Delphi & the Corinth Canal
All journeys must come to an end. And what better way to end our ten day voyage of exploration along the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Islands than to follow in the footsteps of travelers for the past 3000 years and visit the ancient site of Delphi?
Between the twelfth century B.C. and the fourth century A.D. visitors came to Delphi to have their fortune told by the oracle. The site itself lies beautifully on the slopes of the Parnassos mountains and the ride there took us through olive groves and along a beautiful mountain road. Overcast skies provided us with a pleasant temperature and, surprisingly, few other travelers as went took to discover the sight. Our local guides Stella and Effie told us tales of pilgrimages of the past as they took us through the gates, past the belly button of the earth and up to the Temple of Apollo, home of the Pythia, the most famous oracle of ancient time.
Back on the ship again, we spent the afternoon at our own leisure: reading, writing the last few postcards to send home or simply watching the ocean from the deck. Good winds meant we could put the sails up and cruise at a good 12 knots towards Athens. In the late afternoon we passed through the Corinth Canal, the passage between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf. Although initiated by emperor Nero in the first century A.D, the 3.2-mile long canal was not finished until 1893 and now provides for a striking entry to Athens.
Our resident naturalist Sharon Grainger hosted the evening’s recap and suitably completed it with some beautiful portrait photos of the people we met along the way, and the day was finished off with the Captain’s farewell dinner. At the dinner tables, everyone was discussing what they had seen, heard and experienced during the last ten days at sea. The lively conversation might suggest that although all journeys must come to an end, this trip hopefully provided the beginning of some lasting friendships.
All journeys must come to an end. And what better way to end our ten day voyage of exploration along the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Islands than to follow in the footsteps of travelers for the past 3000 years and visit the ancient site of Delphi?
Between the twelfth century B.C. and the fourth century A.D. visitors came to Delphi to have their fortune told by the oracle. The site itself lies beautifully on the slopes of the Parnassos mountains and the ride there took us through olive groves and along a beautiful mountain road. Overcast skies provided us with a pleasant temperature and, surprisingly, few other travelers as went took to discover the sight. Our local guides Stella and Effie told us tales of pilgrimages of the past as they took us through the gates, past the belly button of the earth and up to the Temple of Apollo, home of the Pythia, the most famous oracle of ancient time.
Back on the ship again, we spent the afternoon at our own leisure: reading, writing the last few postcards to send home or simply watching the ocean from the deck. Good winds meant we could put the sails up and cruise at a good 12 knots towards Athens. In the late afternoon we passed through the Corinth Canal, the passage between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf. Although initiated by emperor Nero in the first century A.D, the 3.2-mile long canal was not finished until 1893 and now provides for a striking entry to Athens.
Our resident naturalist Sharon Grainger hosted the evening’s recap and suitably completed it with some beautiful portrait photos of the people we met along the way, and the day was finished off with the Captain’s farewell dinner. At the dinner tables, everyone was discussing what they had seen, heard and experienced during the last ten days at sea. The lively conversation might suggest that although all journeys must come to an end, this trip hopefully provided the beginning of some lasting friendships.
