Of Frogs and Blogs

As I write this blog I hear what sounds like croaking frogs outside my cabin. Now I know this is not possible as we are currently sailing under an almost full moon in the middle of the Aegean sea on our way to Mykonos and Delos. Then I remember escaping this evening’s “entertainment” in the Tropical Bar, which just happens to be called “Frog Racing”. No they’re not real frogs but these flat wooden discs cut out in the shape of a frog, painted green and strung on a string. The sound I hear I am sure is the slapping of these things on the teak deck, which are just now reaching a crescendo. I had to bow out as in order to make the frogs move you have to be in a squatting position which is now impossible having spent the last two days hiking up on the islands of Samos and Patmos to look at, you guessed it, ruins, but wait, there’s more, tunnels, caves, and monasteries too! Actually, the last three days have been incredible with beautiful vistas, quaint seaside villages, and friendly villagers too. Today on the island of Patmos after a very strenuous hike up a steep cobblestone path to the Monastery of St. John, we found a treasure of a restaurant at the foot of the monastery called “Jimmy’s Balcony”. There we had the best Greek food of our trip with an incredible view of our ship, anchored way below in a majestic blue harbor. On the way out we complimented the cooks in our now practiced Greek, “poli kala” (which means very good) and the main chef turned and greeted us in unbroken, clear English and said he was from America too! After our hike back down to the harbor we snorkeled off a beach in crystal clear waters, napped among the topless sunbathers and bid a sad farewell to one of the most pleasant ports we’ve encountered so far. Tomorrow in Delos, in the AM, I’m hoping to view some magnificent Phallus statues which I’ll be sure to document with photos. I’ll post them on the blog for those who care to see. After that, we head into Mykonos late in the day, to party the night away with the beautiful people. We probably won’t get back to an internet connection for a couple of days so as the Greeks would say…….Adio!
P.S. Pete’s team won the frog race! Something else for the resume.