SEPTEMBER 17, 2013
On May 19th 2013, Wolfgang and I became grandparents to Jaxon Woloshyn, a healthy, beautiful baby boy. We couldn't quite be there on the day of his birth, but managed to arrive in Sudbury to meet the newest family addition June 2nd. It was love at first sight.
We throughly enjoyed our 3 week visit with family, but the open sea was calling and we returned to our home away from home, Simple Abundance which was waiting for us in Corfu.
Before leaving for Canada we had the pleasure of witnessing the Greek Orthodox Easter.
Enjoying the Greek Orthodox Easter on Corfu is a very special and unique experience. It seems to be a mixture of East and West which gives the celebration a special flavour.
The splendor of the festival is enhanced by the brillant sunshine and the many blooming, fragrant trees among the grand Venetian buildings.
Good Friday is the day of Christ's funeral where thousands of people gather in the streets to join the singing choirs.
On Holy Saturday at 11 am the First Resurrection and the "pot throwing" custom takes place. Locals throw clay pots of varying sizes from their windows onto the streets below. At midnight the local priest calls out (Christ has risen), giving the signal for the fireworks to start.
Following the Easter festivities the party goes on with lots of music and dancing at most bars and restaurants.
Easter Sunday is not a day of rest, but to....eat!
After 40 days of fasting, families get together for traditional foods of lamb, hard boiled eggs and sweet breads, and oh let's not forget lots and lots of wine.
Before enjoying all the boisterous festivities on Corfu we stopped in two other towns Othoni and Kalami, equally beautiful but more for their tranquility and gorgeous beaches.
After sailing a mere 50 nm from Leuca, the most southerly tip of the Italian boot, across the Strait of Otranto to our first greek island, Othoni
where we tasted our first Greek lamb served by Massimo, the owner and cooked to perfection by his Equadorian wife. Next we headed to Kalami, a 30 nm trip, anchoring practically on the beach and feasted on the biggest, best mussels I've ever tasted.
Next stop was Corfu, Gouvia Marina with approx. 900 berths and moorings for boats up to 80 meters long. We really enjoyed the shops and restaurants here with the added bonus of a full sized swimming pool.
A visit to Corfu Town by bus was highlighted by its lively center with everything from sophisticated, high-end, brand name shops to ships chandlery, a dozen museums as well as the old churches and restaurants in a maze of tiny streets.
Corfu, Gouvia Marina is also where we finally reunited with our cruising friends Gaby and Gerald on May 11th, 2013 after our extended 5 month Canada visit. Shortly after our reunion we headed out together including Gaby's sister, Christa for several days of anchoring in some of the most beautiful bays imaginable before returning to Gouvia Marina to welcome 2 new crew members, Erik and Chris, Wolfgang's brother and nephew. Our friends on Vivamare continued on and we would meet them again several weeks later.
We spent the next 10 days sailing in and around some of the cutest islands in the Ionian Sea. We anchored first in a large bay off the village of Lakka, popular with cruisers because the large bay at the north end of Paxos Island has stunning turquoise, clear water where going out to dinner doesn't include choosing from a menu. You're invited into the kitchen to choose your meal from the chef's daily creation.
Next to Paxos City where the Cafe/bar is literally 2 steps away from the boat.
Plan was to get an early start heading back to Gouvia Maraina. With just a gentle breeze W. thought it was high time to bring out the big guns (parasailor). Attaching more shackles and lines she was finally flying in the breeze. Everyone enjoyed the experience and we decided to spend the last night in Kalami Bay instead of Gouvia.
After a relaxing dinner at the beachfront Taverna we spent the last evening watching a thunderstorm approach. Shortly after midnight the captain realized the anchor wasn't holding and after several attempts to re-anchor decided to head into the marina early (1 am). Needless to say, a new anchor was in our future.
Next day we bid our visitors a sad farewell as they headed back to Germany and we headed off to Canada to meet our new grandson.
