Valletta to the Greek Peloponnisos
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Valletta, the fortress city built by the knights of St John, after the Great Siege of 1565 on Malta, would have to hold some of the most fascinating history we have found in the Mediterranean. It was the Knights of St John who halted the advance of Islam to the west. St Paul was shipped wrecked on the island on Malta around AD 60 on his way to Rome. During his 3 months stay he converted the whole population to Christianity making the island one of the 1st Christian communities in the world.
St John's Cathedral is a highlight .From the outside this under stated building surprises with walking over the inlaid marble tombs of past knights and the 2 paintings by Caravaggio painted during his time with the knights. His biggest painting ever is the 'Beheading of St John the Baptist' which depicts the indifference taken by all present on the occasion.
The island is an interesting mix of architecture as we imagine the entire battles waged here for occupation between the Romans, Arabs, Normans, Knights and finally the British with the 2nd Great Siege during the 2nd World War.
In the cool of the evening we visit again the elegant walled Mdina in the centre of Malta with Christine and Ken. With the lamp lit narrow lane ways, we absorb the ambience, taking you back in time to medieval times. On the way to Mdina, we run out of transport, so its hitch a ride with a local. After explaining how we got to Malta. he replied 'I hope I never see you again'. After a deathly silence, he explained he was with search and rescue and flew the helicopter.
Refugees also land here nearly every day which keeps them very busy. He told us how only two days ago after the rescue of refugees from Africa, he had to deliver a baby in the helicopter. Now as part of the EU, Malta is receiving assistance for this problem with patrol boats and helicopters.
The Maritime Museum gets a quick look, the men love war stories, but my mind is on getting food ready for our two day crossing. The weather on forecast.uoa.gr shows it is going to blow for the 2 days, but as it's in the right direction making the men happy.
The Peloponnisos is 360nm away, its blowing NW and I can see the yellow spinnaker getting ready for an airing. Too shy and blowing 30 knots the spinnaker comes down after several hours, we are now surfing down waves and hitting 14 knots of speed. Reefing down for a comfortable night, pre made beef stew with a touch of chilli is served.
Crossing many shipping lanes in the night, we are constantly on the look out with the radar proving its worth. We track one huge container ship on a collision course with us. Despite trying to raise him on the radio we now response and only narrowly avoid him. Its not that we can't change course it's we would like to know they can see us; they look like monsters bearing down on us.
Second day at sea is perfect conditions as we meander along sailing doing nothing but sleep, eat and read. By full moon, our second night at sea, and Venus very bright in the sky we have a very pleasant sail with wind just off our beam. New Zealand lamb is on the menu, bought in Malta, with the smell of mint sauce and sun going down it doesn't get any better. This is Christine's first long distant sail. Even though it was huge following seas in the beginning, it all settled down and we have a very memorable two day and two nights at sea.
Katakolon is our land fall, a small fishing harbour with an enormous tourist attraction of the first Olympic site of the ancient games, 25 miles inland. What a relief, after all the baron places, to see green trees and hear noisy cicadas on this northern west peninsular of Peloponnisos (Greece). Not many yachts enter Greece in this port so clearance takes longer than normal as the officials are a little confused because they cant believe we have come from Malta.
The site of Olympia is magnificent with columns lying everywhere. We walk past the gymnasium flanked by olive trees, walk the length of the athletes' field and stand on the spot where the Olympic flame is still lit as it was in ancient times.
The museum is full of pieces found including statues during excavations in the 1800s. It's far more impressive than we imagined we would see, and came away with the feeling very privileged to have been to this sight of the original Olympic Games and the Statue of Zeus one of the Ancient Seven wonders of the World
This is a quote from the area I would like to share with you.
'Welcome to the Archaeological site of Olympia, one of the most important religious centres of Antiquity. Its powers and influence was felt throughout the entire Greek world. In this place Zeus, father of the Olympian Gods, was worshipped and splendid athletes contested the Olympic's. Here too, today, the ceremony of lighting the flame for the modern Olympic games takes place'. End quote.
Now on our way up through the lush green Ionian Islands and enjoying local produce of black Kalamata olives, delicious feta and dolmades.