After several days of rough seas, Kea gave us exactly what we needed. A day off!
Tucked into a sheltered bay, KORA became less of a sailboat and more of a floating holiday home. While Amanda and Evan disappeared beneath the surface with their snorkels, Doug (still giving his recently gashed shin a well-earned rest) settled into the role of DJ, captain, and supervisor from the comfort of the cockpit.
Eventually I couldn’t resist the water either and jumped in. Before long Amanda joined me, a wine glass for each of us in hand, and a big bowl of freshly cut watermelon. We drifted around on the floats for over an hour while music played from KORA. Soon one bowl of mouthwatering cold watermelon turned into four, and the wine was quickly forgotten. Asbsolutely delicious! It was one of those afternoons where nobody cared what time it was.
Evan, meanwhile… apparently has gills. While the rest of us floated about doing very little, he somehow managed to find another octopus. We’re beginning to suspect the local marine life thinks he’s one of them.
That evening we wandered ashore to a little taverna overlooking the bay, tucked beneath cascades of bright pink bougainvillea.
What an amazing feast of the freshest seafood!
Halfway through dinner the skies suddenly opened. No one moved. Another drink was ordered, stories kept flowing, and we simply watched the warm summer rain dance across the harbor.
Back aboard, KORA had received the freshwater rinse she’d desperately needed after days of battling the rough seas.
The following morning, however, my Greek adventures took an unexpected turn. Let’s just say a little too much watermelon and I became far better acquainted with KORA’s bathroom than I had ever planned. So I sadly waved goodbye as Doug, Evan & Amanda headed off in the dinghy.
Rather than reading about my thoroughly unexciting day aboard, I’ll let my awesome friend, Amanda, tell you about Kea…
The day began with “a little sprinkle and a dash across the harbour.” After tying up the dinghy, we wandered into town and almost immediately stumbled across a dive shop. Evan had been searching for a replacement snorkel part ever since Kos, so finding one felt like a little victory. The owner couldn’t have been kinder, helping us hail a taxi for the winding drive up to Ioulida (Hora).
“The drive was iconic,” twisting our way up the narrow roads through Kea’s countryside at an easy pace. Of course, just as we arrived… the weather hit us again: “Not heavy, just another sprinkle and enough to get us wet.”
We ducked into a little café overlooking the nearby harbour and enjoyed a cappuccino, espresso, and a traditional Greek breakfast while we waited it out. It was just in time! “The weather came, drenching the hot and arid soil and cooling the rooftops and streets. The air turned crisp and cool, and we were refreshed by the change and ready for exploring.”
As soon as we were finishing breakfast, “the clouds parted and the sun came out just in time for us to venture out.” Perfect timing!
Making our way through the village, we passed charming whitewashed houses, winding stone steps, grapevines, colourful bougainvillea and more friendly cats than seemed possible.
As we climbed higher, “the views became more and more beautiful. We took many stops just taking it all in.”
The Lion of Kea, carved directly into the rock more than 2,500 years ago, was nestled just beyond the cemetery. We took a few photos, admired the sweeping views across the island and, “of course we needed a bathroom again!” (I know that feeling Amanda!!!)
Back in town, we wandered in and out of little shops until one pottery studio stopped us in our tracks. The artist shared how she’d spent twenty years living in America before returning home to Greece, and after hearing her story, choosing the perfect handmade keepsake became an easy decision. We can’t wait for it to arrive back in Texas.
After a little Greek lunch of gyros and tzatziki, we wandered the waterfront, popping into a few more shops looking for any last treasures to bring home.
“Final stop of the day was definitely to grab a gelato before heading to the dinghy dock for the quick ride across the harbour back to rest on KORA for the evening.”
— Amanda
Indeed, sometimes the best travel days aren’t the busiest ones. They’re the ones where you simply wander, meet kind people, and let the island surprise you.
A huge thank you to Amanda for stepping in and sharing her day ashore xo
