Dlymn, many thanks.
Yes, the
Ionian is special in many ways. I first visited Corfu as a boy in 1976. First it was Roda, then we stayed in Benitses in 1978 and 1980. The last time I was in Corfu was around 10 years later when I arrived in Corfu Town
crewing on a Schooner and was given a rare half-day off. I rented a moped and set off for Benitses for old time's sake. Well, I passed through without recognising it. It was only when I saw the 'crossed out' Benitses sign that I turned back and had one of those 'you can never go back' moments. It was literally unrecognisable. To hear it now has an unfinished marina now takes some adjusting to. Then, to look at, it was just a small pebble beach with a few old buildings set back on the other side of the road.
From Benitses we had a boat trip to Kavos when the only way of getting to Kavos was by boat. There was no road there and no buildings, just three or four temporary shacks set up on the beach. There was also no jetty or pontoon - the only way between boat and beach was to wade through the
water. Now I have seen that awful programme, 'Kavos', showing the awful drunken antics, vomiting in the street and the like, of young Brits staying there and even a hospital in Kavos to deal with them.
I now have a small house near Stoupa, on the Mani peninsular. They say the Mani is like Greece used to be 20-30 years ago. Certainly, it doesn't feel that different to me - apart from more cars, correspondingly fewer donkeys, and far higher prices. You won't find a 'club',
music bar or any nightlife at all other than occasional live 'Greek night' put on by one of the tavernas. The tourists are mostly middle to old-aged, who have probably been visiting Greece for as long as I have, and it is all very laid back. There are also some younger Greeks from Kalamata and Athens in Summer so we get the benefit of a tiny 'gyros pitta' establishment to satisfy their needs.
I love it here, as I first loved Roda in Corfu almost 40 years ago, but on a hot day like today, when the sea is blue, the clearly visible opposite peninsular, with its unvisited
ports and coves, is beckoning me to sail again. Hence the boat
purchase. From here, over two weeks, I could also have a gentle roundtrip of the Southern Ionian.
It is not an established sailing area, only one yacht owner locally I have found, and there is so little information on the
internet about sailing or keeping a sailing boat here. So I need to post these questions!
1500 Euros for a marina is not out of the question but it is the absolute limit of what I am prepared to pay. I think it would be cheaper to 1) pay for a local harbour to be dredged for my spot, 2) lay a new sound
mooring there and 3) pay someone locally with boat skills an annual fee to ensure she is OK when I a not here. We shall see.
All ideas welcome.
Tim.