On our first day at sea, we sailed directly into
the seventy-six-square-kilometer caldera at Santorini to the port of Athinios.
Santorini is a circular archipelago of islands, the southernmost in the
Cyclades. The islands were formed after a cataclysmic eruption of the Thera Volcano.
After arriving to the shore, we hopped on buses and drove to the northern town
of Oía. There we enjoyed scenic views of the white-washed buildings and the bright
blue-roofed churches in the island's most popular town. Next, we headed east to
the main town of Fira to visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, which features
artifacts from the archeological site of Akrotiri.
We had lunch on shore at Restaurant Mario, where we enjoyed local Greek
favorites and a plethora of the famous Santorini white wine. After lunch, we
also visited the archeological site of Akrotiri, a Cycladic Bronze Age settlement that was destroyed and buried in ash by
the Theran volcanic eruption — this took place in the 16th century BC, which
was 1,700 years before Pompeii. We toured the archaeology museum and walked
through the ongoing excavations of this well-preserved Minoan town.
At 6 p.m., Captain John pulled up the anchor, and we enjoyed a scenic sunset
sail through the caldera, passing by the donkey-trail switchbacks at Fira and
the cliffs of Oía. The northern side of Oía was filled with hundreds of people
watching the sunset as the Sea Cloud sailed by.
South Carolina native Anna Mazurek fell in love with traveling and photography while studying abroad in England during college. Since then, she’s been to 53 countries and lived in five.
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Today's expedition reminded us of the enduring power of Greek mythology. We visited famous Mycenae, in the Peloponnese, and remembered the Iliad and some of the most famous Greek dramas and plays. We arrived at the impressive citadel, fortified by cyclopean walls constructed with huge irregular stones; maybe they were created by people of the Bronze age, or maybe by Giant Cyclops (I prefer to think it was the one-eyed giants). The archeologist Henrich Schliemann discovered the city with its tombs and burial treasures. When I was a teenager I read a book about Schliemann’s obsession with Homer and finding Troy. Schliemann dedicated his life and his fortune to pursuing his goal. He succeeded, even though no one believed in him or in the real existence of the characters and cities mentioned in the Iliad. Our expedition was nothing short of extraordinary. We ventured deep into the heart of the Mycenean ruins, guided by our expert guide Kryton. We discovered remarkable artifacts in the site museum, including intricately crafted pottery and ornate jewelry, which shed new light on the artistic and cultural heritage of the Mycenean civilization. This was a dream come true! We also spent some time exploring the lively cafes and shops of Nauplio. As the sun began to set over the Peloponnesian landscape, we gathered at the lido deck to enjoy a slide show with photos contributed by all guests. We had our farewell cocktails and dinner, and then enjoyed shanty songs with the crew of the Sea Cloud. We danced and laughed underneath the bright constellations of Greek gods and goddesses.
The wind gods decided that Milos was our destination for the morning, and we agree it was a lovely choice. From the white beach and fascinating rock formations at the bay of Sarakiniko, to the site of Tripiti where the Venus de Milo was unearthed in 1820, there was much to enjoy. A walk in the village took us through a maze of narrow streets; their original design was intended to confuse and thwart marauding raiders, but today this labyrinth intrigues and consumes the inveterate photographer. Our time and pixels were spent stalking the local cats and peeling paint doorways. We also sampled the local delicacies, such as watermelon pie. Milos was a feast for the eye as well as the palate, and both were satiated with this adventure.
Sea Cloud guests had a restful overnight at anchor in the Bay of Katapola on the western side of the Island of Amorgos. Following breakfast, the ship’s Zodiacs quickly transferred our group to the quay of the small and charming port town of Katapola. Boarding our island buses with guides Kriton and Roula, we climbed from the port up a series of switchbacks with evermore expansive views of the bay, of the town, and of beautiful Sea Cloud at anchor. We crossed over the spine of the island and saw below us, at the bottom of a near vertical limestone shoreline, the vastness of the deep blue Aegean Sea. Our drivers skillfully brought us to the drop-off gate from which we first glimpsed the Hozoviotissa Monastery, appearing like a white nest or beehive plastered on the side of towering cliffs above the sparkling sea. Most guests elected to slowly climb the stone trail with some 300+ steps, and the destination proved unforgettable. Entering the monastery, dating from at least the 11th century AD, we marveled at the narrow stairways, small rooms, cells, rock-hewn chapel, and the rooftop of this remote and wondrous monastery. Although the structure is some eight floors high, most of the building is narrow, only a few arm spans. After the visit, the group hiked down to the buses for the short transfer back up to the Hora, the old town which had been positioned there, not easily seen from the sea, as a protection against raiding pirates. We were dropped off at the higher end of Hora, and we slowly made our way down the picturesque main pathway in this most typical and authentic of Cycladic old towns. We explored the small squares, gleaming white houses, bright colors, cafes, and winding alleyways. Some guests took a drink at one of the charming cafes, and others shopped in the small venues. Avid photographers found abundant subjects and images. Meeting the bus at the bottom of Hora, our drivers returned us to the port town where guests could explore more and where a few took a swim from shore before taking Zodiacs back to the ship. As a surprise, Captain John had arranged for “ Sea Cloud Swim Club” to be opened. Many guests took advantage of this and had a refreshing, though slightly choppy, swim before lunch. Once outside the bay, we immediately felt the effects of the increasingly strong winds of the meltemi from the north. The captain and crew put up a number of sails to take the ship westward, where we were somewhat protected from the brunt of the wind, south of Naxos and surrounding islands. At 1830, expedition leader John Frick presented “A History of Sea Cloud ” at the lido bar. Afterwards, guests participated in the Sea Cloud “Open House,” where some guests staying in the original owners’ cabins opened their cabins for fellow guests to view. The captain kept the ship under sail throughout the night as we sailed toward the island of Milos.
