Today’s port of call was the island of Santorini. The Sea Cloud anchored for the best view of the largest “caldera” in Europe, under the town of Thira. Our two coaches got us up to the small but impressive Museum of Prehistoric Thira to learn about Cycladic civilization, which flourished more than 4500 years ago. The museum holds the original frescos and other remains of Acrotiri, the town erased by the eruption of Santorini in 1600 B.C.E. After this, we visited the actual site of the once well-developed town of Acrotiri to admire archaeological efforts to uncover the secrets of a culture buried under volcanic ashes. Next stop was the village of Megalochori, where we walked through narrow streets of white and blue houses and artisan shops. To finish the tour, we tasted local wines in an old Santo winery overlooking the “caldera.”
9/13/2024
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Sea Cloud
Poros, Greece
Like the first day of our voyage, some improvisation occurred on our last, and the strong winds of the Aegean led us to the charming island of Poros. There, we enjoyed an unhurried morning in a typical Greek port town of shaded cafes, lively shops, and photogenic pathways draped in fragrant jasmine and bright bougainvillea. After a guided walk up to the clock tower which offered splendid views of the surrounding landscape, some of us opted for one final swim in the Saronic Gulf, while others browsed the town’s enticing shops. Back on the ship, our afternoon was once more spent sailing the lovely waters of Greece. This evening, we gathered on the lido deck for a cocktail hour hosted by Captain Sergei, followed by a sumptuous farewell dinner in Sea Cloud’ s elegant dining room. We concluded our memorable week aboard this beautiful ship sharing enlightening conversation with our fellow travelers.