Saturday, June 24, 2006
Hi from Tapestry,
Rather than just go to Corinth when we left Itea, we headed straight for the
Corinth Canal. There was little wind and so we motored the whole way to the
canal.
On the way we had one of the best dolphin shows we had ever seen. There were
hundreds of them and they swarmed to the boat, jumped and dove and swam right
along with us, virtually scratching their backs on the bow of the boat. These
were big dolphins, not the little stubby ones we had seen farther west.
The Corinth Canal is at the end of the Gulf of Corinth and separates the
Ionian and the Aegean Seas. It was opened at the end of the 19th Century and
was one of the most expensive canals ever built. Before the canal was built, men
used to drag whole ships over the isthmus on a paved road that is partially
still in tact. Nero had 6000 Jewish slaves begin the canal during his reign,
but he was quickly thwarted by trouble in Gaul. Although it is only 3.2 miles
long, the walls are 250 feet high at the highest point. It is only 25 meters
wide, so traffic goes one way at a time. The canal is closed on Tuesdays so
that the limestone walls can be repaired. After we passed through (without
incident), we went to the canal office to pay. I held my breath, but the
officer in charge went by the book. He was a polite young man who spoke English
clearly and never stuttered when he asked me for 125 Euros for the trip. (Will
that be cash or charge?) As it saved us hundreds of miles and three capes, it
was well worth the price. Perhaps the most interesting part were the hydraulic
bridges at both ends. Rather than go up, they go down. The bridges sink
beneath the sea and you just motor right over them. I've never seen that
before. Aside from that, it was just a big cut through white rock.
That night we went to Korfos, a small town with several hotels and a
grocery store, and that was about it. Next day we headed for Epiharvros, just
ten miles down the peninsula. There we found a hotel with one computer which
they allowed us to use. We made reservations for our flight home.
Interestingly, our first choice, August first, was sold out. We will be flying
back to Florida on July 25th.
It has been really hot here the last few days, approaching 100 degrees. As a
result, we have done lots of swimming. The water in the Aegean is saltier than
in the rest of the Med... I can float and roll over without ever putting my
face in the water. Either that is due to the salt or perhaps more fat on me.
We have been enjoying those frappe's in the afternoons. I hope it is the salt!
This morning we are in Poros, a larger town rife with ferries and ships. We
haven't gone ashore yet, but it looks like a lovely place More later. All the
best, Hank and Julie