Our Turkish Gulet the Almira knifes through a mirror sea, with a gentle rumble from below we’re heading for Pythagorean on the Island of Samos. The harbour of Pythagorean is famed for its mathematician Pythagoras and his theorem: the square on the hypotenuse. In ancient times this harbour traded in goods but today yacht tourism does the same. Outside its walls yachts at anchor rest quietly in the sun waiting for room at the quay. Creating our own wind with the motion of our engine a cooling breeze slips over our bow as we enter the harbour of Pythagorean. Our spot by the quay had been booked in advanced and ensured an idyllic location to have lunch before heading by coach to the Islands capital Vathi and the Archaeological Museum that’s there. Continue reading ‘Pythagorean and Samos Archaeological Museum’
The weather and sea state is always changeable in Greece. Hours before whilst crossing from Patmos to Leros. Our rigging began to groan in rhythm with the sea; outside the shelter of the Islands a rolling sea had enveloped ‘Almira’. Although our sails held us steady our hull rocked back and forth, a motion that was not uncomfortable.
I’ve always hated ferries in a blow! they pivot all over the place! A yacht sail stops sideways motion and makes life on board more comfortable. Standing next to the wheelI’m told by our skipper “Yachts plain rock where motorboat rock & roll.” His gyrating hand motions depicting a motorboat soon convinced me, the merits of a sailing boat in a confused sea. Continue reading ‘Sailing with Peter Sommer Travels on an archaeological tour’
There are no other tavernas in view, no discotheques, no bars or the sound of bouzouki music. