Milos
Milos turned out to be an ideal alternate destination. I was struck by its similarities to our last Lindblad expedition to the Azores: stone mosaic walks, vineyards and winemaking, family shrines and churches, volcanic formations with happy, friendly people with a zest for life.
After a quick walk around the port, we wound up at the town beach for the long-expected swim. Perhaps because the air was so hot, the water temperature felt colder than anticipated. Later our coach tour explored the prehistoric settlements and stark-white volcanic formations with caves. The hike up the hill to the small church in Plaka (flat in Greek) on the way to the castle was dramatic with a Cycladic vista at every turn. We enjoyed the quaint Thivoli Arts Space, an out-of-the-way gallery with local paintings and crafts. For quick refreshment, we picked a roof-top café with a view of the abandoned windmills without vanes.
The most serendipitous event in our adventure was a local, street wedding with all the ladies dressed in high fashion and the groom in casual white awaiting his late bride. The kid attendants were adorable and although throwing rose petals rather than rice is a nicer tradition, the former turned out to be artificial. At the Venus de Milos site, we witnessed an awesome sunset and I picked wild Tansy in honor of my new rescue foster pup.
Milos turned out to be an ideal alternate destination. I was struck by its similarities to our last Lindblad expedition to the Azores: stone mosaic walks, vineyards and winemaking, family shrines and churches, volcanic formations with happy, friendly people with a zest for life.
After a quick walk around the port, we wound up at the town beach for the long-expected swim. Perhaps because the air was so hot, the water temperature felt colder than anticipated. Later our coach tour explored the prehistoric settlements and stark-white volcanic formations with caves. The hike up the hill to the small church in Plaka (flat in Greek) on the way to the castle was dramatic with a Cycladic vista at every turn. We enjoyed the quaint Thivoli Arts Space, an out-of-the-way gallery with local paintings and crafts. For quick refreshment, we picked a roof-top café with a view of the abandoned windmills without vanes.
The most serendipitous event in our adventure was a local, street wedding with all the ladies dressed in high fashion and the groom in casual white awaiting his late bride. The kid attendants were adorable and although throwing rose petals rather than rice is a nicer tradition, the former turned out to be artificial. At the Venus de Milos site, we witnessed an awesome sunset and I picked wild Tansy in honor of my new rescue foster pup.
