Escaping the strong meltemi winds sweeping through the Cyclades, we cruised into the Argolic Gulf for an unexpected visit to the Peloponnese. We were then presented with an option on our final full day of the trip: a visit to the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus, or a morning of exploring the beautiful Venetian and Turkish city of Nafplion. For those visiting Mycenae, we began by traveling through the rolling hills of the Argolid, passing numerous citrus groves and roadside shrines. We arrived early at Mycenae, where we first explored the fascinating tholos (or beehive) tomb known as the Treasury of Atreus. We then proceeded to the citadel of Mycenae, where Roula guided us through the Lion’s Gate in the massive Cyclopean walls before we set out to explore on our own. Moving forward about a thousand years, we then traveled to Epidaurus, an important center of healing in the Classical era. The theater here, which seats 14,000, is the best preserved theater in Greece, and we enjoyed testing the theater’s famed acoustics amidst a stunning landscape filled with pine, oleander, and fig trees.
The visit to Nafplion was no less enchanting, as Effie guided a different group through the complex history of this town that dates to the Byzantine era. While exploring the early 18th century Palamidi fortress, we learned of the major role played by Venetians in Greece and the Cyclades after the Fourth Crusade, in which Constantinople was conquered by the Crusaders. Returning to the ship, we indulged in one final afternoon of sailing, and the conditions were just right for lowering the Zodiacs and capturing photos of the Sea Cloud under sail. We concluded one last glorious day aboard the ship with a final cocktail and a splendid four-course meal in the ship’s stately dining room, before bidding our fellow travelers a safe journey for the following day.
