The Gathering....

George looking weary.

 We spent a couple of days over the weekend with our Greek family back in Assos where the story began eight years ago.  As usual they were pleased to see us but I'm afraid that the economic austerity measures are really beginning to take their toll on the ordinary rural Greeks especially when they are not living in areas where they get the benefits of tourism.  Sandra and I had decided some time ago that we would take George and Mantha out for a restaurant treat which I know they have not had for about three years.  They accommodated us overnight and many of the villagers turned up at the Kafenion to come and enquire how this strange English couple where doing now that we were no longer in their lives.

Some of the locals turn up to see us.

We ate at a local restaurant on the road to Arta but only after we got George to finally close up for the night.  It's always the case with Greeks, going out for the night doesn't start until late evening and then goes on and on and on...  The meal was good and very cheap starters main courses and two litres of wine and the bill came to forty Euros for the four of us, that's a little over thirty pounds no one taking advantage of anyone there then!

We came home on Sunday totally exhausted from all the lingual gymnastics and just the effort of being there but I guess it was all worth while to see the smile on their faces.

The view over Nidri and surrounding Islands.

Lefkas town from on high.

 We decided to have a trip around the island on Tuesday and found a couple of roads which we had not explored before and we were rewarded with some excellent views and very nice countryside to boot.  Wednesday and today have been spent preparing Lesanda to receive our special friends Allen and Jean who are coming who we will be picking up from Patras airport on Saturday all being well.  We on the other hand are going to have that night in the hotel in Patras tomorrow which we should have had at Easter if I didn't have the my stroke and had to cancel.

The wanderers (Two Drfiters) return. (Pic SV Bagpuss)

This morning the latest of the winterers has arrived.  Two Drifters, Fergus and Nev, came back into the marina this morning after a great summer adventure around many, many of the Aegean islands and having been involved in storm, tempest, refugee crisis etc. but had a "storming time" as well.  Welcome back guys.

It's that time of year now when the flotillas and charterers are packing up and the swallows (yachties here for the summer) are going home.  The rest of us are getting ready to have this beautiful paradise all to ourselves.