We began our voyage with a splendid morning of sailing, with Chief Mate Alexandre providing an explanation of the delicate procedure of setting the sails. While under sail, photographer Linda offered a presentation on smart phone photography, preparing us for our afternoon visit to the photogenic island of Spetses. While not on our planned itinerary, Spetses provided a charming first stop on our tour of the Aegean.
We set off on a walking tour with our Greek guides, Laura and Smaro, who discussed the importance of Spetses in the Greek struggle for independence. Spetses witnessed an important battle with the Ottoman Turks in 1822, and the island’s wealthy shipowners contributed significantly to the cause. With vehicles limited on the island, transportation is primarily by moped or horsedrawn carriage, and many of us enjoyed a leisurely carriage ride along the waterfront. Back on the ship this evening, we enjoyed the captain’s welcome cocktail and an elegant dinner in Sea Cloud’s sumptuous dining room.
