The morning was beautiful, the winds were strong, and the night was unadventurous despite the strong winds! Sea Cloud can really sail!
After another great breakfast we sailed and sailed aiming for Milos, the beautiful Cycladic Island famous for the “Venus di Milo” now in the Louvre Museum in Paris. After two great presentations by our photo instructor, Jennifer, and our archeologist, Rebecca (you can’t imagine how much I learned about ancient Greek ships and shipbuilding) we could see the fantastic rock formations of the volcanic island. We sailed straight into the caldera, our safe harbor, and after lunch we started our tour of the island.
The port of Adamas welcomed us and there we boarded buses for a short drive, which led us to Plaka, the most important town on the island and a picturesque Cycladic community. Wonderful alleys, colorful doors, and a beautiful church built on a marble veranda facing the deep blue Aegean were waiting for our photos. I tried to imagine the ancient city exactly underneath us but the complicated terraced pathways and fences got my attention. I stared at the castle-acropolis trying to imagine the ancient temples once there. We looked into the dark but intriguing church of Virgin Mary and then enjoyed a Greek coffee at the local cafe.
Our next drive across the dry, arid landscape took us to a great swim on a rocky beach. The cliffs in the background were very unusual. We could actually see the minerals in the bedrock. After a refreshing swim we started on the way back to our wonderful ship. Sea Cloud looked so dominating in the bay that many other visitors of the island kept taking photos of her from the port.
Exhausted but ecstatic we prepared for another fabulous dinner aboard. Tomorrow we hope that Poseidon will take us safely to Delos, the holy island of his nephew, the glorious Apollo!
