Hellooooooooo everyone! Well, lost to update you all on, but I'll try and be brief (as IF ive ever succeeded in that). So before leaving Hvar we shelled out a fair bit to hire a little chug chug boat for the day, which was most definitely worth it!! After a 10 minute "crash" course on how to use the motor (probably the wrong term for it....but it nearly turned out to be true..) we were sent on our way, and left to pick our way carefully through the harbour, being sure not to clip any of the highly expensive yachts on our way out (which we JUST managed after fathoming that turning left means going right and right means left when sailing). And once let loose on the water we made our way on and out of some of the little islands around Hvar (which turn out to be home to many a nudist beach...which we found out the hard way whilst sailing closer to examine the beach). Our first anchoring led us to realise that we hadnt listened when the man had told us how to stop the engin....so we used our initiative and discovered the benefits of the emergency chord...which was what we used for the remainder of the day every time we had to stop the boat (much to the dismay of everyone who saw us-including the owner of the boat when we pulled up in the harbour at the end of the day, who visibly winced as i tugged on it, having to acknowledge that this is what I would have been doing the whole day). During the day we found ourselves coming into contact with many a group of Italians (a bit too close for comfort to be honest). The first of which who sailed past us, two fully clothed, the third standing at the front of the boat doing his best titanic impression and looking rather proud...and completely in the buff, although im not entirely sure what there was to be proud of, me and charlie were certainly not impressed! He gave us a cheery smile and sailed straight past us (narrow escape...or so we thought), as a few minutes later as we lay sunning ourselves on the boat, they pulled up along side us, this time sporting some fluorescent pink speedos (which if its possible, I think he was even MORE proud of) and started trying to talk to us in Italian (thankfully I played the "no comprendo" card and left Charlie having to make polite conversation. An hour or so later, and we're bobbing about in the sea, trying unsuccessfully to get the canopy down, when a second group of Italians approach us in their boat, insisting that if we stop sailing away from them (not intentional..we just didnt know how to stop!) that they'd show us what to do!! Hmmmm. So we dutifully stopped, and sure enough they showed us what to do...and then invited us back to theirs that evening for a "spaghettata" which they said they would be russling up. They seemed a nice bunch and not wanting to be rude or ungrateful we smiled and nodded (and then swiftly sailed off before exchanging numbers!! well played I think!). Anyway, the next day we set sail for Ancona in Italy (dont worry, not in our chug chug boat, but a large ferry) which took a mere 15 hours (cough!). On board we encountered yet even more "initeresting" people (it appears weirdos love to travel!). These included a VERY talkative Irishman who whilst I slept marooned Charlie at the bar and insisted she join him in having "one for the road" despite her destination being a matter of metres away...by foot!! He then came and joined us at our table and it was Charlie's turn to feign the sleeping, as I chatted to him for a good hour of so about...EVERYTHING! Once I'd excercised a few yawns and he'd taken the hint and left, I made my way out to the deck for some air and peace....! NOT SO!! Was then approached by a croatian waiter on the ship who insisted on keeping me company. However...his idea of comapny was VERY different to mine, as I discovered when he invited me to join him for some fun in his cabin after a lengthy description of how adventurous and crazy he'd found all english girls to be! Well pal, i wasn't about to be one of them!! So I proved him very wrong and told him where to go. Once in Ancona, we spent all of three hours there (2 of which were spent queuing for our onward tickets). And after the long and sleepless ferry ride, I was inserious need of some caffeive so ordered myself a large latte...only to find out that in Italy, apparently this just means warm sodding milk!!! Not happy! From Ancona to Patras in Greece, it was a whopping 23 hour ferry journey, filled with perverts, drunken aussies, a disco (which went on until 3am and was filled entirely with 10 year olds giving it their all on their dance floor), and us migrating around the boat and sleeping on a variety of chairs and floors (before always being told to move!). On the up side though the ferry rivalled a cruise ship, complete with a small swimming pool and casino! Once in Patras, it was straight onto the train to Corinth (aka "the back of beyond"!). Our carriage was the ony one to have its window broken so 1 and a half sweaty hours later we pulled up at a station (we werent entirely sure where) and following a lot of claims that it was "Athens, no Corinth, no Athens, no Corinth"! We found ourselves standing on the platform at the train pulled away, only for me to remember that Id left my handbag on the train (with everything remotely valuable in!). With only a deaf man to ask for advice (and since I dont sign...this wasnt a whole lot of use) we waited on the platform, and within 10 minutes the train had returned and Id been reunited with my bag. Corinth, turned out to be like a ghost town, with a 5 mile diversion leading us to a hotel back where we started. The next day we visited ancient Corinth, which in indeed ancient. Fill of rubble and the odd pillar if lucky. Some crazy little old lady pounced on us and insisted we eat at her restaurant, and we obliged. However, she turned out to be quite the cunning one, because after TELLING US what we were going to eat and drink (as opposed to the conventional giving-us-a-menu), we then went to pay and leave at which point she dragged us into a side room to see all the clothes she makes, and after throwing various garments at me I begrudgingly bought a skirt, and she took so long to give me my change that we then missed our bus back to Corinth, and as we watched it drive away she instructed us to come back in and sit down in her cafe and order drinks!! The next day we got the train onto Athens. In a nutshell, Athens isn's all that poluted at all. We visited the famous Acropolis, which again...is a lot of rubble...but slightly more impressive rubble! And did a spot of shopping at the bazaar (where Charlie was asked whether she was German...and then Irish??!! Quite a combination!). We also forced ourselves along to the Archealogical Museum where there were more pots than Ive ever seen in my life (that was a very brief visit!). We also met Danny who was one of the guys sharing our dorm in the hostel. A small flambuoyant Scottish hairdresser, he was very amsuing, and the three of us went out for dinner which was nice. We had to be up at 5am the next morning to catch our onward ferry to Syros, but when, at midnight, Danny picked up a crossword and insisted the whole dorm have a go at it, we agreed. However, at 3am, after discovering Danny was dyslexic and therefore possibly not the best person in charge of writing the answers in, we were regretting the decision. And he was adament that we didnt go to sleep until it was finished...no sleep for us then. Anyway, our few days in Syros was lovely. One of the days we rented out some scooters and had only one near collison with a large bus, but otherwise, a great day. exploring every corner of the island (mostly dueing to the decsion not to use the map but to rely on our instincts! not the wisest move...). We're now on Samos, another Greek island just off the coast of Turkey, where we have been relaxing, swimming and chilling out, before we hit the cultural delights of Turkey. Anyway, only a few days till we're home now, and can't wait to see everyone! Hope you're all well, and have been enjoying the gorgeous British weather. Lots of Love Beth and Charlie xxxxxxxxxxx (and for those of you who made it to the end of this postcard....well done you!)