27th March 2016

Yesterday, we noticed snow on the mountain tops in the distance, yet we had a lovely warm day. Today, we expected Kalamata to be cold and cloudy, as forecasted, but once again we woke to clear blue skies, and it was warm (20°C by lunchtime).

We would spend a full day in this fairly large coastal town, not leaving until 7:30 pm, so we had a leisurely start. Our first view of the town from the heights of Deck 11 was far more favourable than Heraklion the day before. We were berthed right next to the main road along the seafront, with towering mountains extending on three sides. Along the shore to the right of the harbour was one long, pretty beach.

We knew nothing of this Greek town, so upon disembarking, Sue acquired a town map from the kiosk situated on the pavement alongside the port side of the ship. The lady helpfully circled the castle, museum, and old town.

Most passengers opted to explore the town, but we decided to head along the promenade and the beach, thinking that perhaps the sunshine wouldn’t last all day. Being Easter Saturday, there were many families out for a walk, and we couldn’t help but notice how overdressed the locals were in thick coats and gloves. How crazy we must have looked at them in our t-shirts, shorts, and sandals, and how soft they appeared to us on such a lovely day.

We did spot several hardy Greeks taking a morning dip in the sea, but they could just as easily have been from Newcastle on holiday. We didn’t bother to ask, as both languages are beyond our comprehension.

The beach is fringed with numerous picturesque bars and restaurants that we thought would be delightful to linger in during the heat of the summer, watching the fishermen in their little boats going about their business.

Having finished our beachcombing, we headed into the town in search of the circles on our map. The areas of interest were located on the other side of the municipality, at the end of a very long and straight road that ran right through the centre, conveniently starting at the exit of the ship. How considerate of the town planners.

With so much time to spare today, we took our time, popping in and out of any shops that piqued our interest. As we passed through the centre, it was noticeable that this was a meeting point for the locals, as the crowds grew considerably. Groups of families greeted each other in a rather convoluted manner, hugging and exchanging numerous cheek kisses. Particularly among the men, I feel confident in predicting that this will NEVER catch on in Yorkshire.

We found the town market, a very busy affair full of the usual produce, remarkable not only for its vibrant colours but also for the large variety of fruit and vegetables available at this time of year. We could see the castle, located on a hill above the market, and set off to find its entrance.

We reached it by discovering a tiny church in a grotto underneath the castle walls. Scarily, there was an open, and thankfully empty, grave in the earthen floor. Before the occupant returned from his Easter shopping trip to the market, we moved on. At the ticket kiosk, 1 Euro secured our entrance, and we made our way up to the ramparts. Much of the castle is in poor condition, but it provides excellent views over the town, perfect for a bit of camera work.

Back down the hill in the old quarter, we stopped to watch some masons working on intricate carvings alongside the medieval church, preparing for an exhibition to be presented inside later in the month. Taking advantage of the sun, we chose a nearby restaurant to sit and have refreshments. We had a nice chat with Charlotte on Skype and found out that it was raining and cold back home.

As we made our way back to the ship, the sky began to cloud over and a chill settled in the air. After depositing our rucksacks in the cabin (for once devoid of any packages), we headed to the Grill for a late lunch.

Disappointingly, we learned that due to ‘operational’ reasons, we won’t be stopping at Civitavecchia on the 29th but will instead dock at Livorno. We had an excursion booked and will now have to either accept a refund or choose another from the new port. We shall see what’s on offer.

Later in the afternoon, it was quite evident that it had gotten cold, so we swapped our shorts and t-shirts for trousers and a fleece. We ambled further up the beach road for half an hour before stopping for hot drinks and returning to the warmth of our cabin.

We watched the departure of the ship through our window, only noticing we were moving when I caught sight of the end of the harbour wall sliding by. It was now too cold ‘up top’ for us reptilian travellers, which was a shame, as through our peephole, we could see the sun setting in hues of orange and pink over the mountains, scattering streams of rays heavenward through dark, silver-lined clouds. Another great photo missed!

We sat down very late for dinner, and there weren’t many others choosing to join us. We took in the 9:45 pm performance of Latin dancing, so colourful and fast.

For some strange reason, we had to set our clocks forward 1 hour tonight, and then tomorrow night set them 1 hour back. I hope my constitution doesn’t get upset by all this time warping. I just hope that Scotty has the lithium core online!