The dramatic southeast coastline of the slender Amorgos served as our first destination for the morning’s exploration of this stunning island. Cliffs soar up out of the sea affording incredible views over the Aegean Sea as we drove along hairpin switchbacks to the road’s end. From this low vantage point we looked up to a magnificent white building clinging to the cliffside, the monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa.
Some of us walked up the stone donkey trail that followed the cliff face up to the monastery, stopping along the way to soak up the stunning scenery. The monastery stands seven stories tall and is an astonishing 15 feet wide. We ascended a narrow stairway up to the fifth floor to visit the beautiful but very small sanctuary where services are still held.
The remainder of the morning was spent in the quaint village of Chora in the hills midway across the island. We wandered down the small village’s winding walkway lined with cafes and shops. Some of us purchased handmade jewelry from boutiques while others sipped cappuccino freddos under shaded patios. Along the way we encountered local villagers going about their tasks…shopping at the market, visiting with friends over coffee, pruning bougainvilleas, and painting a church...a delightful glimpse of daily life in Amorgos.
The afternoon was spent at sea, enjoying the splendor of the Sea Cloud. From our favorite viewpoints, we watched the crew ascend the rigging, something that still amazes as much as it did the first time we saw the production a few days ago. With the sails raised, we relaxed on the ship’s decks and listened to a lecture about the Bronze Age by historian Dr. Rebecca Ingrahm. Tom O’Brien’s talk chronicled the ship’s many lives from 1931 to the present day, after which we walked through the original staterooms during a champagne open house before dinner.
