The story goes that it was bought by Nikos and Maria Rovatsos who were going to use it in Spetsi, where water-taxis are common, taking people to the numerous bars, clubs, discos, restaurants, hotels and beaches scattered around the small island. Whatever their plans were, the water-taxi sat on the beach here for two years while Nikos went to sea on a container ship in an effort to pay it off. Maria stayed here and rented rooms in their large home. She even rented their bedroom while she and her children slept in the kitchen. When we came here this summer, the water -taxi was in the water for the first time I can remember instead of on cinderblocks on the beach.

Unfortunately it was not making any money. It was used once this summer to bring a wedding party to Spetsis. A couple times it went either to Leonidion or Spetsis to pick up supplies, but mostly it just sat there. Every night Nikos and Vassilis the carpenter would set up a little cafeneon table next to it and drink, perhaps making plans for the future of the boat. I took a couple photos, telling Nikos we would start an advertising campaign to make business for the water-taxi, with a smiling captain next to his sleek craft.

It makes me sad. I really liked the water-taxi. It had character. It was beautiful and it was fast. Faster then the flying dolphins. Now it's future is uncertain, but if it was insured properly, running it onto those rocks that he had been able to avoid for forty years, was the best thing that could have happened to Nikos Rovatsos and Maria.