Sporades at 6.00am for a long
day sail or 6.00pm and travel overnight for a daylight approach.

Footnote about the Corinth Canal:
Thought I should just give a swift history of this impressive feature. The
concept was first dreamt up in the 7th century BC, but the whole undertaking
was too daunting and so they built a paved slipway across the Isthmus of
Corinth and dragged small ships across it on rollers! Alexander the Great
and Caligula both considered the idea of a canal, but it was actually Nero
who began the digging, wielding the first blow himself with a golden pickaxe
and then letting 6000 Jewish prisoners do the hard work. However the whole
thing was brought to a halt by invasions by the Gauls. The canal was finally
completed in the 19th century (1883 - 93) by a French engineering company!
It has been cut through solid Limestone (which gives the water a very milky
colour), is 6 km long, 23 metres wide and the sides rise a staggering 90
metres vertically up from the water's edge.