In the morning, we passed the Chalcedonian peninsula and the monasteries on Mt. Athos. The Macedonian coast is impressively rugged, and one can see why access to a navigable harbor was so important to Philip II. Most of the day involved sitting around reading, as we had packed early and had nothing else to do. In the afternoon, we welcomed a brief excursion to the island of Skiaros. One near miss getting there: as our tender was bringing us from ship to shore, the power motor failed, leaving us adrift in the middle of the bay right in the path of a much bigger ship bearing down on us. The crew got the motor restarted before an accident happened, but it was close. Skiaros is strictly a tourist stop, with no sights at all. However, the weather was warm after damp Istanbul, the breeze was pleasant, and it was nice to stretch our legs.
We found a shop selling olive oil, soaps, and honey and stocked up on gifts. Ron wanted to get some Greek marmalade, but none of the shops we tried stocked it.
In the evening we had a final reunion with our friends outside the Terrace Cafe, just as the sun was setting. I was able to take several pictures of the magnificent sunset
and, of course, a wonderful group photo to e-mail to everyone. Below, left to right: myself, Marc and Marjorie Raynor, Nancy and Chuck Carlson, Bill and Suzanne Murray, and Ron. Suzanne presented me with a jar of marmelade she found in the one store we didn't check. It has been a very happy time. Though it is sad to part, quoting Catullus seems particularly apposite:
O dulces comitum valete coetus
longe quos simul a domo profectos
diversae varie viae reportant.
O sweet assembly of comrades, farewell,
whom, ventured together far from home,
assorted paths will variously bring back. (46.9-11)
***********************
In the morning, we passed the Chalcedonian peninsula and the monasteries on Mt. Athos. The Macedonian coast is impressively rugged, and one can see why access to a navigable harbor was so important to Philip II. Most of the day involved sitting around reading, as we had packed early and had nothing else to do. In the afternoon, we welcomed a brief excursion to the island of Skiaros. One near miss getting there: as our tender was bringing us from ship to shore, the power motor failed, leaving us adrift in the middle of the bay right in the path of a much bigger ship bearing down on us. The crew got the motor restarted before an accident happened, but it was close. Skiaros is strictly a tourist stop, with no sights at all. However, the weather was warm after damp Istanbul, the breeze was pleasant, and it was nice to stretch our legs.
We found a shop selling olive oil, soaps, and honey and stocked up on gifts. Ron wanted to get some Greek marmalade, but none of the shops we tried stocked it.
In the evening we had a final reunion with our friends outside the Terrace Cafe, just as the sun was setting. I was able to take several pictures of the magnificent sunset
and, of course, a wonderful group photo to e-mail to everyone. Below, left to right: myself, Marc and Marjorie Raynor, Nancy and Chuck Carlson, Bill and Suzanne Murray, and Ron. Suzanne presented me with a jar of marmelade she found in the one store we didn't check. It has been a very happy time. Though it is sad to part, quoting Catullus seems particularly apposite:
O dulces comitum valete coetus
longe quos simul a domo profectos
diversae varie viae reportant.
O sweet assembly of comrades, farewell,
whom, ventured together far from home,
assorted paths will variously bring back. (46.9-11)
***********************
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