Πέμπτη = Thursday, συγκίνηση = Thrill.

Today’s Greek Lesson: 

Thrill = synkínisi = συγκίνηση

Getting off the dock this morning was much less eventful than getting on it, thankfully, and we slipped away so quietly that some of our guests didn’t even wake up until we were under way. 

A sleep in was warranted, as dinner ashore in Faskardo was much later than dinner on Pnoe usually is, and some of us didn’t hit the sheets until close to midnight. It was worth it though, as we enjoyed cocktails on a balcony and fantastic dinner by the sea side, twinkly lights of town and shops with lovely things decorating the sidewalks, and sweet, feral cats occasionally agreeing to be petted and photographed. A perfect night ashore in Greece.

As Pnoe made its way back to sea, Lou Lou whipped up hot breakfast to accompany the fresh pastries Romesie collected from the bakery first thing this morning. Romesie does like a pastry in the morning, and we all benefit from it.

We arrived in no time to Arkudi Island where we sat alone in a shallow bay. We jumped in for a solid swim of about 1.5 miles, into a beach at the end of a narrow bay and back. Waiting for us at the little beach were some very large goats. We watched them leap around the island for a while before turning around. On the way back we did a SwimVacation favorite exercise we call Conga Line. This is a drafting practice where we swim head to toe in a line, the front person takes so many strokes then drops to the back and so on. When you are in the back of a long line, you barely have to swim at all. It’s pretty amazing and a fun way to cover some distance. 

Jane did a gorgeous dive off the bow just for funsies.

We boarded to an early lunch of amazing cheese-and-other-things pies - think quiche but much much better. A seafood salad accompanied, and somehow a plate of cookies appeared for dessert. They’re all gone now.

Thank you, Romesie for Grabbing the camera for this shot of us exploring my fav Meganisi Caves!

We made our way up to the western shore of Meganisi island, home of the relatively famous and incredibly large Papanikolis Cave. This cave is so big that I’ve seen a tourist boat holding 40 souls enter, spin around and exit. It’s BIG. My favorite part of the area though is about ¼ mile south of the main attraction, which is an unnamed little cut that has 3 stunningly beautiful caves at its foot. Richie expertly put Pnoe in the cut, and we jumped out to explore. 

These caves are so unique, with their complex layers like slices of stone reaching up up up from the water’s edge. We splashed around and played here before moving along the steep cliff face to round the corner. 

This one too, Romesie! Thank you!

As we reached it, we could feel the power of the coming swell. The sea surface was bouncy and rough, and we knew it would be a sporty swim to Papanikolis and back. Alina and I gave everyone the option to either make the swim or head back to the boat. Roger and Kevin opted to sit this one out - no judgements here. It was a frothy effort and this is a vacation after all! The ladies all wanted to go, and so we swam.

It’s very hard to do big waves justice in photographs, but these come close to showing the chaos of the froth. Jane, Cynthia and Susan put heads down and moved with strength and grace through it. When we occasionally stopped to check on their spirits, all we saw were wild smiles. They were thrilled. Focused, but thrilled. Onward!

We reached the big cave and had it to ourselves - no other boats or snorkelers had the courage to venture out in such conditions. We charged in and swam the 50 or so yards to the rocky beach at the back of the cave. We were so pleased with our efforts our ebullience echoed in the cavernous space. It’s so big in there - it’s hard to really make it clear in a photo.

We collected a few rocks and hooted and hollered a bit before heading back out. As we did it was clear that the conditions had worsened. 

Once more into the breach!

There were white caps atop steep waves now, some were even breaking at the mouth of the cave. Alina and I spotted Pnoe - Skipper had to move out of the cut and just off shore as the swell increased. We gathered up the three intrepid ladies and briefed them on the new plan as waves crashed over our heads. We will swim toward the boat, when we get within 20 yards we will stop, huddle up and await instructions from the bridge and Lisa on deck. We did just that, and amid the mayhem of a white water sea, one by one we climbed the ladder - no easy feat in such conditions - and made it safely aboard. High fives all around, the men were impressed with us and the women were ecstatic with what we had just accomplished. I’m so proud of these swimmers. They all just stayed present and made it to where we needed to go. I think they even enjoyed the power they felt within themselves along the way.

And thank you Kevin for getting some footage of us charging toward the boat through the froth!

We rinsed and let Skipper get us to a nice calm bay further North on Meganisi where we now sit. Everyone devoured apps and dinner and especially dessert - make your own crepe night! My favorite. A raging debate ensued about the best and proper way to dress and eat a crepe. Our significant British contingent (Lisa, Richie and Kevin) hold that only lemon juice and sugar should go into a crepe. I actually meant to do that and whoopsie also added butter. Sorry, not sorry. Jane hit the nutella and I think Cynthia did too, though I was so engrossed in problem solving how I could eat my entire crepe I really lost interest in what everyone else was doing with theirs. In the end, I couldn't finish it. In the end, Alina may or may not have finished it for me. We are teammates, after all. Leave no crepe behind.

So that was a Thursday. The morning was calm and the afternoon was wild and full of thrills. Why not top it off with crepes.

I think everyone will sleep well tonight. It’s hard to believe we only have one full day left. These 5, connected and strong, will make the most of whatever we throw at them.

Kali Nikta,

Heather