Friday  2025-05-29:

During the last week we haven't done much. The weather has been nice. Henry and I have taken some walks around in the village and by the sea. While one of us has been taking a walk the other has been left with Alma, to keep an eye on the wooden gangway. 

Photo collage from various days in Karystos:

We had a visit from a stray cat the other day, a young one, she was only skin and bone but very friendly! She took the chance to have a nap for an hour. 

The cat looking for the fish in the water.

A recently built Amphitheatre outside Karystos. 

An old Steamroller in the park outside the Archeological museum of Karystos. 

Bourtzi fortress at the harbour of Karystos. 

View to the beach east of the Bourtzi fortress.

The church Agios Nikolaos in Karystos. 

Views from the Harbour in Karystos. 

Sunday 2025-05-18:

Today Henry has "name day", Erik, so the Sunday flag is out. He was also released from the hospital and came home to Alma at 18.30! 

Henry onboard the ferry Evia Star from Rafina to Marmari, not many deck passengers.

Friday 2025-05-16:

The day started very calm and with sun. Around 11.00 it started to blow a bit from the southeast. Our neighbour boat had to take up his anchor as it didn't hold and I had to release our chain, as he got stucked with his anchor in our chain, so he could release his anchor. He also went over our chain with both his keel and his rudder, lucky he didn't catch it with his propeller... They moved some boats further down the row, where it was more space. I could then take out a spring from the cleats in front and tie it to a bollard on the other quay, so I got a good hold also from the port side.

Henry phoned and said they will release him from the hospital tomorrow, Saturday! Very good news! Will see if can take a taxi or so.

At 16.00 the wind has increased and the air is very hazy. The sea seems to build up outside in the bay and starts to jump many meters over the breakwater. Inside the basin it starts to get a bit bumpy at 17.00. The wind is app 20-22 knots in here, but probably a lot more outside.

Sahara sand yellow haze over Karystos.

Waves breaking in over the breakwater at Karystos.

Thursday 2025-05-15:

Henry got the PCI done today and he feels a bit better. Will see how long they will keep him in the hospital.

I did more or less nothing more than buying some Bonitos in one of the fish shops.

Wednesday 2025-05-14:

We went up to Almyropotamo bay on the Monday. Very nice scenery in the Strait between Evia and the Mainland Greece. We think we will come back to Almytopotamo bay as well. Unfortunately no pictures. We had some strong northerly winds up hthere but the bottom had a good hold.

Went back to Karystos town, as there will by some strong southerly winds on Friday and the port is said to be good, which we hope.

One more reason to go to Karystos is they have a bigger general hospital here as Henry has started to suffering from his Angina Pectoris again and it's getting worse for each day. Sent him by taxi to the hospital where they took care of him immediately and after a while sent him by ambulance to the Alexandra General Hospital in Athens for PCI-treatment (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) where some blocked or narrow Coronary is opened or widened with balloons or stents. 

I stay to guarding Alma in the port as we didn't got an alongside berth at the quay.

When there is a cloud on top of the Mount Ochi, it tells the wind will soon come from the north. 

Friday 2025-05-09:

We had a last visit from the technician Yiannis before we left Lavrion, as he wanted to have a last measurent from the watermaker before sending a claim of the feedpump to Spectra. He was on Alma nearly the whole Wednesday to check all functions and flow and came to the conclusion as us, that it seems like the feedpump doesn't work as it should.

The port/marina fee in Lavrion was very expensive when thinking of that we only got a berth at the qtown quay with land mooring. No water, no electricity for 63 EUR!

There was not much wind before 11 NM before arriving in Ormos Karystos on Evia, then we got up to 19 Knots so we could finally set sails. The wind slowed down again, when inside the wide bay. No more boats out in the beautiful bay! Nice! 

Took a swim in 21 °C water, very relaxing!

Views from Ormos Karystos.

Evia is coming closer in the haze.

