Perfect Day

Part 13 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

Today has been just perfect
with walks beside the sea
Here upon the isle of Crete
in the sunshine, Sal and me

And the clarity of the water
as it captures glinting light
Ever present as we sail
makes everything just right

©Jemverse

[This is part 13 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-18 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

The Venetian Lighthouse

Part 12 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

To the Venetian Lighthouse
on the old harbour wall
with the breeze from the sea
to cool down one and all
As usual we timed it
with no one about
as it’s only much later
that they all come out

But by then we are sitting
in the shade with a beer
watching the crowds
in fair Chania here

©Jemverse

[This is part 12 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-18 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

Chania

Part 11 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

Past a little wooded island
down a Cretian estuary
To the Venetian port of Chania
sheltered from the sea

The Pilot was a Master
A joy to watch his craft
as he turned us on a sixpence
with thrusters fore and aft

©Jemverse

I didn’t get a picture, but the dock at Chania was only just big enough to accommodate the Thomson Dream. Watching the pilot manoeuvre the ship using just the thrusters though, was quite something.

[This is part 11 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-18 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

Leaving Rhodes

Part 10 of 20 in “The Aegean Shores’ series

Another first not seen before
Leaving Rhodes tonight
A big red tug at either end
exerting all their might

Moved the ship out from the berth
into open water
Allowed us to get underway
and moving as we ‘oughta’

Heading westward now we go
Two hundred nautical miles
where the island, Crete, awaits us
with Greek bank holiday smiles

©Jemverse

[This is part 10 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-18 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

A decade, a shirt and an island

Part 9 of 20 in “The Aegean Shores’ series

It’s ten years gone since last I walked
on this ancient cobbled stone
Yet familiarity presides
and it feels like coming home
I even wore the shirt I bought
all those years ago
For I could find another one
I might, you never know

The sun’s the same, the city too
though I’m a little older
But revisiting has its benefits
as my stride is somewhat bolder

©Jemverse

[This is part 9 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-18 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

Mandraki Harbour

Part 8 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

On Rhodes, the ancient city
build in medieval time
reflects the yellow of the sun
in every way, divine

Windmills on the harbour wall
once caught the southern breeze
Their ancient sails now still of course
beside Aegean seas

And in Mandraki harbour
where Colossus may have stood
I walked beside those windmills
because today I simply could

©Jemverse

[This is part 8 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-18 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

The boy, the ship and me

Part 7 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

Arising early with the sun
the boy looked out to sea
and saw a liner sailing by
where on the prow stood me

He watched as pilots met it
and guided it to port
whilst I on board did likewise
taking pictures as I ought

Then as the sun got higher
and the day took on its heat
he waved goodbye and left
when the docking was complete

©Jemverse

[This is part 7 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-15 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

Six hundred steps and an ice-cold beer

Part 6 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

Sitting on the harbour wall
with an ice-cold beer
Watching cool blue waters
in Santorini here
I’ve climbed six hundred steps
to Thira at the top
avoiding several donkeys
who looked fed up and hot

And then I walked back down again
taking pictures on the way
Getting warmer by the minute
at the hottest time of day
So an ice-cold beer is just the thing
sheltered from the sun
Before heading to the tender
as the day is far from done

©Jemverse

There are over 600 steps up a winding path from the harbour wall in Santorini to Thira at the top. Most visitors either take the cable car or risk a donkey ride; but I walked up. 

[This is part 6 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-15 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

Santorini

‘Santorini’ – part 5 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

Into the caldera at dawn
Golden tinge to the sky
Santorini all around
with Thira way up high

Anchors weighed, we drift
The tenders to the sea
Ferries to the waiting land
Sheltered in the lee

©Jemverse

[This is part 5 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-15 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]

 

Kalamata Castle

‘Kalamata Castle’ – 4 of 20 in ‘The Aegean Shores’ series

From Kalamata castle
having climbed for just a mile
Several ageing fir trees there
gave respite for a while

The heat was almost tangible
but we were not complaining
As the sun shines here ‘most all the time
But at home it’s probably raining

©Jemverse

[This is part 4 of a 20-part series charting a seven-day cruise with Tui from 11-15 August 2017, travelling from London to Corfu, then Kalamata (Greece), Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus (Greece), Kefalonia, Corfu and London, some 3,870 nautical miles]