Strait of Gibraltar
In today’s fast-paced, everything-at-your-fingertips, get-me-there-yesterday world, many have forgotten the value of a day at sea; especially one with which to start out your expedition. Sure, you could simply motor from stop to stop packing in as much as possible from day to day, but in doing so, inevitably the experiences and locales start to blend into a hazy memory of indistinguishable parts. Now on the other hand, proper pacing on a voyage can easily remedy such a problem and enhances the entire journey. By starting our expedition into the Mediterranean with a relaxing day at sea, we all have a chance catch up on rest, unpack, and get acquainted with the ship and our shipmates. Perhaps even more importantly though, it gives us all time to let the Mediterranean seep into our minds even as we slip into its waters; for we are embarking on a voyage to places and islands that certainly keep their own time and we can contentedly amble along at a rather relaxed pace. However, make no mistake: this is an area full of history and culture, a place that could easily occupy a year or more of a traveler’s time without getting repetitious. But in order to appreciate all that the Mediterranean has to offer, you must first ponder its history.
The sea is the last remnant of the ancient Sea of Tethys, which was squeezed into its current, near landlocked position about 30 million years ago as the plates of Africa and Eurasia collided. The effects of this massive geologic impact are still being felt today with the tremors that frequent the area and the active volcanoes found throughout the sea. This shift in the plates left the Mediterranean relatively shallow throughout but especially so here at her mouth, near the Strait of Gibraltar, where the sea bed rises up to a mere 300 meters of depth across Alboran undersea plain that stretches from Spain to Morocco. This topographic feature greatly restricts the flow and mix of water between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, thereby creating a unique marine environment and climate that has long been described in near idyllic terms.
Though technologically advanced commercial fishing has greatly reduced the sea’s bounty in years past, the waters here were so productive that the people living along its coast enjoyed a very prosperous existence. So much so, in fact, that they had time and energy to devote to higher endeavors than simple subsistent living. The area proved to be fertile ground, not only in terms of agriculture, but also for imagination and creative thought. Western philosophy was, of course, born here; as was the world’s first known democracy and republic. Classical art and architecture can also trace their roots back to the Mediterranean’s shores. It bore witness to both the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, perhaps the most dominant civilization the world has ever seen relative to its time in history. It has seen the sway of religious influence sweep along its expanse; the wonderful art and symmetry of Islam flowing north into southern Europe only to retreat back across the sea into Africa after the crusades firmly entrenched Christianity on its northern coast, which of course later brought forth the beauty of the Renaissance. The very alphabet that serves as the basis for most western language (and this report) was also created here in the Mediterranean.
So as the sun sets behind us in the Atlantic, we sail past Homer’s Pillars of Hercules, which once served as the boundary of the known world. Now, for us at least, they serve as the entryway into the rich history of the ancient world, where we will wake tomorrow relaxed, eager, and fully immersed in the Mediterranean pace.
In today’s fast-paced, everything-at-your-fingertips, get-me-there-yesterday world, many have forgotten the value of a day at sea; especially one with which to start out your expedition. Sure, you could simply motor from stop to stop packing in as much as possible from day to day, but in doing so, inevitably the experiences and locales start to blend into a hazy memory of indistinguishable parts. Now on the other hand, proper pacing on a voyage can easily remedy such a problem and enhances the entire journey. By starting our expedition into the Mediterranean with a relaxing day at sea, we all have a chance catch up on rest, unpack, and get acquainted with the ship and our shipmates. Perhaps even more importantly though, it gives us all time to let the Mediterranean seep into our minds even as we slip into its waters; for we are embarking on a voyage to places and islands that certainly keep their own time and we can contentedly amble along at a rather relaxed pace. However, make no mistake: this is an area full of history and culture, a place that could easily occupy a year or more of a traveler’s time without getting repetitious. But in order to appreciate all that the Mediterranean has to offer, you must first ponder its history.
The sea is the last remnant of the ancient Sea of Tethys, which was squeezed into its current, near landlocked position about 30 million years ago as the plates of Africa and Eurasia collided. The effects of this massive geologic impact are still being felt today with the tremors that frequent the area and the active volcanoes found throughout the sea. This shift in the plates left the Mediterranean relatively shallow throughout but especially so here at her mouth, near the Strait of Gibraltar, where the sea bed rises up to a mere 300 meters of depth across Alboran undersea plain that stretches from Spain to Morocco. This topographic feature greatly restricts the flow and mix of water between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, thereby creating a unique marine environment and climate that has long been described in near idyllic terms.
Though technologically advanced commercial fishing has greatly reduced the sea’s bounty in years past, the waters here were so productive that the people living along its coast enjoyed a very prosperous existence. So much so, in fact, that they had time and energy to devote to higher endeavors than simple subsistent living. The area proved to be fertile ground, not only in terms of agriculture, but also for imagination and creative thought. Western philosophy was, of course, born here; as was the world’s first known democracy and republic. Classical art and architecture can also trace their roots back to the Mediterranean’s shores. It bore witness to both the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, perhaps the most dominant civilization the world has ever seen relative to its time in history. It has seen the sway of religious influence sweep along its expanse; the wonderful art and symmetry of Islam flowing north into southern Europe only to retreat back across the sea into Africa after the crusades firmly entrenched Christianity on its northern coast, which of course later brought forth the beauty of the Renaissance. The very alphabet that serves as the basis for most western language (and this report) was also created here in the Mediterranean.
So as the sun sets behind us in the Atlantic, we sail past Homer’s Pillars of Hercules, which once served as the boundary of the known world. Now, for us at least, they serve as the entryway into the rich history of the ancient world, where we will wake tomorrow relaxed, eager, and fully immersed in the Mediterranean pace.
