Ithaka, Greece
After two full days in Albania, we all welcomed a lazy and “unguided” morning to relax and enjoy the sun, sea, and scenery of the Ionian island of Ithaka. The weather couldn’t have been better, and the sea was flat calm for kayaking around the fragrant bay on the east side of the island. With the warmest water of the voyage, satisfied swimmers smiled at passing paddlers, and many of us just enjoyed a morning on the shingle beach. Panorama was also happy to be in its home waters, which was clear to see on the faces of all the ship’s officers.
During lunch we repositioned to the main port of Ithaka, the deepwater bay of Vathi. This is a beautifully hidden and protected bay that is one explanation of why this could have been the home of the great Odysseus. While it is not known exactly where Odysseus might have lived in the island kingdom that probably included both Ithaka and Kefalonia, Homer’s detailed description of the geography of Odysseus’ homeland closely matches that of Ithaka, which retains all of the original place names of Homer’s Odyssey.
Our Greek guides, Lindblad Expeditions’ staff members Effie Perperi and Lora Giannola, introduced us to the island and the mythology with a breathtaking drive along the mountainous roads. We climbed to a Greek monastery where we were introduced to the Greek Orthodox religion, and we had a great view of our morning anchorage far below. Through the olive trees, ilex bushes and limestone walls, we settled in the sleepy village of Stavros to try a Greek frappe, fredo cappuccino, and some sumptuous sweets. Everyone enjoyed the time to wander around the harbor in Vathi, exploring jewelry shops, nautical galleries, and enjoying the colorful boat life.
Back on board, the ship celebrated its return to Greece with a Greek feast, beginning with ouzo and octopus and culminating with Captain Britzolakis leading the dancing!
