Crews Letter #2008 05  Stavros

“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”

                                                         William Shakespeare

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For most Americans, Zorba or Telly Savalis is the definitive Greek.  For a few, he may be Onassis.  For us, the John Wayne of Greece is Stavros.  He is bigger than life, confident, competent and complete.  He is a businessman in Athens, charter boat owner, captain for hire, and caretaker for his family.   They describe him as the ‘Godfather’.  In the very best sense of the term, he is. 

 

Through some wonderful turn of good fortune, we have been adopted into his family.

 

Stavros and Fred developed a friendship as they commiserated over the pains and arrows of a new boat in Koper, Slovenia in 2001.  At some point in the process, Stavros said that when Perception gets to Corfu, call me and we will take care of you. Since then it is all magic:

2001 Gouva, Corfu

Fred sends Stavros our Greek phone number as soon as we get one.

Mehales steps to the back of Perception and says, “Stavros says, ‘Turn on your phone.’”

The phone rings and Stavros says, “Mehales is our engineer.  He will do anything you ask.”  We ask and he does.

Stavros comes to Corfu and shows us the island, some of the best food treats it has to offer and gives us his car.                                                                                  

2002 Athens                                                                                                                                  Stavros Mourtzinos greek Greece perdika mona aegina

We have dinner and exchange cruising plans.                                                                                   Sea captain

2004 Levkas

We cruise together to Corfu.

Stavros and Chrissanthi meet us in Triest, Italy and we sail to Venice.

2005 Corfu                                                                                                            Stavros Mourtzinos greek Greece perdika mona aegina

Stavros meets us in Corfu.  Gives us his house and car.  

We cruise together in the Ionian.

When a part for Perception is in Athens and we are in Turkey, they make a trip to Turkey and bring it to us.

2006 Olympic Marina

We meet in near Athens for dinner and discuss cruise plans.

2007

2008    Athens

We ask for help getting reservations in an Athens Marina.  He arranges everything.

We arrive at Zea Marina, midday, midweek.  He is there to help with the lines and to assure that all is right.  He should be at work.

The concert arrangements for Hayden and Donna’s last concert are not known.  Stavros picks us up at Zea and we drive to the church where the choir have assembled.  They leave by metro (subway) knowing the terminal where they will exit, concert location is still unknown.  Stavros drives us to the station and we follow them, by car and by foot, through Athens to a square.  We enjoy the concert.  Afterwards, it is dinner by the sea and back to Zea.

 

During dinner, Stavros asked that we meet the Sunday after Donna and Hayden’s cruise for a day sail.  “Of course!”

 

Sunday, the day sail became an overnight with Perdika on Aegina as the overnight destination.  His nephew, Nikolas, joined us.  Perdika is their home village.  Stavros sister and brother-in-law, Nikolas’ parents live there.   We received a warm welcome and a great visit.

 

There are many stories.  There is one we want you to picture.  Moni is a small island a mile west of Perdika.  A small Stavros, maybe 8 or 10 years old, in an inner tube, swimming off for a day’s adventure on Moni.  A mile at sea in an inner tube.  Why not!

 

Our man in Greece, Stavros. 

 

Sails, Full and By,

Phyl and Fred

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