Through the night we traversed through the Messina Strait, making way well into the Tyrrhenian Sea to wake up among the Aeolian Islands. The surface of the seas, although smooth, were still in rolling conditions, but that didn’t stop sailors from climbing the masts to let Sea Cloud’s sails billow in the breeze. The display of sails was deemed too magnificent, and therefore called for a spontaneous photo safari granting guests the opportunity to view and photograph the Sea Cloud from various angles in our Zodiacs.
Our afternoon spent ashore in Lipari boasted breathtaking views of the surrounding islets, volcanoes (even Etna on this clear day), and small sailboats taking full advantage of the favorable winds.
After soaking in scenery and absorbing some archaeological insight from our local guides, we made our way back to Sea Cloud to enjoy an Italian family-style barbeque on the lido deck. The after-dinner show was a crowd favorite. Stromboli left us smiling from ear to ear. Intermittent basaltic magma bursts exploded into the clear starry night sky above—a perfect ending to a quaint, satisfying visit to Lipari.
