Kythnos Island, At Sea
Sunrise found the Panorama anchored off of west end of Kythnos Island. Our plan was to spend the entire morning enjoying water sports and doing a little hiking and/or exploring in this sparsely inhabited Cycladic Island. Kythnos is located in the northwest of the Cyclades and is known locally as Thermiá.
Shuttles began ferrying those interested in beach activities ashore at 9:00am. A group of hikers left the beach promptly and headed up a well-used narrow road. It led to a small Greek Orthodox Church attached to a home perched on the top of a steep hill overlooking the bay. This unusual home/church also served as a shelter for a caretaker for a good-sized flock of goats.
The hike provided fabulous views of the Panorama anchored in the blue waters of the Aegean. The ship was anchored just below the narrow isthmus of land separating two large bays marking the intricately carved coastline of Kythnos Island. Goats dotted the hillside but were not grazing, and a very unusual lily was coming into full bloom.
After the heat of summer, during the last days of August and into September, the sea quill begins pushing its flower head up and out of the rocky soil all through the Cycladic Islands. The flower-bearing stem is dark purple in color, erect, slender and leafless. Many flowers erupt along the stem and are white in color. It is considered a symbol of good luck and for this reason it is hung over doors of many Greek houses.
Hikers could hear the sound of goats in the distance! In one of the shelters, we found a flock of goats hiding in the shade and waiting for their morning delivery of water and food. As the sun rose in the morning sky most of the hikers heard the sea call to them. We made our way down to the beach in hopes of a cooling dip, followed by some time to relax on the beach and maybe even take a paddle around the bay in a kayak.
We had time to kayak, swim, hike and just relax and enjoy this last day in Greece. We had spent our week circling the Cycladic Archipelago. We began in one of the most famous archeological sites, moving to well-known and touristy islands, to wonderful off-the-beaten track and out of the way islands. Our Greek guides told the ancient stories of Greece, woven in life in modern Greece, and they taught each of us about the continuum of culture that has lasted for thousands of years.
Everyone returned to the Panorama for lunch, and we continued the relaxing pace with cruising onboard throughout the afternoon, making our way west towards Athens. The sails were unfurled, the engine shut down and we sailed quietly into the Saronikós Gulf. As the sun set, Cape Soúnion and the outskirts of Athens came into view. Our cocktail hour was in full swing and dinner would soon follow, finishing our last evening in Greece. The Panorama pulled up to her customary dock in Marina Sea in Pireas the main port of the Athens as we were finishing our farewell dinner. Some of us took an evening walk in the port, while others remained for final packing. Our seven days cruising the Cycladic Islands of Greece had flown by sending each of us home with stories of a uniquely interesting corner of the world filled with human history and touched with the natural beauty of the Cycladic Islands.
