Poor, sweet Missalonghi.

After 2 days in Agrostoli, Kephalonia in the Ionian sea we continued on toward Athens.  We booked Codes flight home to deal with the house, insurance, and all other Irene-related disasters and then tried to get as close to Athens as we could.  Unfortunately, we only got as far as Missalonghi.  The town itself is not so bad. Friendly, small-town.  However this is one town that never made into the postcard photos of Greece.   Maybe it is 'real Greece', it probably is for many, but it wasnt the Greece that we came to see.

Code is at the house finding contractors, cleaning, digging, hammering, and saying an unexpected hello to friends at the school bus stop.

I moved the boat to a marina so that we could top up our battery, use water with reckless abandon, do laundry in machines (nothing...NOTHING cleans better than even the worst washing machine), take showers, and clean the boat as it is just disgusting after 2 weeks without a wash...at least.  There are also many gypsies around, which whether there is truth to the stereotype or not, have a reputation for theft.  Better safe than sorry.  In the morning, I worked and schooled the kids in the morning. Did laundry in the afternoon.  Plopped them in front of a movie at 6:30, then walked 1.5 miles to the grocer,only to find out that they do not take credit cards and I had no cash. So I walked to another grocer and shopped all over again.  Dinner? Kids had pasta (as usual) and some fruit. I had half a cucumber, nuts, and a beer (vegetable, protein, and carb, right?).  I took a shower.  It was icey cold, which was not my first choice, but it was sweet.

Tomorrow we will leave for Kryoneri.  About 12 nautical miles and hundreds of lightyears away.  It scares me to pretty much singlehand the boat with the two kids.  Saying that makes it really sound crazy, but I am sure we will be OK.  Aethan is a competent (if not bossy) 'first mate'.  Graeme is competent at staying below and keeping himself occupied and content.  I know the GPS, the maps, and have the pilot book.  I know the boat but there is more in terms of systems that I am learning on the fly.  I have done this a gazillion times, but always with Code. This time it is all me (and my bossy first mate).  I am excited and a just a little scared.  I feel the inquisitive eyes of others as I dock and handle the boat as a 'single' woman (in their eyes).  Still true to one of my favorite mottos:  how hard can it be?