On May 19th 2013, Wolfgang and I became grandparents to Jaxon Woloshyn, a healthy, beautiful baby boy. We couldn't quite be there on the day of his birth, but managed to arrive in Sudbury to meet the newest family addition June 2nd. It was love at first sight.
 |
| Jaxon |
Before leaving for Canada we had the pleasure of witnessing the Greek Orthodox Easter.
Enjoying the Greek Orthodox Easter on Corfu is a very special and unique experience. It seems to be a mixture of East and West which gives the celebration a special flavour.
The splendor of the festival is enhanced by the brillant sunshine and the many blooming, fragrant trees among the grand Venetian buildings.
Good Friday is the day of Christ's funeral where thousands of people gather in the streets to join the singing choirs.
On Holy Saturday at 11 am the First Resurrection and the "pot throwing" custom takes place. Locals throw clay pots of varying sizes from their windows onto the streets below. At midnight the local priest calls out (Christ has risen), giving the signal for the fireworks to start.
Following the Easter festivities the party goes on with lots of music and dancing at most bars and restaurants.
Easter Sunday is not a day of rest, but to....eat!
After 40 days of fasting, families get together for traditional foods of lamb, hard boiled eggs and sweet breads, and oh let's not forget lots and lots of wine.
 |
| Pedestrians Only |
Before enjoying all the boisterous festivities on Corfu we stopped in two other towns Othoni and Kalami, equally beautiful but more for their tranquility and gorgeous beaches.
After sailing a mere 50 nm from Leuca, the most southerly tip of the Italian boot, across the Strait of Otranto to our first greek island, Othoni
where we tasted our first Greek lamb served by Massimo, the owner and cooked to perfection by his Equadorian wife. Next we headed to Kalami, a 30 nm trip, anchoring practically on the beach and feasted on the biggest, best mussels I've ever tasted.
Next stop was Corfu, Gouvia Marina with approx. 900 berths and moorings for boats up to 80 meters long. We really enjoyed the shops and restaurants here with the added bonus of a full sized swimming pool.
A visit to Corfu Town by bus was highlighted by its lively center with everything from sophisticated, high-end, brand name shops to ships chandlery, a dozen museums as well as the old churches and restaurants in a maze of tiny streets.
Corfu, Gouvia Marina is also where we finally reunited with our cruising friends Gaby and Gerald on May 11th, 2013 after our extended 5 month Canada visit. Shortly after our reunion we headed out together including Gaby's sister, Christa for several days of anchoring in some of the most beautiful bays imaginable before returning to Gouvia Marina to welcome 2 new crew members, Erik and Chris, Wolfgang's brother and nephew. Our friends on Vivamare continued on and we would meet them again several weeks later.
We spent the next 10 days sailing in and around some of the cutest islands in the Ionian Sea. We anchored first in a large bay off the village of Lakka, popular with cruisers because the large bay at the north end of Paxos Island has stunning turquoise, clear water where going out to dinner doesn't include choosing from a menu. You're invited into the kitchen to choose your meal from the chef's daily creation.
Next to Paxos City where the Cafe/bar is literally 2 steps away from the boat.
We anchored at the town dock…..as it turns out where all the actions is. No water or electric hook up but we found that a water truck comes twice daily for the yachts in the harbour (10 euro for 300ltr)
Checked in with Coast Guard/Port Authority for a stamp in our Greek mandatory travel log.
May 30,
Plan was to get an early start heading back to Gouvia Maraina. With just a gentle breeze W. thought it was high time to bring out the big guns (parasailor). Attaching more shackles and lines she was finally flying in the breeze. Everyone enjoyed the experience and we decided to spend the last night in Kalami Bay instead of Gouvia.
After a relaxing dinner at the beachfront Taverna we spent the last evening watching a thunderstorm approach. Shortly after midnight the captain realized the anchor wasn't holding and after several attempts to re-anchor decided to head into the marina early (1 am). Needless to say, a new anchor was in our future.Next day we bid our visitors a sad farewell as they headed back to Germany and we headed off to Canada to meet our new grandson.
