Our final full day of the voyage began with a stop at the volcanic island of Milos. An eruption five million years ago caused the caldera to collapse and fill with seawater, forming the Gulf of Milos that today nearly bisects the island. We first traveled to Sarakinikos, where a stark landscape of white pumice, sandstone, and limestone have been sculpted by the elements into a fantastic, moon-like setting.
Continuing on to Apollonia, we boarded a local boat, Captain Yiangos, for a tour of some of the island’s spectacular rock formations. We passed curious outcrops of columnar basalt, the hexagonal shafts of which formed when the magma of the Pliocene-era volcanic eruption slowly cooled. At the Papafranga Caves, our captain, Stavros, took the boat straight up to the entrance to the cavern, nearly entering the dark abyss. According to local legend, a priest hid his ships within these deep caves to protect them from pirates. We then continued on to Sarakinikos, this time viewing the stunning landscape from the sea. Despite the slightly overcast skies, many took the opportunity to swim and were rewarded with small, secluded, partially submerged caverns to explore. On our return to the port of Adamantes, we passed a handful of small fishing villages perched along the seashore, with the typical white Cycladic architecture ornamented with brightly colored doors and boatsheds of every imaginable hue.
We returned to Sea Cloud for a final afternoon under sail, although the winds were relatively light. Our last evening aboard was spent enjoying another sumptuous, four-course meal in the ship’s stately dining room, followed by a viewing of photos taken by guests over the course of the voyage.
