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The Greek Isles
Polaris
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Slocum 43 Pilothouse Cutter |
Spring 2011 |
Updated April, 2012 |
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Frequently Asked Questions Past
Destination Photo Journals
Cruise Logs Travelogues Refit Project
Simi A colorful and picturesque small village surrounds the secure harbor with the mountains dropping into the sea.
Crete The primary attraction on Crete is Knossos, the center of the Minoan civilization dating back to 2700 BC.... Europe's first advanced civilization.
We rented a car for a few days and drove around the mountain visiting remote ancient villages still inhabited today.
Santorini (Thira) The cauldron from the ancient volcano which blew Santorini apart in 1500 BC must be seen to comprehend. Like the Grand canyon, the magnitude of the scale of the explosion is beyond what a photo can show. The crater 6 by 4 miles, one of the world's largest, is still an active volcano!
The helter skelter harbor at Vlikadha is the only secure port on the island... the very nice dockmaster squeezed us into a prime spot.
Vineyards! It is so windy on Crete that the grape vineyards just lay on the ground.
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Kastellorizon Rhodes Rhodes became one of the last bastions of the Christian crusaders after being run out of the near east by the Muslims about 1200 AD. The Turks captured the city in 1522.
A few days in Greece and you soon realize that painting is a national pastime.... everything is painted including streets and sidewalks. Most towns are white with blue trim.... a few places go nuts.
The mother of all earthquakes at Santorini around 1500 BC is credited with destroying the Minoan civilization.
Personal shrines are found everywhere on Crete and mark the religious custom for remembering the deceased.
Everywhere you turn on Santorini is a Kodak moment!
This gentleman is restoring an ancient castle.... adding water, sewage and electricity is no small project.
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Although the Turkish mainland is just a few miles from the eastern Greek Isles, they are worlds apart. Turkey is Muslim and Greece, Greek Orthodox. Their feud began when the Ottomans invaded the region. Things only got worse when the two cultures were partitioned after WW I.
Founded in 408 BC, today Rhodes is the most popular tourist destination in Greece.
Tourism is the most significant industry in the islands.... restaurants, churches and museums. Walking the backstreets are usually most fun.
Crete This large island is southern most in the Greek chain and closer to Africa than Athens.
Today, Santorini is one of the most picturesque places in the Greek Isles.
We drove up this very high and steep mountain to visit the ancient ruins of Thira (9 BC) ..... this was a truly white knuckle experience!
We met this young man who crafts bagpipes..... which he says is one of the world's oldest musical instruments. In this case, you skin a goat (very carefully), plug it's feet with wood pipes and you have a bagpipe.
Click here to continue the photo journal of Mikonos and Athens.
Fair winds. We would love to hear from you! Bob Kinnier
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