Delos & Mykonos
With the numbing repetition of headline news behind us, we sailed into the Greek Isles today. Yesterday’s sunset stop at Cape Sounion was a magical (and refreshing!) beginning, as we admired golden light on the Temple of Poseidon, with some of us washing off our travel-weariness in the still cool waters of the Aegean.
After a good night’s sleep, we were ready for our first day’s exploration. When Poseidon is kind, and the seas are calm, Greek sea captains (and this American Expedition Leader) express their gratitude by visiting one of the sacred places of antiquity, Delos. The mythical birthplace of twin gods Apollo and Artemis, this sanctuary of the ancient world is a highlight of any visit to the Greek Isles. Today, we walked amongst the ruins of one of Greece’s largest archaeological sites, and learned of its long past, as both a sanctuary and a free port. We walked the Sacred Way, hearing from our guides about the temples and monuments constructed in Antiquity, while seeing them with our own eyes. Although the height of the wildflower bloom has past, we were still enraptured by the shock of red poppies, purple statice and phlox and sunny yellow composites. Their color added life to these ancient ruins.
After a short break at the site’s small café, where we all enjoyed a delicious fresh squeezed orange juice (hymos portocalli in Greek), we continued on to wander the narrow streets of the residential area. Few ancient sites allow us a glimpse into the everyday lives of the citizens, so the houses of Delos allow us to imagine what this might have been. We saw remains of plaster and paint on the walls, wells bearing signs of the ropes used to haul the countless buckets of fresh water for household use and beautiful floor mosaics, depicting Dionysus, dolphins, masks and tridents.
We returned to Panorama for lunch, followed by a brief swim, then retired for the time-honored tradition of siesta. In the late afternoon, our guides Laura and Smaro taught us to read the letters of the Greek alphabet, as well as a few simple words and phrases. Afterward, we prepared to depart again, this time to explore one of the Cyclades’ most visited islands, Mykonos. A short bus ride from the New Port into the Old Town, and then we were off on our walking tours. We were fortunate that very few other visitors were around, so we were able to admire the towns many small churches, whitewashed buildings and the narrow streets so typical of villages in the Cyclades.
After strolling with our guides, we wandered on our own, shopping or relaxing with a drink by the sea, before returning to our ship for a delicious barbecue dinner. Our chefs grilled a variety of meats and vegetables on the back deck, then brought steaming plates into the dining room much to our delight. As they say in Greece, kali orexi!
