Mt Athos and a windy tour of the Island of Limnos

We spent most time with Fay around the middle, Sinthonia peninsular...

... so lovely to have her on board!

We then left to explore the most important place for the Greek Orthodox church - the Akti peninsular and Mt. Athos.

There are 17 monasteries in all, with very restricted access; some vast like this.

Women are literally not allowed within a mile of this most sacred place (this is being overturned through European courts).

Some monasteries would look at home on a central European lake ...

Or in Tibet even!

At the southern tip of the Akti peninsular, occupied hermits' dwellings cling to the sheer cliffs.

We finally say goodbye to Mt. Athos and the Greek mainland. Superb!

Back in one of our favorite places - Myrina, Limnos Island.

Loads of great coffee bars to chill in.

Deep Blue is down there.

A couple of days later it was so windy the Greek flag up on the fort blew out!

So we went for a car tour of this great island.

Impressive sand-dunes on the Northern coast.

And an windswept walk along a great beach - just like being in Cornwall, almost!

Except for the ancient remains of a once great civilization - this is the (very over-restored) 12th century BC amphitheatre at Ifestia.

Back south to a windswept Freshwater Bay, where we had first anchored with Tom nearly a month ago after we'd left Lesvos.

Not forgetting some excellent wine (and cheese) Limnos has a lot to offer and to be enjoyed. We hope to be back to (maybe) our favotire Greek Island.

After very sadly saying goodbye to Fay in Myrina, we holed up on the quay in Moudros for 2 days windsurfing, before finally saying goodbye to Greece for this year. Next stop - Turkey!