Visiting Father Michael

We met Michael in Messalonghi and D enjoyed a bike ride with him round the sights of the town. He invited us to look him up when we came to Corfu. Sadly we managed to lose the contact details - turned the boat upside down looking for the card but not to be found.

Fortunately, he sent an e-mail when we were chilling out in Lakka. We shot up to NAOK (corfu town).







His charming son Gabriel met us and took us to see St. Spiridon paraded through the streets - very spectacular. Bands, Priests, bishops, monks and half the population following a huge bier supporting most of what remains of the saint and a priest carrying his right hand in a silver casket. All very alien to us. Apparently this is not usual in Greece, but Corfu picked up the processional tradition from the Venetians.


We then took Gabriel for a short voyage to his home in Nisaki right across the bay. The village has a tiny harbour where there was just room for one yacht. Well almost - we had a run-in with as small tripper boat who thought we were outstaying our welcome. Filipos and Michael were incensed (he's not even a local) and told us to stand our ground and stay put - so we did.


We stayed there for three days meeting Michael's family, eating at the Tavernas where the children work, visting some lovely churches, villages and the monastery af Pantokrator - and talking a lot of theology and philosophy. Haven't enjoyed myself so much for years! They will be coming for a voyage in early September we hope.

We had to leave on Friday as we needed to tank up with water at Saiyadah and then to NAOK again to get the boat ready for the onslaught of children and grandchildren next week. We're going to go and hang around Paxos for a week with them so I will be taking a weeks blogging holiday.
When we pulled into the anchorage, to our surprise there was Penguin V with Phil and Maria. Had a lovely long chat about old times and recent experiences over G&Ts on cat called Nine Lives.
Next step is to set off south to see Kefalonia and Zakinthos.