Port Atheni

One morning we sat in the taverna enjoying our coffee and I suddenly thought how silent it was. The sun, the sea, the mountains. There seemed to be total silence. And then I listened. There was the noise of the cooks working in the kitchen, a fan whirring in the background. Somewhere there was the sound of a motorbike making its way along the coast road, a fishing boat was chug-chugging into the harbour, and although I initially thought there was no birdsong, when I really listened, it was there. Of course, there were seagulls squawking in the background, people talking. But it was all so peaceful and gentle.

We have never visited Port Atheni before. We didn't want to go on the quay, which we understand is new this season, but it took a couple of tried to find the right spot to drop the anchor. And then we stayed, enjoying the quiet, the beautiful scenery, the intimacy of the bay. It was good.

From early afternoon the quay fills up with flotilla boats, the flotilla leaders very competent, guiding the novice sailors safely into their berths. Then, in the evening, they all go off to the local tevarna, a good dinner, a very little Greek dancing and then the disco.