Lavrion and Nisos Makaronissi in the background. 

Views from the port of Lavrion. 

Tuesday 2025-05-06:

Left Poros in the morning and went to Cape Sounio bay. We have an appointment on Wednesday with the technician for the watermaker to come to Lavrion for checking why our watermaker isn't giving the right amount of freshwater. 

The Poseidon temple at Cape Sounio.

Saturday 2025-05-03:

Saturday third of May.

The Crew had her Sixty year anniversary. She celebrated it with a bath. Premiere for the year!

Nearly twenty degree in the sea

Over and out.

Saturday 2025-04-26:

Went out to Ormos Vidhi in the morning as there is a Boatshow for big Catamarans starting in Poros today.

Friday 2025-04-25:

Our gangway plank, new for the year and only used for 6 days on a quay, broke one of it's wheels! Not a good construction from the carpenter in Corinthos. We got help from Pavlos Bros in Poros to make another solution for the wheels and it will be attached to the plank the nearest days, when we are anchored in Ormos Vidhi. 

Views from the North quay of Poros town.

After a well done washing of Alma.

Easter Sunday 2025-04-20:

We were invited to Älskling for a coffee just before all charter boats arrived and everything was a bit disturbed due to we didn't want to get some chain crossings before we wanted to leave. We were served a very nice tasting Dutch cookie together with the coffee, delicious!

We left Ermioni at noon and went back to Ormos Kipari. Many charter boats were arriving at the same time and we thought it was time to escape. 

Later in the evening there was a traditional Judas burning and fireworks! Maybe we should have stayed at the south quay of Ermioni but it may be next year. We got a movie of the event from Paul and Alies, very interesting! We watched the fireworks from Alma.

All the very friendly dogs in Älskling. Scapa (the considerate Dachshound), Indy (the sensible Brown Labrador) and Oban (the devoted Flatcoated Retriever).

Good Friday 2025-04-18:

We have been anchored in the Ormos Kapari, south of Ermioni since Sunday. Me made some cleaning and oiling of the teak deck and run the watermaker.We also realised that our Battery charger has broken down, so we have ordered a new one (via Pavlou Bros Chandlery in Poros) which will be installed in Poros next week. 

On the Thursday we went into the south quay of Ermioni,  where we met Älskling, a sisterboat of Alma, with the Dutch couple Paul and Alies and their three dogs onboard. Also Belle Epoque,  the boat owned by Britta, moored beside us with a Danish team onboard. 

On the Thursday evening we were invited for a drink in Älskling and then we visited the restaurant Mouragio together with Paul and Alies. Very nice and late evening!

Today, Good Friday, we made some provisioning at AB and should buy some Campingaz, but we were too late and the shop was closed early due to the Bank holiday. Make new try tomorrow!

Our best"Bank Holiday" flag on the walnut flag pole. Millennium Cafe in the background. 

The sisters, Alma and Älskling.

Brittas Sun Odyssey 519, Belle Epoque, mooring beside us.

View from Ormos Kapari.

Our broken Battery charger, has to be exchanged in Poros after the Easter.

Sunday 2025-04-13:

Ormos Kapari, south of Ermioni. A favourite spot, even if it is open to Northeasterly winds and swell, it has a wide space and beautiful suroundings.

We hoist our sails for the first time this year and could admire our new Swedish sail numbers, SWE 029.

Had a nice sailing for a couple of hours before the wind died and we started the engine. 

Tuesday 2025-04-08:

The weather is like the April weather home, one day sun and warmth the other day rain (home it would be snow).

On the Sunday we hoisted the main sail while the weather was calm, sunny and nice.

Monday was a rainy day, so we were staying inside.

Today, Henry changed the fuel filter and oil in the Paguro generator. Still a bit cloudy and chilly outside.

Saturday 2025-04-05:

Thought we were dragging in the morning, so we decided to go down to Poros and the "Chapel bay". 

