To arrive in the magnificent river fjord of Kotor aboard the majestic Sea Cloud at sunrise is to be transported into a fairytale of mist and magic. In the morning, we drove along the coast to explore the town of Perast and take a short ferry to the small island Church of Our Lady of the Rocks. Back in Kotor, our local guides gave us an introduction to the old city before setting us free to get lost in the labyrinth of little alleyways and shops. The afternoon was full of adventure as we made our way up the 25-switchback road to the town of Njegusi, where we tasted their famous smoked ham and local cheese. We were also rewarded with spectacular views of the entire fjord and narrows speckled with tiny islands.
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.
