Tim Aquilina
writes about his trip with his family on Caraya II.
For
7 days in July of 2005 I took my family on the cruise
of lifetime. We sailed to the Greek islands on a yacht
skippered by the most wonderful person, Stefan Ritcher.
His first mate, Soulis was the perfect accompaniment.
These two showed us the best vacation we've ever experienced.
When we landed in Athens, Stefan was there to pick us
up at the airport and drive us to the boat, Caraya II
in the port town of Lavrion. We immediately set sail for
the island of Kea where we met with an old friend, Matt
Barrett. Kea
is one of the Cyclades islands and is closest to Athens
so it didn't take long to get there at all. Over dinner
we planned our sailing itinerary, and then retired to
the boat for a good night of sleep in the harbor. The
first day we sailed to the Cycladic island of Serifos,
but first stopped along the way for a swim off a secluded
bay near the island of Kithnos. This
was the first in what I can only describe as 'the best
way' to experience swimming in the Agean, or anywhere
else for that matter. After our swim, Soulis prepared
the most delicious omelette and Greek salad. I had never
tasted anything so delicious.
This was another first in what became a series of the
culinary delights, each one better than the previous.
Afterwards we sailed to the port at Serifos where we rode
a bus to the top of a mountain to visit a Church overlooking
the bay for an incredibly beautiful sunset. Once nightfall
arrived we returned
to the harbor and had a tasty meal at a waterfront taverna
which Soulis and Stefan had recommended. The next morning
we set sail back to the island of Kithnos, and docked
in a quiet little harbor where we had another fantastic
meal consisting of the most deliciously fresh fish. Stefan
and Soulis were right alongside us to help us with ordering
and translating, they turned out to be much more than
just skipper and first mate.
The very next morning we sailed to Sifnos, an island my
friend Matt Barrett had highly recommended. It was at
Sifnos where I met Tony, the owner of a really entertaining
bar called the Old Captain's Table. Tony bought us a round
of drinks and told stories of 'the good old days' in the
early 80's when Matt's band
had played there. He had pictures on the wall by the bar,
too many to count of not only Matt, but just about everyone
who had passed through this elusive place in timeless
Cyclades wonderment. Tony also recommended a great Italian
restaurant so after drinks we headed for the restaurant
Da Claudios where we encountered another savory delight.
Stefan had checked the weather report at a nearby internet
cafe and was concerned about north winds bringing weather
to the Cyclades so we decided to change our itinerary
and head for safer waters in the Argo-Sargonic Gulf.
For
7 days in July of 2005 I took my family on the cruise
of lifetime. We sailed to the Greek islands on a yacht
skippered by the most wonderful person, Stefan Ritcher.
His first mate, Soulis was the perfect accompaniment.
These two showed us the best vacation we've ever experienced.
This
was the first in what I can only describe as 'the best
way' to experience swimming in the Agean, or anywhere
else for that matter. After our swim, Soulis prepared
the most delicious omelette and Greek salad. I had never
tasted anything so delicious. 
returned
to the harbor and had a tasty meal at a waterfront taverna
which Soulis and Stefan had recommended. The next morning
we set sail back to the island of Kithnos, and docked
in a quiet little harbor where we had another fantastic
meal consisting of the most deliciously fresh fish. Stefan
and Soulis were right alongside us to help us with ordering
and translating, they turned out to be much more than
just skipper and first mate. 
band
had played there. He had pictures on the wall by the bar,
too many to count of not only Matt, but just about everyone
who had passed through this elusive place in timeless
Cyclades wonderment. Tony also recommended a great Italian
restaurant so after drinks we headed for the restaurant
Da Claudios where we encountered another savory delight.
Stefan had checked the weather report at a nearby internet
cafe and was concerned about north winds bringing weather
to the Cyclades so we decided to change our itinerary
and head for safer waters in the Argo-Sargonic Gulf.
