Today was a beautiful day at sea! Taking advantage of a stunning day, Captain John Svendsen made us a beautiful presentation of a step-by-step setting-up of the sails while we got to see it unfold right in front of us…all happening in real time. All morning, we sailed quietly under the power of the wind while accompanied by playful dolphins. At noon, we had a delicious lunch served outside on the lido deck. We enjoyed the Mediterranean weather with the Pellegrino wine acquired during yesterday’s visit. In the afternoon, we had some presentations on the history of the area and the incredible history of the ship itself, which included visits to the original staterooms.
Nicknamed “Indio” (Indian) because of his powers of observation and quiet nature, José has almost two decades of experience working as a naturalist and photography guide; as well as being recognized as an expert birder and nature photographer in Cost...
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Our last day aboard the Sea Cloud saw us crossing the Tyrrhenian Sea on approach to Naples in the glorious May sunshine. The fair weather continues to eclipse any memory of rough seas experienced. What is this purple dragon of which you speak?! However, before we arrive at Naples, we still have a full day of cruising along the Sorrentine Peninsula. This promontory, long renowned for its artisanal workshops, delimits the southern extent of the Gulf of Naples. Our cruise takes us along the coastline from Amalfi to Positano to the Isle of Capri. Mount Vesuvius looms in the distance. We spend the morning with Captain John Svendson, who talks us through his life experiences at sea, through foul and fair weather. He takes us on an extended tour of our majestic ship and highlights the many different components that make up her original 1932 assembly. We also learn about the different rationales between 20th and 21st century maritime engineering. Later in the day, expedition historian Dr. David Brotherson talks about Pompeii and the unique insights it offers into the daily life of ancient Romans. On the lido deck, we enjoy a final buffet lunch with pasta and the parmesan wheel. In the evening, we gather for the Captain’s Farewell Drinks and reminisce about our remarkable voyage as we view our voyage slideshow.
As the Sea Cloud sailed to the Aeolian Islands with all her sails unfurled this morning, we had a wonderful opportunity to go out on our Zodiacs to take photos of the ship. Everyone jumped at the opportunity…even the crew. What a beautiful ship it is! Later in the afternoon, we arrived to Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands. After landing and picking up our local guides, we took a very scenic drive all around the island, stopping at key points to enjoy the views. This was followed by a visit to the Museo Archeologico Eoliano, which has a great exhibit relating to the history of the islands, from prehistoric to classic times. We ended our visit to Lipari with some free time to leisurely walk around the beautiful town full of cafes, restaurants, and stores. After dinner, we finished a perfect day by sailing past the famous island and active volcano of Stromboli to watch red lava being spewed in real time…simply spectacular!
In the early morning hours, Sea Cloud is on approach to the ancient capital of Sicily, Syracuse. Located in the island’s southeast – the Val di Noti – Syracuse has a natural harbor open to the west. We are happy to come to port, as it shelters us from the decent-sized swell we experienced throughout the night during the transit from Malta. First colonized by Corinth in the 8th century BC, Syracuse would become one of the greatest city-states within the Greek world and was second only to Athens in wealth and its reputation in the arts. Like Athens, in the 5th century BC, Syracuse led a Greek coalition in a decisive victory against its rivals and profited immensely. However, unlike Athens, the birthplace of democracy, Syracuse was typically ruled by tyrants. Both cities commemorated their victories with a monumental building program to honor the gods, and both experienced a “golden age” – a vibrant era of creativity in the arts and literature. At Syracuse, great temples to Athena and Apollo were erected. Soon after, they also built a theatre, notably the first one ever outside of Athens. For many years, Syracuse remained the dominant city in Sicily, and it always had a largely Greek-speaking population. Only with the advent of the Arab period in the 9th century was the Sicilian capital relocated to Palermo. In the morning, we take a guided tour of the ancient archaeological site. The great limestone quarries, home to the “Ear of Dionysius,” are now home to scenic gardens. After climbing to the top of the Greek theatre, we head across the site to view the Roman amphitheatre. After a fine buffet lunch aboard the ship, we reconvene for an afternoon walking tour of Ortigia, the original location of the tyrant’s palace. This takes us through the delightful medieval town, much of which is pedestrian-only, to take in the splendid Renaissance-period architecture and ambience of this small island. We marvel at the Duomo di Syracuse, originally the Temple to Athena, as a place of worship that has endured over 2500 years of tumultuous Sicilian history.
