29-30 September 2026

The wine tour was conceived at a Chania wine tasting in January. Just as had our previous wine tasting to Heraklion with Nikki & Rob.  Where there is good wine …  Frances and Edward were up for it during their Crete trip, as were Jennifer and Chris from Crete.

This is my first trip since loosing James 2 months ago.

We were due to cross Kissamos to Gythio at 0815 on Wednesday 30th.  Bad weather forecast. So SeaJets messaged, emailed and telephoned to advise the crossing was brought forward to Tuesday at 1930.  Maria cancelled for a games night. Corrie’s drop off brought forward. And we were off.

The ferry left on time.  It was rough. Frances poorly 🤢.   I felt 😫. Neither of us ate. But did managed a glass of the Sekt Jennifer had brought. Docking at 0230, the crew kindly let us continue sleeping stretched out on the seats until 0530. From there we decamped to just S of Gythio to an island where Helen of Troy and Paris spent their first night. Wonder if they had more sleep than us!

Eventually coffeed and pastried up we looked at the wreck of the Dimitri. Port authorities evicted it in 1981, but as it was in such a state, it didn’t make it far.

Having arrived a day early, we had a day in hand. We drove west along the stunning west coast of the Mani middle finger. Spotting the towers of the feuding families. And the Villa construction explosion since James and I were here.

A 2.30 hr drive up to Kalamata and then a bendy road to Mystras. Z bends. Views. Overhangs. Stunning … we had driven it before with the Aged Ps, thankfully in a hire car, not the motorhome. No pix as I was driving.

Hotel ok. A bath possible with my flannel and heal wedged in the plug hole. Room basic and clean other than morning ants. Nice meal locally. Fab roasted pork with crackling. Slept well!