Kefalonia to Lefkada (50.8km, by boat): once again, when we awoke the boat was already en route. The brief sight of dolphins swimming alongside was a highlight of the morning, even if i didn't really get a photo. We also saw a number of birds, and traversed the movable bridge again, this time landing at Lefkada for a bike ride before continuing north.
by the time i'm awake and taking photos, we're already motoring |
possibly a cave |
definitely a cliff |
dolphin! |
only for a few seconds, and i didn't really get a photo, but very cool to see |
a cool but nervewracking place to live |
leaving Kefalonia and Ithaca |
heading north, back to Lefkas |
that also looks like a neat place to be |
many birds on a sandbar, as we enter the Lefkas channel |
here's that big marina again |
birds |
queuing for the daily movable bridge crossing again |
a slightly better look at the bridge which is a boat |
boats docked by the road |
another boat |
cars heading for the bridge |
boat traffic in both directions |
line of cars |
cars waiting at the stop sign for a bridge to appear |
the place where the bridge will appear |
we're the last boat through, and the bridge is starting to pivot into place! |
look, you knew i was going to take a zillion pictures of this boat-bridge situation |
because, in my defense, it is awesome |
it's done, cars are driving on the bridge now |
the Corsaro del Santa Maura (more about this in a minute) |
lighthouse |
the Aegeotissa II |
side view of Corsaro del Santa Maura |
best graffiti of the week |
our own docking maneuver is less involved than the boat-bridge, but i got a good view of it for once |
on shore with the first line |
putting the line on the winch |
literally 48 seconds later |
winged lions of this wooden boat |
the internet tells me that this boat, the Corsaro del Santa Maura, is a faithful replica of a 17th century pirate galleon |
around Lefkada (11.9km (15m of climbing), by bike): we had a short bike ride around this lagoon on the northern part of Lefkada, including some discussion of swimming (we didn't, i don't remember if other people did), and a quick side trip by me and Gina to look at a church off the beach. We returned to the boat via the town, and the boat left right away for Paxos once we all arrived.
Ruth and Gavin head off to explore the fortress while the rest of us bike around the lagoon |
graffiti on the steps |
road next to the dock |
Kay and Gina are ready to ride |
many flamingos! |
many bicyclists |
Gina is entering this tower |
oh no, where has Gina gone now? |
never look down |
a small beach |
a much larger beach where we are not |
sand, stones, water |
towers from across the lagoon |
there are so many cats in this photo |
beach at the end of our route |
let's try to feed a cat |
next step: try to feed two cats |
we decide to check out the Church of Aytos building |
a nice cliff |
some prickly pears |
path to the church |
a bell |
a roofline |
stairs up from the church |
view from above the church |
the ocean looks blue from here |
the path continues |
tree roots that are trying hard |
cat on a wall |
Greek pinecone |
look how clear the water is |
sponge on the beach |
buildings in Lefkas |
cyclists returning |
another view around the lagoon |
cyclists approaching |
a bridge |
back to the bridge which is a boat |
Lefkada to Paxos (70.0km, by boat): we had lunch en route, and then read and watched the view until our arrival at Paxos, an island which has an outsized and arguably incorrect importance to me personally because it's the name of a distributed systems algorithm that was relevant to a project i worked on for several years, but which in the event seemed like a neat little town on a larger island next to a smaller island.
just in time for the noon bridge opening (which we ourselves are not using, having passed the bridge already in the morning) |
more graffiti as we leave Lefkada |
one more view of the fort |
we are not going to run into that sandbar, we are turning |
fort |
we did not run into that sandbar |
goodbye Lekfada |
interesting hills |
Kris and Tom, on the top deck |
clouds reflected in water |
a small airplane in a large sky |
there is a sail on this boat, by the way (we are not using it) |
cloud on mountain |
flag on boat |
many flags on boat |
lunch: potato/vegetable soup |
lunch: look at those calamari! |
lunch dessert: dipped ice cream cone |
our first sight of the island of Paxos |
we have to go through a channel between Paxos and some smaller islands to appraoch the port |
we're pretty close to land here |
imagine doing this under sail |
approaching the dock |
boats between the islands |
islands and channel |
restaurant tables at the corner of the port |
building on Paxos |
docking next to other boats |
Paxos hillside |
prow of our boat in the water |
we in fact lowered an anchor, though this is hard to see |
a place where the anchor chain is not currently |
masts reflected in the water |
around Paxos (1.7km, on foot): we walked around Paxos, went back to the boat for a lecture about the Greek language, and then went out again for dinner at a restaurant called Toucan, and returned to the boat for socializing and bed.
channel between Paxos and Agios Nikolaos |
street in Paxos |
dockside fire hose |
we did not come up with a candidate explanation for this sign |
door of administrative building in Paxos (hold that thought) |
dinghy, underway |
statue of George Anemogiannis |
Gina and Gavin investigating the water |
the water looks like this |
shoreline |
view across the harbor |
oh no, what is Gina doing? |
the next several photos are left as an exercise to the reader |
our boat! |
my very kind friends impersonating the Paxos algorithm on the steps of the administrative building in Paxos |
karate studio |
a cat on a stairwell |
a balcony gadget |
a balcony decoration |
a side street |
a recommended fish restaurant which is closed for the season |
this fish mural is still open, though |
Paxos Market |
decorative floor tiles in the street |
cemetery at Church of the Agioi Apostoioi |
belltower, with ground level access to bellringing |
a tree that is trying hard |
plants at the Paxos Agricultural Center |
Libby has acquired a cat |
plaza in Paxos |
... as opposed to? |
wall sign |
this arch is more-or-less tall enough |
nice roof |
detail of roof edge |
a moderately gnarly tree |
further up in a tree |
sign advertising rooms |
something certainly happened to these steps before the concrete dried |
returning to the water |
a cat of many colors |
buildings reflected in the water |
early sunset reflected in the water |
large fender is still large |
these figs accompany the on-boat Greek language lecture |
similarly, this kumquat liqueur |
later, looking at an olive oil shop |
Gina poses in front of giant sunglasses with the the last ginger juice with lemon of the season, which she has just purchased |
fried feta appetizer, at Toucan |
this cat is somewhat interested |
prawns |
grilled squid stuffed with feta |
this cat is extremely interested in the prawns |
metaxa |
Toucan Restaurant's sign |
last day of biking tomorrow! |