The Cylcades continued

After leaving Sikinos for total of 5 days, we anchored in a pretty rustic bay, at the SW end of Amorgos (we last visited this sheer, windswept island 2 years to see its amazing 800 year old monastery with 2 monks + one abbot)

Next stop the butterfly-shaped island of Astypalea - a favourite of our great Kiwi sailing buddies, Pippy and Richard

A strong South-Easterly set in with a nasty swell entering the harbour for two days... rock and roll!

The 'citadel' was built by a rich Italian in the 14th century. Due to the rule of pirates in this part of the Med then, he had to import a population to colonise the fortified town.

The view down onto the harbour.

A severe earthquake in 1956 demolished quite a lot of the houses clinging to the top of the hill, but the rebuilding is pretty good.

This was kitten city! At almost every corner, new litters were much in evidence. English Helen, on Folegandros had been doing her best to get cats spayed there to avoid the problem.

This poor old lady had an extraordinary face which Leonardo would most certainly have captured!

We think this is a grouper - just caught - and this chap seems to be looking in vain for someone to leave it with!

As the SE wind continued, we explored by scooter. The island necks to almost split in half.

A nice beach on a lee shore will always collect ... PLASTIC!!

The trusty hog allowed us to then explore the west of Astypalea ... very mountainous and spectacular.

A powerful beast ... in the right hands!

Our last Greek island for a while - Nissyros. Basically is a still active volcano (i.e. its last eruption occured less than 10,000 years ago)...

...Where we bumped into Melanie and Kenneth, our German friends who are onto their 4th pilot book update exercise; minus two dogs, plus 2 year old Fritzie.

The central crater is quite spectacular ...

... but weird to hear the hissing and roaring from the depths below us.

This last eruption site (1896) is just a small part of the main caldera, but quite an amazing landscape.

Down on the outside of the crater, the small village of Embrorios peers over the edge and has its own natural 'Sauna' - incredibly humid inside!

The smaller island just north, Yali, is almost pure pumice (ash) which is being quarried away by the decade. Behind is the southern volcanic peak of Kos. We were amazed to learn from the excellent museum on Nissyros that we were standing in one of the most volcanic active areas of the world!

And now, back into Turkish waters, we have a dinner engagement with Sabine and Wilfried + Don, the mini Schnauzer. A great evening on board Deep Blue in calm weather, laughing at Wilfried's crazy sense of humour.