We finally pried ourselves off our mooring in Finikas on Syros Island and headed east 23 miles for a day at Delos, the center of the ancient world... or at least of the Cyclades. This small sacred island has awesome architectural ruins of a city that reigned in importance and grandeur centuries ago. The divine twins, Artemis (goddess of chastity, virginity, the moon, wild animals and various other things) and Apollo (god of light and music and more) were believed to have been born here. The mosaics, statues, and the famous Naxion lions (sort of on the thin side, but still fiercely roaring) were all amazing to see.
We walked up to the top of the hill to the sanctuary of Zeus and Athena, and looked east to Mykonos and west over Rinia Island to Syros in the background. The small spec of a boat in the middle of the photo (right) is EQ.
We motored back west the following day to Kythnos, anchored overnight, and then continued on to Kea, where we met up with our new cruising friends. What a delightful little harbor and another favorite place. We enjoyed our homemade pizza, with pasta and salad (Greek, of course) for six on board EQ the first evening and then took the bus up to Ioulidha, the town on top of the hill, the next night. It was lovely to walk through the winding streets with traditional houses and tavernas. The sunset beyond the church domes and houses was enchanting.
Onward and onward, we parted company with our friends (but will meet up again shortly in the Saronic Islands somewhere) and we set out for Athens. We took a deep breath and prepared to move from the tranquility of the lovely Cyclades Island group to the big city of over 11 million. We will be arriving on August 15th, a huge holiday week and we think we should have the marina just about to ourselves while everyone else sails out to enjoy their time off!
With Equanimity and Joy!
We finally pried ourselves off our mooring in Finikas on Syros Island and headed east 23 miles for a day at Delos, the center of the ancient world... or at least of the Cyclades. This small sacred island has awesome architectural ruins of a city that reigned in importance and grandeur centuries ago. The divine twins, Artemis (goddess of chastity, virginity, the moon, wild animals and various other things) and Apollo (god of light and music and more) were believed to have been born here. The mosaics, statues, and the famous Naxion lions (sort of on the thin side, but still fiercely roaring) were all amazing to see.
We walked up to the top of the hill to the sanctuary of Zeus and Athena, and looked east to Mykonos and west over Rinia Island to Syros in the background. The small spec of a boat in the middle of the photo (right) is EQ.
