Sailing the Aegean
Think of the Adventure, Paris text me! Never tempt me with the ‘A’ word. It’s something I can’t resist. So there I was, packing to leave to sail the Aegean Sea the next day on a great adventure of a lifetime.
4am, sleepy eyed we headed off, out of the port on my uncle’s sailing boat. We had our coffees, breakfast and played a few games of eye spy and before we knew it we were passing Paphos. “Last chance to get off” said my uncle. No way. Turning back is not my thing. We sat in silence, starring, as the final piece of our motherland faded into the horizon. Knowing we wouldn’t see land again for a long time.
The next 28 hours were spent rotating between eating, sleeping, sailing and playing games. The heat mixed with the pills we took (to prevent motion sickness), made us sleepy so most of the journey is a little hazy.
The sea sprayed over us. Droplets teasing our lips, landing on them softly. Another 19 hours before we can immerse ourselves in her.
When nightfall came we took it in shifts to be watchman. I couldn’t wait for my shift. 4am-7am. Excitedly I went upstairs to swap with Paris.
In the darkness I could make out Paris’ shadowy figure pointing upwards, I went and sat next to him and looked up. We both sat in silence for what didn’t even matter how long, because nothing existed right there and then apart from the millions of stars that were above us. I have never in my life seen stars like these. They wrapped around us entirely, horizon to horizon. Nothing in their way, no far away light pollution to stop them glowing. 27 falling stars we counted between us.
He stayed awake with me for a bit as we fell into deep conversations about life and feeling mighty. With that setting it seems that, that is all you can speak about. Eventually sleep took over and he slipped away into dreamland. I made myself comfortable and star gazed. Slowly stars started to disappear and blacks were turning to blues. I searched the dark horizon for the crack of light.
There he was, taking his time to rise up. There is something so humble about watching the sunrise over the waves, with nothing but water surrounding you for miles.
I sat watching his grandest production that I have ever seen. Slowly he painted the colours back into existence. Filling the air and my mood with warmness. I spent the next few hours blissfuly watching the waves.
2 hours left, and the first sight of land broke the blue views we had had for the last ages. It was the island of the red castle, Kastellorizo, our destination.
After we docked, Paris and I went to explore the heights of the tiny colourful island. We walked up through the miniature streets and then up 400 steps. He made me promise not to look at the view until the top. Now, I know they say it’s the journey and not the destination but my goodness were they wrong about this place!
The views from the top of the island were…unimaginable. I can’t put it into words. The sun was setting behind the peaks, islands clustered together, the world looking like the most perfectly painted picture. It all seemed at grasps length.
The walk back down was peaceful and full of awe, taking in the ever changing view for as long as we could before eventually the black sky once again covered us.
We woke up and crept over to the other side of the island. This was to be our first dip in the sea since we left Cyprus. We all treated it as a ceremonial event. Taking our time to appreciate the heat on our skin before diving into the cool depths. Plunging in was a dream, a dream completed with a dozen playful turtles.
Rhodes was our next stop. Setting off early again and sailing another 12 hours, this time with the company of another two sailing boats. We arrived late at night and took a stroll around the old castle. Merchants filled the walls, selling fabrics and laces. After a well deserved crepe we wondered back to the harbour. I needed to pack and be up early for my flight back the next day.
It wasn’t until I was on the plane that I had some time to reflect on the past few days. A little smile spread over my face in silent bliss. Another bucket list tick.
