The famed meltemi winds of the Aegean, which plague the region in the summer months, forced us to abandon today’s original schedule and follow a somewhat spontaneous route. While we initially planned for a day on the island of Sifnos, the strong northern winds prevented us from entering the island’s main harbor. Instead, using the steady winds to our advantage, we spent the first part of the day sailing southwest to the island of Melos, a fitting destination, following a mid-morning presentation on ancient seafaring. Obsidian from the island of Melos, found in Franchthi Cave on the Peloponnese, proves that humans were engaging in seafaring in the Cycladic Islands by 9,000 B.C., if not earlier. Several millennia later, the famed Hellenistic sculpture of the Aphrodite of Melos, or Venus di Milo, was discovered on the same island.
Reaching the historic island of Melos, we traveled by bus through an intriguing volcanic landscape—oleander, olive, and thorny burnet dotted the colorful, mineral-rich earth. Many of us chose to visit the spectacular beach at Paleohori, marveling at the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean. The turquoise sea was refreshing, with white, bubbling, sulfurous patches along the seafloor, hinting at the island’s volcanic legacy. After this final excursion, our adventurous day of surprises concluded with a splendid, four-course dinner and a slideshow of guests’ photos on the lido deck. Although this fascinating trip is coming to an end, each of us will depart tomorrow with lifelong memories and new friendships.
