The capital of the island of Lesbos is located on the east coast and is called Mytilini. The Castle of Mytilini can be seen from almost every viewpoint in the city — not only because it stands on a high hill, but also because it is one of the largest castles in the Mediterranean. The first structures date back to the Byzantine period (6th century), likely built on the remains of an even older ancient acropolis. In the 14th century, the Genoese Gattilusio family significantly expanded the fortress while they ruled Lesbos. The castle was built to protect the city from pirates and enemy naval attacks. After the Ottoman conquest in 1462, additional walls, bastions, and storage areas were added, giving the complex its current impressive size. The castle covers about 60 hectares, highlighting its strategic importance; located close to the Turkish coast, Mytilene was for centuries an important military and trading center in the Aegean Sea. We spent the entire afternoon walking across the grounds, passing remains of Ottoman bathhouses, water reservoirs, underground storage spaces, and an old mosque.

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We arrived at the island of Chios and, as is typical during this time of year, we were the only boat at the quay. We did notice some kind of rack sticking out over the water when we tied our put up at the quay. It turned out that we had docked right in front of the only restaurant that was open, and their specialty was “sun-dried octopus,” which was lying there drying in the sun. Even though the weather was sunny, we still needed some extra electricity—for example, to run a load of laundry. During the low season, electricity is often turned off for sailors, and that was the case here as well. We asked the restaurant owner if we could roll out our 50-meter power cable to the restaurant to get electricity for two days. Of course, we were willing to pay for it. But Greeks are often so hospitable and friendly—it wasn’t necessary. It was around lunchtime, so we showed our gratitude by having lunch and drinks there. A win-win situation! I filmed the restaurant and how our electricity cable was set up—funny to see, also the octopus and the tree in the restaurant!

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We didn’t know that Samos wine is to Greece what, for example, Champagne is to France or Port is to Portugal: the signature, iconic alcoholic drink! So there are plenty of wineries. But our harbor master tipped us off about a small winery producing organic Samos wine. We set off for the eastern part of the island and rented a car for the trip. The winery, Hatziioannou Estate, is located in a beautiful spot in the green hills on the east side of Samos, naturally surrounded by vineyards. They are exclusively dedicated to the production of high-quality organic wines. We received a warm welcome and were invited to sit at a large table overlooking the tanks and wine barrels. The inspiring owner shared his story with us, explaining how he started the winery together with his wife and sons. Watch the video of our arrival at the winery, the tasting, and the lovely owners here!

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