Preveza is not one of Greece’s best known tourist destinations.  So why was did I spend six nights there? If you read my blog last year you will know that I’m part owner of a yacht called Izabela and that I plan to sail her with the other owners for a couple of months each year.  Due to last minute and very unforeseen circumstances we were unable to go this year so I made other arrangements for my time away. As my return flight was from Preveza, where our boat is stored, I decided to spend my last few days there and check on Izabela.

Being the end of my travels I was pretty weary so it was very nice to relax in one place for a while and enjoy the town and waterfront.  Preveza is located in the west of Greece and faces the Ionian Sea.  The old part of town is lovely and we spent most nights wandering the streets before settling in to eat a late dinner at one of the many tavernas. Nine o’clock is about the time when the locals end their evening stroll and head in to one of the many restaurants along the water or in the adjoining streets.

Preveza’s clock tower was built in 1752 during the Venetian domination of the city. When we first arrived in the town we were disappointed to find it covered as it was being restored. On our last night we were sitting outside an adjacent bar and suddenly realised the cover had been removed. For the next hour or so we sat watching as the locals, out on their evening stroll, also realised the cover was gone. They all stopped to chat and admire the clock, very happy that it was again in full view.

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We also enjoyed time on the local beach, where you can use one of the many beach chair all day for free on the condition that you order some drinks and food from the nearby restaurant, which we were very happy to do. The chairs sit under gum trees which made us feel quite at home.

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For our last few days we hired a car and drove further west, stopping at nearby Nicopolis – the ruins of a city founded in 29 BC by Augustus Caesar to celebrate his victory over Antony and Cleopatra near to the site. The ruins are very impressive with large sections of the original walls still intact, a theatre with 77 rows of seats, an Odeon, and a stadium which once held over 10,000 spectators.  We drove on enjoying some magnificent views until we reached Parga, a very popular coastal town, before returning to Preveza.

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Izabela was in good spirits but missing the water.  She only needed minor maintenance and a good airing. I was also yearning to be back on the water after spending time at the marina among the other boats and yachties.  Hopefully next year I will once again be writing this blog from my cabin.

This is my last post for this trip, so I’ll close with a huge thank you to those who shared the journey with me – Andrew, Mark and Terence (Italy), Lee-Anne (Greece), June (Croatia and Prague), Anna and Dave (Croatia) and my brother Terence (Budapest and Preveza). Your friendship and company made my holiday so much more enjoyable, and heaps of fun.