We have already told you about the fishing ports on Kassandra. Now we have spent a few days on Sithonia, taking plenty of time to explore the middle finger of the Chalkidiki peninsula, including on foot. Sithonia is greener and more mountainous than Kassandra.
Along the west side, we stopped for a night in Neós Marmarás. When mooring at the only available spot, we realised that the floating jetty was completely dilapidated, wobbly and also extremely low. The swell came almost unhindered into the harbour, as the protective breakwater had been dismantled. With so much rocking, we didn't dare to get very close to the floating jetty, so we couldn't use our gangway and go ashore. No problem, we had dinner in the fridge and the view of the village was very nice. Only the champagne for our 35th wedding anniversary was missing. Contrary to our expectations, we had a quiet night and the next morning, well rested, we watched over coffee as a large fishing boat moored in front of us was manoeuvred back and forth.
In Nikiti, in the far north-west, we had a comfortable berth with water and shore power at the pier for a few days. At weekends, this is completely occupied by boats from several charter agencies. During the week, it was easy to get a spot. Next to the harbour, sun worshippers from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Moldova and a few from Ukraine were bustling about on an endless sandy beach. Germans and Brits are rarely seen here.
And once again, there was something to celebrate: Gisela's 70th birthday, this time with sparkling wine and a delicious meal ashore. We visited old Nikiti with its beautiful stone houses and wooden verandas. On a hike across the peninsula to the other side, we could see over to the eastern finger and Mount Athos.
Now we have been back in the south-west of Sithonia for a few days, in the sheltered bay of Koufós. Here we have secured a spot at the pier and are waiting for the strong north wind in the Aegean Sea to subside. We are not bored here. We have already hiked along the bay to a lagoon and over a hill to the remains of a Byzantine fortress. Swimming, draught beer on the beach and a very good fish shop make our days here a holiday paradise.
Soon, however, we will venture into the Aegean Sea, sailing 50 nautical miles to the island of Limnos to take our next visitors on board.
