This morning, we were rewarded for adapting to the wind. Historian Robyn Woodward offered her informative lecture ‘Sanctuary of the Gods’ early so that we could reposition the ship. After enjoying the pleasure of watching the crew set the sails, we took to the Zodiacs for a spectacular view of the ship from the water. In the afternoon, we had the amazing opportunity to explore the ruins of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics. Many guests went to a nearby beach to take a dip in the sea before we completed the day with a delicious Greek dinner.
9/23/2024
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Sea Cloud
Hvar, Croatia
On the last day of our voyage, we spent the morning on the lovely island of Hvar, known for its fragrant fields of lavender and rosemary. Our walking tour started with the Franciscan monastery, featuring a centuries-old cypress tree and a 17th-century painting of the Last Supper attributed to Matteo Ponzoni. We continued on to tour one of the oldest community theaters in Europe (dating to 1612), the Hvar Arsenal (instrumental in building and repairing Venetian ships), and the town’s stone buildings which often feature the winged lion of St. Mark. This afternoon, after a lunch featuring the famous Sea Cloud pasta wheel, we enjoyed a lecture by cultural specialist Zrinka Šapro on the history of Croatia, focusing on the 20th century. Hearing about the rule of Josip Broz Tito and the wars of the 1990s from someone with personal experience was a particularly fitting conclusion to our tour of this region so rich in history. Our final evening aboard included a cocktail hour and the guest slide show on the lido deck, followed by the captain’s farewell dinner in Sea Cloud’s elegant dining room, after which we bid our travel companions and newfound friends a fond farewell.
