We anchored overnight in the protected harbor of Katapola and many guests awoke early to watch the sun rise over the island of Amorgos, gradually bathing the rocky mountainside and little village in sunshine. After breakfast we boarded buses to make the short but winding journey up the terraced mountainside to visit the monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa on the eastern side of the island.
From a precarious parking lot, we were able to look below for sweeping views of rocky cliffs dropping off dramatically into the Aegean Sea and to look up the cliff to see the bright white façade of the monastery. Built in the 11th Century to house a small icon of the Virgin Mary, the building clings to the rocks, actually incorporating the terrain into the built structure.
One group ventured up the 300-odd steps to visit the monastery which is home to three monks. We climbed through the tiny door and up a stairway where we had to duck our heads from hitting rocks and came into an elaborate chapel. Icons lined the walls and ornate stands held holy books and candles. The holy icon was tucked into a dark corner, the silver still shining bright but the face of the Virgin Mary almost too dark to make out details in the paint. We then enjoyed the jaw dropping view from the monastery’s terrace and were treated to boiled raki made by the monks.
We then visited Chora, a small typical Cycladic village, where we fell into a slower pace while wandering whitewashed lanes. The town was like a living postcard with characteristic blue-painted doors, grape vines, bougainvillea flowers, lolling cats, quaint shops, and friendly locals relaxing in shaded patios.
Back on the Sea Cloud, the crew hoisted the sails for a peaceful, relaxing afternoon under sail, which was punctuated by an iPhone photography workshop and a lecture about the ship’s history.
