The early morning drizzle and overcast skies began to clear as we took the tender from the ship to the charming island of Sifnos. We began our visit with a bus trip to the village of Kastro. As we stopped in front of an elaborate dovecote just outside the village a flock of doves, illuminated by shafts of bright sunlight, returned to their home. Reserved as a right of the aristocracy during Venetian rule in the Cycladic islands, the breeding of doves—valued for meat as well as fertilizer—led to the development of ornate dovecotes, many of which still dot the islands. Fresh from the early rain and bathed in morning sunlight, the picturesque village of Kastro, with sweeping views of the Aegean below, was particularly vivid. A few adventurous souls made the short but steep hike down to the little Church of the Seven Martyrs, perched upon the rocks of the seaside.
Returning to the port town of Kamares, we spent time wandering the shops or enjoying a late morning swim. The island of Sifnos is known for its pottery, and we had the opportunity to watch pottery being thrown on the wheel by the potter nicknamed Adonis. We headed back to Sea Cloud for lunch before enjoying a leisurely afternoon under sail. As a result of very light winds, we barely achieved the speed of one knot; our lack of speed, though, had its benefits, as a large group of bottlenose dolphins spent part of the afternoon frolicking just off the port side of the vessel. We continued the relaxed pace into the evening, concluding with a Greek buffet dinner on the lido deck, followed by a viewing of the classic black-and-white, square-rig sailing documentary, Around Cape Horn.
