After wandering around Koroni Castle we descended down the stepped streets to the harbour front in search of ice creams and coffee. Greek ice cream is delicious and ours came in many astonishing flavours. We wolfed it down like five year olds. Next we settled ourselves at a seaside cafe and ordered coffee, but we had not been there long when the waiter came dashing to tell us there was a big turtle to be seen just off the quayside. ‘It is the last turtle of summer,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow it will be gone.’
A little crowd had gathered and was peering into the stormy looking water. The weather had changed, and there was a cool wind blowing off the Messenian Gulf. It was hard to spot the turtle between the dark ripples, and I missed a couple of chances to take a photo as it popped its snout above water. Then a silly young Frenchman decided he wanted to swim with it, jumped in and scared it away. ‘Merde’, said his girlfriend. Merde, indeed.
So here is my best shot. Little more than a peek. But then it is good to know that there are still loggerhead turtles around the Peloponnese. One of their breeding beaches is at Koroni on the far side of the castle. Every year between June and mid-September the turtles make some 46 nests there. These are monitored throughout the summer by ARCHELON, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, along with a host of volunteers from around the world. Good on them, I say, and bon voyage last loggerhead of summer.
You can find out more about Archelon, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece HERE.
Tish Farrell 
Fascinating, Tish, and I like the shot. It’s different to see the turtle under that water.
janet
Thank you for that kind thought, Janet 🙂
It’s a great shot, despite idiot Frenchmen. But, ever trivial, I want to know what flavoured ice cream!
Well I went traditional and had vanilla which was wonderful, but there were all sorts of other combos involving caramel, almonds, pistachios, chocolate, and all the fruity flavours.
I don’t think you can get better than vanilla, my all time favourite
That’s just what I think 🙂
Pistachio please, or fig and almond. 🙂 🙂 So glad you managed a peek, Tish.
Now I’m conflicted. I missed the moment. I hadn’t thought of the fig option, though I’m sure it was there. Am a complete convert to Greek figs.
A lovely peek 🙂
Good of the waiter to tell you about the turtle. Nice ripples too. The turtle looks quite big. I saw them lumbering up the beach at mon repos, Bundaberg to dig their holes and lay eggs. Fascinating
The waiter said ‘it’s a big one’ so it seems it was unusual both size- and time-wise.
Why is there always some idiot who thinks that interfering with nature would be “fun” (grrrr)? I love the idea of pistachio or almond icecream. I never eat the stuff at home, but am always drawn to gelato shops in Australia. I’ve developed a particular taste for blood orange sorbet. 🙂
Now I could very well develop a taste for blood orange sorbet 🙂
I struggle between that and liquorice, but the blood orange wins these days because it’s lighter and less ice-creamy. 🙂
Very exciting to get a peek at a loggerhead turtle. I am smiling at ‘wolfed it down like 5 year olds’. For my 5 year old self that would have meant copious dripping down the side of the cone, and more than likely a big piece of ice cream falling from the cone to the floor; if not the floor then down the front of my dress. In one unhappy case the ice cream went down the front seat of a very expensive sports car. I was not invited to ride in that car again. Mortifying for a 5 year old. 😀
Oh, sad tales of ice cream disasters. I once had a Labrador, to whom I gave the tail end of an ice cream cone, and while she was adjusting it in her mouth she dropped it down a drain. Oh the look of loss and mortification. I should also say we did do our fair share of dribbling.
I know how she felt!
🙂
Merde indeed….however the French intruder did not prevent you from taking what I think is a good photograph…and by the way ice cream is my number one favourite food 🙂
Now that’s an admission, Janet 🙂
In spite of the stupid guy you got an excellent pic….
The water reflections are amazing!
A good photo 🙂 where do the turtles go ?
I think they go off into the wider ocean outside the breeding season.
Love this turtle capture! 🙂
Thanks, Amy. It was a thrilling moment.
I once spent a lot of hours trying desperately to convince some islanders to not eat that turtle. I was unsuccessful. Sometimes, you lose the battle. I’m glad there are still some turtles swimming the seas.
Definitely good to know.
Oh how lovely to see a turtle!
It simply was, Gilly 🙂
@”‘Merde’, said his girlfriend. Merde, indeed.” – en français dans le texte… 😀