Our last day of the expedition could not have been better as we recharged our energy and enjoyed the wonders of Sea Cloud by spending our day at sea. Sailing under the sun across the Aegean Sea and looking out at our surroundings, including Monemvasia, a medieval town. Our sea day allowed us to pack and enjoy our last moments of pure sailing.
The perfect end to a perfect cruise happened while the sun was setting. We all raised our glasses at the lido bar to the amazing 5 country expedition that we just completed. It was a trip to remember for the rest of our lives.
Maria Intxaustegi is an internationally awarded maritime archaeologist, naval historian, commercial diver, professional offshore sailor, and expedition guide from the Basque Country.
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Everyone was up early in an athletic frame of mind as we were off to Olympia, the location of the original Olympic Games. It was particularly pertinent given that it’s an Olympic year this year. We wandered around the impressive ruins which includes a gymnasium, workshops, temples, and of course the stadium with the running track. The stadium was definitely the favorite, with a few people trying out their running skills! Then it was off to the museum where we could see artifacts from the archeological site including statues, figurines, and even helmets amongst other things. We could see just how small people were about 2,000 years ago from the size of the helmets. The day was only half done when we got back to the ship, as after lunch the sails were set and we all got into Zodiacs to see Sea Cloud in all her glory. We even had a few brave souls get harnessed up to clamber out to the end of the bowsprit (after they had passed the necessary strength and balance tests!).
Our expedition today led us to the mythical island of Ithaki, steeped in ancient lore and natural beauty. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the island's rugged coastline, dotted with small coves and pristine beaches. We learned about the history of Greece from our cultural specialists, Laura and Effie, who joined us on board today and who will remain on Sea Cloud for the rest of the voyage. They walked us through a Greek Orthodox church, explaining the iconography and ceremonies. They also transported us even further in time, through the Homeric legends. We imagined Ithaki as it was for Odysseus, his beloved home, the mythical place he tried to come back to in an odyssey of twenty years. Navigating inland, we ventured into the heart of Ithaki where ancient olive groves and vineyards sprawled across the landscape. We were captivated by the island's rural charm as we sampled the regional cheese pie, Greek coffee, and walked the lazy streets of Stavros. We also had some time to explore the town of Vathi. The clear azure waters shimmered under the Mediterranean sun and right before lunch we had an opportunity to jump in and swim from the ship. In the afternoon we enjoyed several presentations and saw, once more, the crew in the operation of setting and taking in the sails.
