South America Finale and Greece

Hola from Athens!! Arrived from Barcelona about 3 days ago after a very busy last week or so in Peru (more later). The yacht training has been very informal with the main activities being doing yacht handovers (we're chartering yachts from a charter management co and have to basically check all the bits are on the yachts and that everything works) and spending a lot of time checking out restaurants and bars with my boss and the big boss from Spain! Must say Greek food is a nice change from latin!

I have 'Eva' for the season, a 5 year old 50ft Bavarian that is my home and office for the next 6 months. I've been lucky and scored the nicest yacht in the fleet of 3 except for a slight problem which is my berth is above the toilet holding tank! Phew! Hopefully working on a fix...Anyway she's a sloop, 2 sails one up front (Genoa) and the main sail (the main), has not one but two steering wheels, sleeps 8 maybe 9 with all the usual sailing gear. I'm going out with my German boss, Frank on Friday. My first charter is 4 candian couples on the 13th of May..

Greece is a crazy place. The traffic rivals south America in terms of speed and intensity. Unlike SA catching a cab is hard work. On average it takes about one has to stop 5 cabs(thats the ones that will stop) before finding one that wants to go where your going! Most just shrug and drive off if their not interested. Greece is also the last reprieve for smokers. Everyone smokes here and they smoke anytime anyplace! The taxi drivers, the bank tellers, the supermarket checkout people, the girl next to me here in the cafe smoking a cigar. etc...It is also extremely laid back but also can be incredibly bureaucratic. For example their is nice pool next to the marina that i want to swim at. However its not a matter of simply paying the admission fee and jumping in. If i want to swim i have to get a certificates from the dermatologist and the cardiologist, present my passport, provide them with a photo and pay a 15 euro registration fee! Think i'll stick to swimming at the beach..

So thats Greece..Before coming here i spent a couple of days in brilliant Barcelona staying with friends Sandra and Lidia. Sandra was on one of my charters last year and we have stayed friends. Lidia is her flatmate. It was great being able to chat in Spanish this time..

My last week or so in Peru was full on as i tried to do everything! In Copacabana i did a stunning 4 hour hike along the edge of lake Tittica and then got rowed in a tradition fisherman's skiff out to Isla del Sol. He had two sets of oars so i chipped in and it took us a hour or so two cover the 5 k out to the island. It was stunning being on the lake. A magic place. On the island i walked to the south end and stayed at a great little village on the shores, returning to the mainland the next day. Then bused it back into Peru to Puno, also on the lake to check out the floating reed islands before doing the overnight bus to Cuzco. The reed islands were fascinating. The villagers make them from reeds overlayed on top of each other and actually anchor them to the bottom using long poles. It was super touristy but interesting to see how these guys live.

After arriving the next day in Cuzco, i decided in true Damon style rather than doing the usual Macchu Picchu tourist thing i would hire a motorbike and go a back way to this amazing place. I had the bike for 4 days and toured through the scared valley and over a 4200m pass to drop into the jungle and a little town called St Cristobal where its a 2 hour walk to the base of Macchu Picchu along a the railway line that cuts through a spectacular gorge with the occasional magical glimpse of MP. A tough but brilliant tour. The views over the pass were spectacular with the road easily rivaling that of Boliva's most dangerous road. Coming back i had to wait 3 hours for road works and had to ride the final section in the dark. Even with a good jacket and gloves it was FREEZING! I had a friend, Kathy who runs a hostel in a great place called Ollyatambo come and join me on the back of the bike. Was great to have some company.

My Macchu Picchu experience was equally brilliant. I arrived late in the day and only got to spent a hour in the sight before it closed. However apart from a handful of other tourists the site was deserted. It is a magical place not so much for the impressive ruins but the setting on top of the mountain. Bummer but forgot to take my disposable camera so no pics, oh well the memories will remain for life!

Didn't spent a lot of time in Cuzco as i didn't arrive till after 11pm after my 3 hour delay at the roadworks and then had a 76:30 flight the next morning. But it looked like a great place and i can see why its so popular with tourists.

I spent one day checking out Lima before my 14 hour flight back to Spain. A nice city with some impressive buildings and squares. I didn't meet many travellers who like it but i thought it was ok..

Ok have to run and do a yacht handover so yasis from Greece!