Ithaka, Greece
"When you set out for Ithaka, ask that your way be long . . ."
These opening words from the Greek poet Constantin Cavafy set the tone for our voyage up the Dalmation Coast, ready for all the experiences and wonder that we would encounter on our journey, with our destinations providing only the framework for our experiences. But Ithaka is far more than the birthplace and destination of Odysseus 3,000 years ago. While three millennia have relegated Ithaka to speculative mythology, those that visit the island today have little trouble accepting that this would have been the home of choice for anyone who had the power to choose their domain in the Ionian islands of 3,000 years ago. It is a stunningly beautiful island, with a special tranquility that we all felt today.
We drove up the breathtaking switchbacks to the monastery of the Church of Our Lady, and Jemma and Effie introduced us to the ritual aspects of the Greek Orthodox Church. It was a great Sunday to focus on village churches and local life, as we took a leisurely Sunday morning drive around the precipitous coastline. We made a late morning stop at the village of Stavros, where many of us sampled a fredo cappuccino or an iced frappé and watched the Sunday morning world go by.
For the afternoon, Panorama moved a short distance to the neighboring bay, tree-lined and idyllic in its natural setting and its clear waters. Many of us paddled the coastline, while the rest of us bobbed gleefully in the 78-degree buoyant waters. By sunset we were all reflecting on our own personal Ithakas for the upcoming week.
"When you set out for Ithaka, ask that your way be long . . ."
These opening words from the Greek poet Constantin Cavafy set the tone for our voyage up the Dalmation Coast, ready for all the experiences and wonder that we would encounter on our journey, with our destinations providing only the framework for our experiences. But Ithaka is far more than the birthplace and destination of Odysseus 3,000 years ago. While three millennia have relegated Ithaka to speculative mythology, those that visit the island today have little trouble accepting that this would have been the home of choice for anyone who had the power to choose their domain in the Ionian islands of 3,000 years ago. It is a stunningly beautiful island, with a special tranquility that we all felt today.
We drove up the breathtaking switchbacks to the monastery of the Church of Our Lady, and Jemma and Effie introduced us to the ritual aspects of the Greek Orthodox Church. It was a great Sunday to focus on village churches and local life, as we took a leisurely Sunday morning drive around the precipitous coastline. We made a late morning stop at the village of Stavros, where many of us sampled a fredo cappuccino or an iced frappé and watched the Sunday morning world go by.
For the afternoon, Panorama moved a short distance to the neighboring bay, tree-lined and idyllic in its natural setting and its clear waters. Many of us paddled the coastline, while the rest of us bobbed gleefully in the 78-degree buoyant waters. By sunset we were all reflecting on our own personal Ithakas for the upcoming week.