At least we had the possibility to hoist our jib and run the watermaker before leaving for Poros! The watermaker made very good tasty water, app 142 TDS.

As we hadn't had the possibility to hoist the main sail, we went by motor and could also top up the watertank and charge the batteries.

Thursday 2025-04-03:

Launching day of Alma, finally!

Nearly one month longer on land than calculated as the watermaker was ordered late. We already asked for help of installing one in the autumn,  when sending all our needs of service to the shipyard, but the guy who should have shown up to check where to install it never came. We then suggested to ask Nautilus in Alimos for help with it and it only took two days to send an offer for the watermaker and offer for the installation and the guy to check how and where to install the watermaker! Delivery time was four weeks. 

We also have a problem with the lifting of the bathplatform. We also addressed this in the autumn but didn't get any electrician to check it before the guy from Nautilus came. He thought it was a problem with the ECU, but when the Tyristors were exchanged and the ECU back... it wasn't the problem. It seems like something is working very heavy as the motor works fine when disconnected from the ECU, but takes more power than usual to work in the right pace. Now it points to the worm gearbox. Both Giannis from Canal Yachting and Yiannis from Nautilus think now it's the gearbox and also after conversation with a Swedish company, OEM Motors, working with these type of drive lines.

We went to Ormos Kalamakiou, at Isthmia, Corinth channel to hoist our sails and test the watermaker. We were offered to use a bouy in the bay, but we never found the rope which should have been attached to them, so we went on anchor instead. 

Views from Ormos Kalamakiou and the Isthmia.

Alma touching water again!

Alma on the move.

Alma polished and with new anti-fouling, Transocean. 

Tuesday 2025-03-25 (Nationalday of Greece):

Today we returned our second rental car and picked up the third one from Surprice Car Rental. 

It is the Greek National day, so when we drove into Palaio Faliro, all cars were redirected into other streets to pass a closed part of the road from Alimos to Palaio Faliro, due to the National day processions.

Very nice areas to drive in the "backstreets" of Palaio Faliro!

On the way back "home", we stopped in Nea Peramos, to have a dinner at a taverna called "KaIntera". The service was very slow and we didn't get the two main dishes of "Gavros" at the same time, but had to ask for it. Anyhow the food was tasty when it came! Probably to many people at the same time, as it's the National Day. It was crowded in all tavernas by the seaside. 

A Greek lady shrugged and said before they left that it was always like that, but obviously they liked the place as they kept coming back! 

Just before we stopped in Nea Peramos, we stopped and bought some Sea shells, which we thought were some kind of flat Oysters, but it showed up to be more of something similar to scallops, which shouldn't be eaten raw. There were also huge Oysters, but we wanted to taste these other ones.

Our third rental car, a Peugeot 108, from Surprice Rental Cars, 8 days for 232 SEK.

Views from Nea Peramos.

Thursday 2025-03-22:

The installation of the watermaker, started on Saturday 2025-03-15, was finalised and Yiannis also changed the salt water footpump in the pantry.

Spectra Ventura 200R watermaker installation in the anchor box, where the former one was installed once upon a time. 

TMC saltwater footpump to the left, fresh water footpump to the right.

Thursday 2025-03-13:

Our dinghy was inflated to see that it could still keep the air, as we never used it last season but was kept on deck in its storage bag.

A buoy catcher, for easy strapping of a buoy.

Monday 2025-03-10:

Went to leave our rental car from Alamos and to pick up another one at Surprice Car Rental.

On the way back we picked up our sails at Kakitsis (KS) Sails in a village, Megali Avli, close to Lavrion. Had lunch at our favourite gyros place, Perasma, in Lavrion. 

When back in our house again, we placed the sails on the terrace to have a look. 

Our house cat, Katterina Melina, was taking a nap while guarding the sails.

Our second rental car, a Fiat Panda. SurPrice Rental cars, 432 SEK for 14 days.

