Kos to Ios
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Our entry to the Greek Islands is Kos and once you get past the fast food and loud music you can find it's interesting preserved history strewn everywhere, especially the original mosaic floors and painted walls from Roman times still in their original position. Great to see Janey and it's always nice to have company onboard. Our evenings are spent listening to roots 'n blues music under bougainvillea and full bloom pink oleander.
Our first island is Kalymnos and now away from the main land it suddenly strikes you how baron and rocky these islands are going to be. The blue water and the all white houses and churches with their blue dooms, doors and windows make up for it. Our first meal ashore in the bay of Emborios is very local and delicious. Inquiring as to what is fresh and local the reply to the chicken was 'it's the neighbours'. Too much information as we don't dare look over the fence.
A day sail or motor as it's on the nose to Amorgos famous for the movie 
The Big Blue being filmed here. Passing many small islands that are really big rocks sticking out of the ocean and the habital bigger islands with strange formations incurred by earthquakes in the past. When you first arrive at Amorgos you can't help seeing on the side of the baron mountain these stone walls looking like veins that lead up from the ocean and cross to form paddocks. The walls are 2000 years old and the area was cultivated once. Nothing grows here now, not even an olive tree.
The Port of Ay Annas is small and as natural as it gets with every house white and blue. Out to the bay of Ormos Kalotiri and Ian is looking for Shirley Valentine. These are very lazy days in the hot sun we swim and move on. In this bay there are 3 Aussie flags; Tim Lamble from the Eastern suburbs is solo circumnavigating the world and a Perth family.
In Katapola, 40 race yachts are on the wall and we soon learn that's it's the 41st Aegean Rally, an islands race out of Athens. The fleet included 2 Farr 52's. They told us they had an Aussie entry 2 years ago and Ian thinks it was Bill Psaltis. What a fantastic event going from island to island in these winds and water. After the prize giving we had the local specialilty lobster spaggetti, unforgettable!!
Our highlight to this island has to be the visit to the 9th Century Monastery high in the mountains. A breath taking day we climb 300 stairs and have to take cloths to cover all our skin. Inside where 3 monks still live we are welcomed to sit down at their table and have sweets and local liquor. The Monastery clings precariously to a cliff face and contains a miraculous icon that was found in the sea below the cliff.
Santorini is amazing; here they now say is the lost city of Atlantis and you are actually sitting in the volcano. The anchorage is not ideal at Thira but we take the risk on this perfect day in 50 meters of water. The cable car takes us up to Thira and we bus to Oia, the most picturesque town I have ever seen. 
The views from the ridge are spectacular and even though its tourists everywhere somehow you don't mind, everyone should see this place.
The island in the middle of the large harbour is just a huge pile of black coal which I found to be very spooky. This 'island' is actually the plug for the volcano which they say could blow anytime. But it was when Ian told me about the big fat rats, that I was on my way very quickly.
On our entrance there were day time fireworks, later we were to learn that the Olympic touch relay had just passed though. There is certainly an Olympic feeling in the air here.
Now in Ios which has my vote for sandy beaches. This is reported to be the nudist island but in fact it's a bit of both. Another lazy day and…. where is Ian?