Lefkas - our winter home

Our life afloat is transforming itself again. I'm noticing that the stream of new sensations that became so overwhelming at the end of the sailing season, are tapering off. We are staying put, so novelty is being replaced with familiarity. With that familiarity, I can pay attention to the smaller details of life. Because things are becoming more known, I can notice more about them. Architectural details on buildings become more remarkable by being noticed more often. Commonplace walks reveal different atmosphere's at different times of day. We are slowly fitting into our new environment.

Pavlov on the dock at Lefkas marina

Marina environs

Lefkas town quay

Lefkas harbour

I'm really enjoying setting up patterns to follow, and finding our favourite places to haunt. We are now going to a gym each morning, and have found a few favourite cafe's where we can get a cheap freddo and download our latest television serial. We know which local restaurants make the best pizza, and where to find a tsipourodiki. Its a lovely town and a pleasure to get to know it. Lefkas was levelled by the 1953 earthquake. Town bylaws created after the quake mandated all upper stories to be constructed of wood. Unusual for Greek dwellings, the wood is clad with corrugated iron, giving the town an unusual appearance.

Little lanes in the town ...

wind around unusual wooden homes clad with corrugated iron.

It's a pedestrian's paradise

One of three unusual cast iron clock towers

Older earthquake survivors

The local Cuban cultural exchange centre.

The main pedestrian mall

Its the same with friendships. We know we will be spending all winter with our chosen companions in the marina, the 'live aboard crowd'. So we can choose slowly and carefully where to develop closer relationships, rather than rush into instant friendships that end in a matter of days. We've made some great new friends, including Mike and Julia (UK and Romania) and Per and Anna (Denmark).

Mike and Julia on their Westerly bilge keeler ketch

Megan, Mike and Julia

Megan in the main square

Pre earthquake door feature

Some older buildings survived the earthquake

Our favourite bakery

Colourful shops

An old church

Buying our daily bread

The bikes are again proving their worth, allowing us to explore further afield. There's no shortage of things to explore, and surprises to uncover. We looked at the floating bridge from the land, since it was quite an adventure on the water. Next to the bridge is an old Venetian fort, now left abandoned. The wetlands around Lefkas enclose a large lake with copious wildfowl. We saw some pink flamingoes, pelicans and other seabirds.

Part of the canal system around Lefkas

The bridge barge in situ.

Raising its wings

Large tugs navigate the canal, towing barges

Swinging shut

Light house built on the old Venetian fort

The fort abuts the canal entrance

Portico into the fort

Venetian details

Thick fortifications, showing Venetian epoch

Looking north over the entrance to the canal

Old structure inside the fort

The saltwater lake adjoining Lefkas

Old windmill next to the western coast

Next on our list of winter activities are further forays deeper into the island. Its quite a large island so it may take a rental car. Then we have Berlin to look forward to. We are departing Athens in early November, and have to get Pavlov up to Preveza and onto the hard before we leave. We've been busy stowing all the sails and removable deck equipment prior to motoring up to Preveza. Never a dull moment, even as we slow down for our winter domicile.