An Adventurers Tale: To the islands

The time for moving ever southwards has arrived. It’s time to go.

We have loved our time in Parga but it’s time to bid her farewell and again continue south towards our ultimate goal of Athens. Last night we again met up with Dietmer and Helen. The Dutch couple we met a few nights ago. We arranged to meet in Perivolis. The same restraint as before. We don’t normally make acquaintances when travelling but they were a great couple and really good company. We had a fabulous evening and I drank maybe a little too much. The food was good, the company was brilliant and it was a fantastic end to a fantastic week.

Before I forget. Yesterday we were on the beach under glorious blue skies. The temperature was in the thirties. A solitary cloud appeared and vented its minor fury directly above us. It showered with rain. Most people, including us, sat out the shower under our beach umbrella. It was still to hot to lie in the sun despite the rain. We entertained ourselves watching a young family close to us panic at the inclement weather. Like a sketch from a Peter Kay show as soon as the rain started the mother ran to the sea and started screaming at her husband to protect the kids.

Although to far away to hear clearly we assumed the dialogue went as follows.

Mother. “ Kevin, KEVIN! It’s raining. Get them kids in now, it’s raining” Dad. “But they are already wet, they are in the sea? Mother “ I don’t care, it’s raining, get them kids in NOW. They will catch their bloody deaths. It’s RAINING!” Dad. “ But it’s thirty degrees in the shade, they are in the water and it’s only a shower” Mother. “ I won’t tell you again….. ITS RAINING. I’m not having them kids Ill on holiday. Now get them kids IN”

The dad, knowing he was beat dutifully ushered the protesting kids out of the water while mother rapidly packed up the beach bag and brolly. She threw a towel over each of the kids heads and started to lead them, crying and complaining, off the beach. By the time they had made it to the edge of the beach the shower abated. Glorious blue skies prevailed. The mother not to proven wrong led them off the beach and most likely back to their lodgings. They probably spent the afternoon in their room playing scrabble just in case it rained again and the children died of flu.

The hosts mother lives next door to our little house here and she has become quite fond of us. She doesn’t speak or understand any English but takes every opportunity to chat with us. Like most elderly people she is preoccupied with her aches and pains and makes a point of ending each short incomprehensible conversation with a mime show demonstrating her discomforts. It’s a ritual and we have become quite fond of her. This morning we bid farewell to our hosts and the little old lady for the last time.

Bags packed, room checked and off into the little alley ways on our way to the bus station. A short ten minute walk. There are only two buses a day from Parga to Prevaza and we didn’t want to miss it. The bus was due to leave Parga at 12.15. We were a little early but sat in the shade and had a usieup breakfast before mounting our mechanised steed south. 2 hours and a circuitous route later found us in Prevaza.

Preveza is the town closest to the major international airport in this part of Greece and we have flown into it numerous times in the past. This is the first time we have arrived here overland. From Preveza we boarded the connecting bus to Lefkada and from Lefkada town yet another bus to our final destination. The port of Nidri. We need to be in Nidri for the ferry to kefalonia in a couple of days time.

The ride to Lefkada was amazing. The road skirts the Actium canal and is very picturesque. For those interested the canal (narrow entrance to the lagoon) at Actium was the setting of a very famous naval battle on the 2nd September 31BC where Caesar Octavius finally caught up with Mark Anthony and Cleopatra after their escape from Egypt. Mark had a thing for Cleo and had done a runner with her taking a load of treasure with them This understandably wazzed Octavious off a bit and he chased after them. He caught up with them here near Prevaza and gave them both a right good telling off. It’s all on google

There are waterfalls in the mountains near Nidri and tomorrow morning Crispy has expressed a keen interest to trek into the mountains and try to find them. It should be interesting and hopefully worth the effort. She’s in the room now polishing her woggle and dubbing her boots in readiness. I must remember to take plenty fluids this time. I don’t want Crispy getting fractious in the mountains.

It’s been a good days travelling and we are where we need to be. Early night for us as a fun filled day awaits tomorrow.

Bare and Crispy signing off, the port of Nidri, Lefkada, Ionia.