After mooring Sea Cloud alongside in the coastal city of Durres, we drove to the medieval town of Kruje where our local guides exposed us to the fascinating history of Albania. We had lunch in a lovely restaurant where local dancers performed for us and some of us even burned off the delicious meal by dancing with them. After shopping in their bazaar, we came back on board where Albanian wine and our staff recaps were waiting for us. Next stop: Greece!
9/16/2024
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Sea Cloud
Katakolon to Olympia, Greece
After a relatively peaceful night at sea, we enjoyed a leisurely morning under sail aboard Sea Cloud . While under sail, National Geographic Photo Instructor Jose Calvo offered an informative presentation on composition in photography, featuring some of his truly stunning work from around the world. While enjoying lunch on the Lido Deck, the ship came alongside in Katakolon, Greece, where we were faced with an oversized cruise ship that reminded us of why we travel with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic: our small, intimate, elegant vessel is much preferred. The afternoon visit to Olympia was perfectly timed, with the large crowds departing before we arrived. Our Greek guides, Gemma and Eleni expertly guided us through the lovely site, with majestic ruins nestled amongst olive, pine, and cypress trees. After a stroll through the archaeological site, we continued to the museum of Olympia, featuring a spectacular collection of pottery, armor, and monumental sculpture, not to mention the exquisite Hermes of Praxiteles. After our visit to the museum, we returned to the ship for a buffet dinner on the Lido Deck featuring an impressive yellowfin tuna with fresh wasabi.