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Lindos, Rhodes with Acropolis in background
Continuing our tour through the Greek Islands, we launched Helios again in May 2024 after an 8-month break. This time we were smart and dry docked Helios in Didim, Turkiye so we wouldn't waste any precious Schengen days prepping Helios. From Didim, we sailed down the Turkish Riviera before crossing back over into the Greek Islands. Last summer, we visited over 22 Greek Islands and this year we revisited some islands and added 3 more unique islands (Astypalaia, Kimolos & Milos) to our list. We have barely scratched the surface of the over 2,000 unique islands of which only 227 are inhabited.
In total, we visited four out of the six main island groups in Greece, each with its own unique architecture, culture, history and activities:
Ionian Islands (Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Zakynthos)
Dodecanese Islands (Crete, Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Kos, Kalymnos, Astypalaia)
Cyclades Islands (Naxos, Paros, AntiParos, Amorgos, Thirasia, Santorini, Ios, Irakleia, Sikinos, Koufonisi, Kimolos, Milos)
Saronic Islands (Angistri, Poros)
North Aegean Islands (maybe another day?)
Sporades Islands (maybe another day?)
Below is a photo tour of most of the islands we have visited in reverse chronological order, with the most recently visited one being first. Milos was the last island in the Cyclades that we visited before heading to Kalamata, Greece, where we left Helios for a quick trip back to Chicago to get a break from the intense summer heat in July.
MILOS
Colorful, charming village near the main town of Adamantes.
Top Row (L-R): Helios anchored in midst of rock formations; Taking dinghy into caves and through arches; Goats! Can you spot all the goats on and between the cliffs?
Middle Row: Dale, our dinghy captain; Christine paddle boarding; View from inside cave
Bottom Row: We swam through this cave and ended up in these beautiful bays with crystal clear water and excellent snorkeling
KIMOLOS
Kimolos offered protection from the Meltemi winds en route to Milos. Winds clocked up to over 42 knots!
Top left photo is of Helios anchored in a stunning bay in Kimolos. The remaining photos are scenes that surrounded us while we sheltered here for a couple of days. No complaints here...
ASTYPALAIA
 Quaint village of Chora atop a steep hill with sweeping views of the sea from the castle & chapel
Astypalaia is a butterfly-shaped island in the Aegean, midway between the Cyclades and Rhodes. From our anchorage, it was a 30-minute walk up a hill past windmills and white-washed homes to reach the Venetian castle and Panagia Portaitissa Church.
SANTORINI
Oia, Santorini where we spent part of our honeymoon exactly 25 years ago
Row 1: View from Oia looking south towards caldera, Dawn in Oia
Row 2: Central Oia, Canaves Oia Hotel - door to room where we stayed on our honeymoon in 1998
Row 3: View from our Caldrea House hotel balcony, Night time in Oia
Row 4: 25th Anniversary breakfast on our balcony, View from hotel looking north
CELEBRATING DOUBLE ANNIVERSARIES ON SEPT. 5, 2023 IN SANTORINI
HAPPT 6TH TO DAVID AND KATHLEEN AND HAPPY 25TH TO DALE AND CHRISTINE!!!
Anniversary Dinner at Roka in Oia, Santorini
THIRASIA
Thirasia Anchorage, Helios is the second boat in the foreground, Santorini Island in the background
Row 1: Horseshoe-shaped bay, View of Helios from Captain John's Restaurant, Trail above village
Row 2: Christine on a steep trail, Trail from village to residential area, Dale in the neighborhood
SIKINOS
Tiny port of Sikinos
Row 1: Steep hike up to Church of Panagia
Row 2: Church of Panagia front entrance, One of the parishoners, Interior of church
Row 3: Entrance for midgets, Steep hike back down to harbor, Ferry wake near Helios
Row 4: Scenery by Helios, Helios anchored
IOS
View of Chora town in Ios
Row 1: Sunset dinner with panoramic view, Cafe in Chora, Greek Orthodox Church
Row 2: Cruising Ios in a dune buggy, Bee keeping boxes, Stunning bay view from outdoor theater
Row 3: Homer's Tomb, Octopus displayed at a seaside restaurant, Hot-rodder Dale
AMORGOS
The 1988 movie, "The Big Blue" was filmed here on Amorgos Island
Snorkeling around the Olympia shipwreck which sank in February, 1980
IRAKLEIA
Livadi Beach Anchorage
Dale displying a line that got tangled in our rudder, Livaidi Beach, Ram on the mountainside
ANTIPAROS
AntiParos waterfront
Row 1: Immaculate pedestrian walkways of AntiParos
Row 2: White-washed shop and church along the water front
Row 3: AntiParos harbor, One of many high-end shops
Row 4: Over 50 kite-surfers and wind surfers skimming the water, Residences in AntiParos
PAROS
View of residential area of Paros from our anchorage in Paroikia Bay