Saturday 2025-03-08:

We took a day off and went to see the archaeological site of Mycenae. Incredibly well preserved archaeological sites are found in Greece! There are stone constructions everywhere, amasing! Mycenae is well worth a visit.

Before leaving the site,  we visited the "Tomb of Agamemnon", but there were two buses with Italian students making a lot of noise with clapping hands and shouting inside the Tomb  which was very annoying. We left after a few minutes.

On the way back "home", we stopped at a shack beside the road and bought two bottles of red and white wine, as it is on the Nemea region. Those wines showed up to be crap when we tried them later on. They had to go into the sink!

We stopped in Corinthos and had a Gyros meal at Meatplus, sitting outside in the tent with gas heaters, very cosy!

The spherical ceiling in the "Treasury of Atreus" or the "Tomb of Agamemnon".

Views from the Mycenae archaeological site.

Stairway down to the Subterranean cistern of Mycenae.

The "Lion gate" of Mycenae.

The grave circles of Mycenae. 

The fortress of Mycenae. 

Twig of a black olive tree.

Spring blossoms at the Mycenae archaeological site. 

Views of the vaulted "Lions Tomb".

Today we got our new "gangway" with wheels, delivered by Giannis at Canal Yachting. 

Friday 2025-03-07:

Interior views from the house we rent in Agioi Theodoroi. 

Saturday 2025-03-01:

Henry refitted the salt water cleaning tap in the Anchor box to a more easy working one for cleaning of the anchor chain, when bringing up the anchor.

Pia was taking care of cleaning and polishing all steel and chromium parts on deck.

Thursday 2025-02-27:

Went to Athens to buy a new yellow life buoy at Nautilos and a Diesel tank lid, actually we wanted to of the tank lids, but only one was on hand. Nautilus will provide one more together with the delivery of the Spectra Watermaker.

Had a dinner at Port Spyridion in Alimos Marina. Agurra Domata, Gavrios and Shrimps Saganaki and half a caraffe of white whine, excellent!

Monday 2025-02-24:

Henry changed the pantry fresh water tap, which has been cracked for a long time. The upholstery which hasn't been possible to remove as it is attached by staples to wooden supports, was cleaned by Bicarbonate and vacuum cleaned. The upholstery of the sitting cushions were cleaned earlier in the washing machine and the buttons were attached again. 

Upholstery cleaned by Bicarbonate and by washing machine, where possible.

Upholstery with sprinkled Bicarbonate.

Upholstery cleaned in the washing machine. 

Sunday 2025-02-23:

We took "a day off" and went to the Epidauros theatre  which we missed two years ago, as it was Christmas time and the site was closed.

A really fantastic site, which needs a lot of time to see, as there is a lot of remains from ancient buildings! The theatre itself has an astonishing acoustic, when standing on the ground speaking. There is place for 12 000 sitting spectators!

After the visit we went to Ancient Mykene, but we were late and the site was closing after 30 minutes,  so we have to come back another time. The site is really worth a visit on it's own!

A few first pictures from Ancient Mycenae.

"Warden dogs"at the Epidauros theatre.

Views from the Epidauros theatre. 

Saturday 2025-02-22:

Today was a chilly day, so we used the open fire for the first time. 

Wednesday 2025-02-19:

Went to Corinthos one more time to see if we could find a few things for Alma, like a horse shoe buoy, screws and a Diesel tank lid. We found the screws bot not the other parts. We also visited Jysk, to try finding a new dish rack, as the old one is rusting away, but didn't. We found some other things though, useful in Alma.

A statue of the "bad smelling philosoph" Diogenes and Alexander the Great.

Monday 2025-02-17:

Went for an adventure at the Ancient Corinthos and the Ancient Fortress of Corinthos. Fantastic day! We didn't expect neither the Ancient Corinthos nor the Ancient Fortress to be so huge! Would have needed a couple of more hours to cover them both.

