Last night was calm as we were sheltered away from the strong Meltemi winds that have been following us the last days. The bay of Katapola at Amorgos Island is known for being one of the safest harbors in the Aegean! Early this morning we boarded the motor coaches and drove to the east side of Amorgos to visit the 11th century Monastery of Hozoviotissa. This monastery offers breathtaking views as it is glued on the steep cliffs and the only access is by hiking up roughly 300 steps.
We visited the church with numerous votive offerings from locals and many travelers as well. The monk rewarded us for the climb by treating us to some loukoumi, which is the Greek version of Turkish Delight, and a local drink called rakomelo which is similar to ouzo with honey and herbs added. Luckily it wasn’t too strong! It kept us going until we reached our next stop, the Khôra.
Traditionally the main town or capital of the Cycladic islands is named Khôra. This one in Amorgos is exceptionally picturesque and photogenic. We strolled around the narrow alleys and admired the unspoiled beauty of the whitewashed houses and the many small shops with handmade art, jewelry and crafts. Of course we didn’t miss the chance to get a bottle of rakomelo before leaving.
After another delicious lunch we experienced very windy conditions as we made our way to Ios island – measuring at seven on the Beaufort wind force scale. The afternoon was rather interesting as we alternated from rough to calm and vice versa. However, Sea Cloud is a real lady and knows how to sail and she impressed her guests with the stable ride.
Around dinnertime we anchored at Manganari, which is to the south of Ios and enjoyed a barbeque dinner on the Lido deck. A little after sunset the party started! The Sea Cloud crew and the Shanty Gang sang old sailors songs and took the opportunity to mingle and socialize with the guests. It was a fun night and a short break for the crew who soon returned to their posts to reposition the ship for a night of sailing west to Milos Island.
