Small towns are so much easier to manage and with just 300 permanent residents and up to 1000 visitors in the summer this was the ideal destination. It is also a great spot to just meet people.

John was recounting a story set in London, when he referred to himself as Mr Hood. One of our newly acquainted London friends interrupted. “What did you say your name was?” she asked. “Hood”, he said. Well, it just so happened we had engaged with another Hood family, and these marvellous people were of renown. Phillip is an incredibly accomplished artist and his daughter Laura, the Deputy Editor for The Conversation UK off to the Sienna conference Europe of the Future to introduce a keynote speaker, former Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. I didn’t get time to find out about Susan’s accomplishments, but it was obvious this vivacious articulate woman was more than background material. I’m very sorry we had such a fleeting moment together.

We had a swim off the jetty and a meal overlooking the bay. Kardamyli is located on the Mani Peninsula and is one of the oldest settlements in the Peloponnese. Its name is mentioned in Homer’s Illiad as one of the seven cities offered by Agamemnon to Achilles to tempt him back to the seige of Troy. It was also the home of English writer Patrick Leigh Fermor whose home is now a BnB and museum but not open at the time we were there. He was made an honorary citizen for his participation in the Greek Resistance during WWII.

I was very keen to hire a power boat and explore the coastline. We discovered the track down to the marina and Sabrina and her crew introduced us to the world of boating. Andreas was particularly wonderful as he explained the features of the boat and how we were going to manoeuvre it. To say we were newbies is an understatement. We seriously knew nothing, but our teacher was patient and even sat with us as we did a practice tour of the harbour.

We motored south towards Stoupa, which is renowned for its natural freshwater springs that originate from the Taygetos mountains. The spring we were interested in was the submarine spring, known as a glyphathes, which discharges up to 3600m3/h and results in a whirlpool of very cold fresh water about 100m offshore. This we had to see.

We got to potter along the coast admiring the little coves and beaches and fortunately came across the glyphathe. I noticed it only because when I turned the boat around to head home I could feel the current drag against us. It was the spring!!! We had been warned not to swim as the current was strong and the water exceptionally cold.

We got to anchor and have a swim later at one of the coves and then head back. Sabrina congratulated us on our accomplishment and also the record for using the least amount of fuel ever. A total of five litres. We were out for about three hours and did some serious pottering.

It’s Greece- time to find a beach, a taverna and have a Mythos!