No Swinging to Anchor in Messolonghi anymore; got it?

I think I must have missed something. Why would you want to go there anyway?

I know of lots of reasons.
It's a most unusual entrance and lagoon, I know nowhere else like it
The town is well stocked with every facility
It's a convenient distance from anchorages to east and west
Cycling in all directions is interesting and easy thanks to flat terrain
As well sheltered as you could wish for
Before the marina was there it was excellent on the pontoons in the centre, with free water ashore
Great holding all over, we have ridden several F7s here
 
Been in the marina for four days (waiting for parts/repairs). Up to 11 boats tied up beside the tavernas and three swinging. Mind you the afternoons have been hairy. As always with Greece it is how it is on the day.
 
We were on the quay about a week ago. The old commercial quay seems to have been given over to visitors as well as the smaller south quay. One working water point on each quay. A lady from the PP came round in the morning and asked us to visit the 'house with blue shutters at the end of the south quay' to pay. When we went they weren't interested!
Several boats at anchor while we were there.
Agree it's a brilliant real town.
 
We were on the quay about a week ago. The old commercial quay seems to have been given over to visitors as well as the smaller south quay. One working water point on each quay. A lady from the PP came round in the morning and asked us to visit the 'house with blue shutters at the end of the south quay' to pay. When we went they weren't interested!
Several boats at anchor while we were there.
Agree it's a brilliant real town.

Just be a where of the gypsy , we have had personal experience when siting on a friend boat for them being robber with out any of us notices any thing , there are very quick , if there come any where near the boat you really got to keep a very close eye on them , remove any thing they can get their hand on , yacht on the quay get robbed all the time but not alway reported .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
 
Actually I have been there 3 times. The approach is quite interesting I suppose and the town has it's charm. However given the hassle that seems to surround the place and the unlimited alternatives I don't see the point in getting hung up over it.
 
We went into Messalonghi for some repairs expecting problems and Mosquitos. We expected to be there for two days.
In the end we stayed two weeks. The marina was really professionally run, the staff were super helpful, the live aboard community were friendly and Connie in the bar has eyes to die for. The "free" both ways taxi service from the bar into a restaurant in town was welcome (the taxi is in fact the restaurant owners Alfa)
The toilets, showers and laundry were immaculate. And the little mini market had all the basics including fresh bread and cold beer.
The town is interesting and once you get past the fast food places, we found three excellent restaurants. The guy in the chandlers by the church seemed to have every obscure fitting and fixing I needed.
To cut a long story short we really enjoyed ourselves, and look foward to exploring the beach clubs and mud baths next year. Oh and we only got bitten 4 times between us.
 
We went into Messalonghi for some repairs expecting problems and Mosquitos. We expected to be there for two days.
In the end we stayed two weeks. The marina was really professionally run, the staff were super helpful, the live aboard community were friendly and Connie in the bar has eyes to die for. The "free" both ways taxi service from the bar into a restaurant in town was welcome (the taxi is in fact the restaurant owners Alfa)
The toilets, showers and laundry were immaculate. And the little mini market had all the basics including fresh bread and cold beer.
The town is interesting and once you get past the fast food places, we found three excellent restaurants. The guy in the chandlers by the church seemed to have every obscure fitting and fixing I needed.
To cut a long story short we really enjoyed ourselves, and look foward to exploring the beach clubs and mud baths next year. Oh and we only got bitten 4 times between us.

That's good to hear at last the marina has improved , very please for JO , let hope if keeps improving .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
 
No problems last Sept when we visited on 2 occasions for several days. Mooring alongside the old commercial quay is another option, with water available from open taps. We weren't charged on our visits though I understand the port police do sometimes visit.
 
I do not mind paying but I am tired of all the gypsies... Not scared, just tired. They are everywhere in the ports on the mainland.
I think that one day I am gonna.... whatever..
 
I think the basic problem here is in expecting too much of the port police. It's well known in Greece that:

1. They often don't know their own laws, especially if there have been recent (within the last 5 years) changes.

2. They are conservative, "we've always done it this way, so...".

3. I'm a port policeman and you're a tourist so you do what I tell you.

4. I'm a port policeman so I can't ever be worng.

4. It's been a slow day and I'm bored, what can I do to entertain myself?

I'm sure the regulars in Greece can add others?

Just go with the flow, they really do have more power than you so there is little point in arguing, it will all change when the next shift comes on in any case.
 
When I got to the pool @ 19:00 on Wednesday 16/07/2015, there were 3 boats on the public quay, and 11 at anchor.
I found plenty of room in the marina (on P1).
As in all things Greek, there's a gap between theory and practice.
Mata reckons the PP have a problem with their OB on the RIB, which they can't get mended because government departments are notoriously bad payers.
Mesologgi centre, after the closure of the tertiary college, was abandoned when I was there this afternoon. Sad!!!
 
This morning disturbing reports in Mesologgi about an anchored boat, with sleeping crew aboard, having been rifled and about 7 pieces of cockpit electronics lifted.
Don't know why the complaints being made @ the marina office - perhaps the owners drew a blank @ the PP office.
Only 5 catamarans and 3 monohulls anchored there this morning.
 
This morning disturbing reports in Mesologgi about an anchored boat, with sleeping crew aboard, having been rifled and about 7 pieces of cockpit electronics lifted.
Don't know why the complaints being made @ the marina office - perhaps the owners drew a blank @ the PP office.
Only 5 catamarans and 3 monohulls anchored there this morning.

Both of your posts add fuel to the argument that this country with it's primitive infrastructure, which nobody want's to change, has no place in the EU.

Max.

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