The Cycladean island of Sifnos is one of those rare and special places that seem to embody the essential nature of some beautiful ideal, in this case that of the quintessential Greek island rising from the blue Aegean. Steep cliffs of sparkling schist embrace quiet harbors, while tucked into the hills above are many small villages of brilliantly whitewashed buildings and tiny blue-domed churches. As is the case with the Church of the Seven Martyrs, which we visited this morning, these are often built on rocky promontories, accessible only by long steep staircases that climb the cliffs behind them. Bright bougainvillea, shady little cafés, friendly Greek shopkeepers and the cats basking in the sun everywhere you look make this lovely island exactly what travelers to Greece see in their imaginations when dreaming of the journey to come.
6/1/2024
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Sea Cloud II
Pisa and Pietrasanta
Tonight, Sea Cloud II cast off from Livorno with the wind and waves, tilting the hull from port to starboard. Out on the lido deck, we leaned with the waves as we recapitulated the day—sticking with one of our main themes from the morning—the infamous Leaning Tower of Pisa. This evening, guests’ laughter and a spontaneous Pink Panther tune (thanks to our pianist, Nicolae Petrovici), accompanied a slideshow contest for the best Leaning Tower of Pisa photo from the day. Beyond the entertainment Pisa effortlessly provided, guests also had the chance to visit Pietrasanta. It was here that we enjoyed each other’s company in the Gatto Nero trattoria for a lunch brimming with local flavors. We dined on Tuscan cuisine with wine paired to perfection. Our dessert was scrumptious, but the real treat was visiting the Cervietti Marble Workshop. Guests got to witness art sculptures in the process of being created, as well as important pieces being restored. The delicate process of marble sculpting left us in awe. It was the best way to cap off a miraculous day.