This morning’s excursion took us to the Cycladic island of Sifnos, famous in antiquity for its rich deposits of gold and silver, mined since the Bronze Age. We traveled inland to Castro, a medieval village with a layout typical for areas plagued by piracy. The town is perched high above the sea, and an outer wall with a limited number of gates helped the residents control who gained access. The modern town of Castro is a relatively quiet village, with a few coffee shops and sweeping vistas of the sea below. On the water’s edge, the tiny church dedicated to the Seven Martyrs creates a picturesque outpost, and this morning a wedding added to the charm of the little chapel.
Today the island is best known for its pottery, and small shops with colorful ceramics line the main street of the port town of Kamares. From simple spirals and tinted glazes to ostentatious etched images, the pottery of Sifnos appeals to a wide range of tastes. Some of us took advantage of the opportunity to swim at the sparkling sandy beach at Kamares, while others opted to enjoy one final swim from the ship at anchor in the bay with the steep, rugged hills of Sifnos forming a stunning backdrop.
We spent our last afternoon aboard the ship under a gentle sail. Our superb local guides, Eleni and Effie, led a fascinating discussion on modern Greece. We ended our evening with an excellent meal of rock lobster tail and truffle ravioli. Those of us who finished packing early indulged in a viewing of Around Cape Horn on the Lido Deck, a fine conclusion to our glorious weeklong voyage.
