Sarande, Butrint, and Corfu Channel, Albania, 9/1/2023, Sea Cloud
Aboard the
Sea Cloud
Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud Fleet
On our last day in Albania, we covered the full spectrum of its history at the UNESCO World Heritage archeological site of Butrint. We explored amongst the shade of the forest to view amazing sites like the Roman baths, Byzantine Basilica, Greek Theater, and the Turkish Fort. The views from the top were spectacular — but even those were surpassed when we returned to Sarande and visited the Ottoman Castle of Lekuresi.We could see everything from the mountains: in one direction Corfu, with Greece in the other.
In the afternoon we set sail along the Corfu Channel, with the crew raising the sails to enjoy the light breeze. Rebecca Ingram, our historian, shared a presentation on “Ancient Greece 101” to get us ready for our arrival in Greece tomorrow. Then we finished the day with Paula Tagle providing the rich history of the Sea Cloud and a tour of the owners’ cabins.
Sue has been creating wildlife, landscape, and travel photos for over 30 years, traveling to over 90 countries on all seven continents. She has combined this passion with an unusual career that includes being an Engineer Officer with the Royal Air Fo...
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We enjoyed a leisurely morning on our final day aboard Sea Cloud , slowly cruising along the coast of Greece as we savored our morning coffee and delectable pastries. Mid-morning, Captain John gave a fascinating talk on the repair and upkeep of this elegant ship. Thanks to the ship’s dedicated owners and committed partners like Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic, this historic vessel, now more than 90 years old, is in superb condition and is prepared for many more years of active service. Our last day of the journey held a special, unexpected treat: an afternoon visit to the magical town of Monemvasia, Greece. Although the stop was not part of our planned itinerary, it became a fantastic final visit on this diverse and exciting voyage. The massive rock on which the town is perched has been termed the “Gibraltar of the East.” There is just one small entrance for visitors — a trait that has given the town its name, as Monemvasia means “single entrance.” The city is a charming, automobile-free tangle of cobblestone walkways, stone stairways, and tree-lined courtyards. It was founded in the 6th century, and its colorful history includes Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans before the town became part of the independent Greek state in the 1800s. With wonderful shops and endless opportunities for photography, this was a truly splendid final stop that brought together many of the historic eras we discussed throughout the journey. The weather shifted yet again, and a brief thunderstorm accompanied our return to the ship. Our last evening was spent enjoying the company of our fellow shipmates. We shared memories of our unforgettable trip during cocktail hour with Captain John, accompanied by our own images of the trip compiled by our photographic instructor, Sue. One last delightful dinner in the ship’s stately dining room made the perfect end to this wonderful voyage.
Our second glorious day in Greece was spent exploring the fascinating archaeological site and Museum of Olympia. Olympia was the home of the ancient Olympic Games and an important sacred site in the ancient world. We began our visit to the site with a stroll through the remains of the ancient Gymnasium and Palaestra. Our Greek guides Smaro and Laura explained some of the finer points of athletic training in the ancient world, like competing nude or scraping off oil and dirt with a strigil. We then proceeded into the sacred precinct, admiring the collapsed remains of the massive temple of Zeus. This Doric temple once housed the spectacular chryselephantine (gold and ivory) cult statue of the god. Once ranked as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, no trace of this masterwork by sculptor Phidias remains today. We continued to the ancient Olympic Stadium, where we all posed on the runners’ starting line. After visiting the archaeological site we proceeded to the superb Museum of Olympia. This museum presents a stunning range of artifacts found in association with the site, from the colorful terracotta remains of the archaic temple of Hera to the incomparable Hermes of Praxiteles. Also on display are two helmets dedicated to Zeus (one owned by Miltiades, no less!) after the defeat of the Persians at Marathon, one of the pivotal battles of the Greco-Persian Wars in the Archaic Era. Returning to the ship for lunch, we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon with presentations on such diverse topics as photography techniques and ancient Greek seafaring. We completed our day with a relaxed Greek buffet on the lido deck. followed by a rousing performance of sea shanties by the Sea Cloud shanty singers.
The waning supermoon lit the stage for an epic sunrise as we came in through a narrow channel to our anchorage at Ithaca, our first port of call in Greece. Made famous by Homer’s The Illiad and The Odyssey, and again by Greek poet Constantine Cavafy’s “Ithaka,” the sleepy town glowed golden in the morning light. The decks were full of palpable excitement as the Zodiacs were lowered here — the fourth country of our voyage, which began in Dubrovnik eight days ago. The morning’s highlights included a visit to a local monastery — noteworthy for its beautiful depiction of the Virgin Mary as a child being held by her mother, and the classically beautiful iconography of the Greek Orthodox church. After a short uphill walk, we enjoyed a beautiful view of the port town and Sea Cloud in the morning light. Our coaches then took us north through the mountainous and rugged landscape. We passed through small and sleepy island villages before arriving at the town of Stavros, believed to be the location of Odysseus’ home. As the heat of the day rose, the crystalline blue waters of the Ionian Sea called to many guests — and a much-appreciated swim call was made just before lunch. In the afternoon the crew hoisted sails once again, and roused many from siestas when a “Photo Safari” opportunity was offered to view our beloved Sea Cloud from Zodiacs. We welcomed our Greek guides, Smaro and Laura, on board to join us for the remainder of our journey. They shared stories and myths of their fabulous homeland, and got us excited in an entirely new way for the mythic Olympia tomorrow!
