Alepochori has been alive with excitement over the past two days, thanks to Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, who has arrived in the area. His enormous yacht, Launchpad, along with its support vessel, Wingman, is anchored just off the village bay.
The main curiosity among locals is whether the man who revolutionized social media will make a public appearance, perhaps wandering through the village or dining with his guests.
The arrival of these vessels has led to increased activity from the Coast Guard and the Megara police department, fueling speculation that Zuckerberg, his wife Priscilla Chan, and their guests are on the 118-meter, $400 million yacht.
Local sources reveal that a reservation was made for a group of forty at the beachside taverna, O Angelos, in Psatha for Wednesday afternoon.
Reports indicate that the reservation was made through the Megara police department, with a request for privacy to ensure no other patrons were present—which only heightened the rumors of a potential Zuckerberg sighting.
On Tuesday afternoon, a tender boat brought a group from the yacht to the village’s small port. Some locals noticed a man resembling Zuckerberg who wore a cap and opted to stay on the yacht while the rest of his group explored the area.
Finding nightlife options proved challenging as Alepochori lacks them. Even a café owner, alerted by locals to open, mentioned he was heading to Athens.
Consequently, Zuckerberg’s guests bought beers from a kiosk and relaxed on café chairs, claiming to be Facebook executives enjoying a cruise around the Greek islands.
A week ago, both yachts were seen anchored in the Ionian Sea near Preveza, but Zuckerberg was not spotted.
On Tuesday night, several crew members from the 68-meter Wingman, which features a helipad and a 15-meter excursion boat, went for a leisurely walk in the village.
Priscilla Chan’s Jog and the Canceled Lunch
Later, they returned to the yacht via tender, while the executives reboarded shortly after. The opulent yacht accommodates 36 guests and has a crew of 55.
On Wednesday morning, a local woman spotted an East Asian woman jogging along the coast, flanked by three security guards and followed by a tender boat, whom she assumed was Priscilla Chan. After her run, she returned to the harbor and boarded the tender back to the yacht.
Around 11 a.m., two black vans arrived at the harbor to pick up about ten people for a trip to the Acropolis.
Throughout both days, there was a steady stream of taxis and transfers taking passengers on short excursions. Everyone awaited the highly anticipated 40-person lunch.
However, just before 11 a.m., the owner of O Angelos received a last-minute call canceling the lunch. Reports suggest that Zuckerberg’s yacht is scheduled to leave Alepochori on Thursday.
It is expected to traverse the Corinth Canal and head toward the Cyclades islands, continuing the cruise for Facebook employees.
The group primarily comprises young professionals from countries like the UK and Romania, all holding significant positions within Zuckerberg’s company.
Such cruises are not uncommon among influential billionaires, serving as a reward for their top staff while expressing gratitude for their hard work.
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