Goatherd on Samothraki Island

Samothraki has 35,000 goats which sleep on the road, walk across the road and wander freely around the island. The visit to the island is one of our favorite times. There are 60 sea miles from Ireklitsa to Samothraki and it takes about 9 hours to motor there. Since the wind generally comes out of the Northeast, unless there is at least a Bft. 5, we have to motor. When the wind blows, it can reach a Bft 7-8 in minutes. I have photographed the sea at the northwest corner of the island. You can clearly see the wind flags on the ocean. There is a line drawn between the flat sea on the right and the rough waves on the left. We asked fishermen about the wind around Samothraki and they told us that it stops about 10 miles outside the island. On the island itself, you can't feel the wind unless you get to a hilltop. Judy and I have been "trapped" on the island for three days in a wind that reached Bft 8/9 and even the ferry boats weren't able to sail. We followed the fishermen's advice and motored out of the harbor and when we reached 10 miles, the wind stopped dead. Samothraki is a lovely island to visit, although there are few tourist hot spots. Just friendly people, a couple of good tavernas, and the Fonias waterfall.