Had dinner in a small taverna, Methexis, opposite the Customs in Corinth. We had a Choriatiki salad and garlic bread as a starter and I had a Shrimps Saganaki and Henry had a local Lamb sausage as main. 

View to Corinthos from the fortress Akrocorinthos. 

View to Ancient Corinthos from the fortress of Akrocorinthos. 

Ruins of a minaret inside the fortress.

Blooming Almond trees, Pink and white blossoms.

The chapel of Agios Dimitrios.

Views of the fortress Akrocorinthos.

Views from Ancient Corinthos. 

Views from.the Corinth channel.

The submersible bridge in Isthmus.

Friday 2025-02-14:

Henry installed our new navigator, Garmin Echomap UHD 72cv, brought from home. Replaced the old outdated Raymarine Pathfinder.

Monday 2025-02-10:

A very nice and sunny day. Spent the day at Alma, as we have done the latest week and then we had some time in the afternoon sun on our terrace. Henry has started to wash all ropes onboard and hang them up for drying on the rail of the terrace.

View from our gateway to the street. 

Views from the terrace.

Testing the Cretan Raki, very good quality!

Sunday 2025-02-09:

Today the owners, father and son Dimitrios and Herakles, showed up to check that everything was alright. Dimitris the father of Herakles brought a Cretan Rose wine and a bottle of Raki as welcome presents, he had also provide us with a bottle of olive oil from his own olive grovt. Dimitrios is bourne in Crete. They are very keen on that we use the vegetables and fruit in their garden (lettuce, beet roots, orange, lemons and grape fruits), and we are happy to do! The other day we got a bottle of Kalamata olive oil from our neighbour, in the apartment below, because we lent him a charger for his mobile phone! This would not happen in Sweden. All people are incredibly generous!

Saturday 2025-02-08:

Today we got the newly serviced windlass back and installed by Yannis from Canal Yachting, a very skilled guy in many areas! The windlass was totally gone through with many exchanged parts, next service in two years, Yannis told.

Otherwise we have start working with a lot of normal maintenance things on Alma, by ourselves. 

New stainless steel anchorchain (will probably make a more smooth hoist of the chain) with newly serviced windlass. 

The old anchorchain and newly serviced windlass. 

2025-02-07:

Got the Fortress anchor from Nautilus and filled in the Warranty paper and sent it to the US for registration. 

There should have been exactly this anchor as spare anchor in the boat, when we bought her, but "somebody" snatched it from the boat and we didn't check before signing all papers in Malta. (Also other things were missing, we realised too late.)

Monday 2025-02-03:

We had a visit from two Greek ladies, Katerina and her mother, relatives to our landlord. They showed us where the keys for the gate to the beach were and that we could pick our own lettuce, beet roots, oranges and lemons from the garden! In the kitchen were also bottled water, olive oil, milk and fruit available when we arrived on the Sunday. 

We went to see Alma, say hello to Despoina at the main gate, Diana in the main office and talk with Konstantinos, the service manager at Almira Shipyard. 

Sunday 2025-02-02:

Early start from Arlanda to Athens at 06.00 AM. Arrived in Athens airport at 12.40 (Greek time). Had a stop in Kastrup. 

We had a rental car to pick up at Alamo rental car, it was a Opel Corsa. All our luggage was quite easy to squeeze in. We were afraid the car both should be too small and Pia should have to take the train to Agioi Theodoroi. Took a  trip via Voula to fill up the car with petrol. The price is usually a bit lower there than elsewhere on the way to Athens.

We arrived at the house we have rented in Agioi Theodoroi around 16.00 and the sun was still there. Wonderful view from the huge terrace! There is direct access to the pebble beach from the house, which is quite exceptional!

Went for dinner at a Gyros taverna, Kalamadiko, about 20 minutes by foot. 

Our first rental car, an Opel Corsa, from Alamo. 4217 SEK for 36 days.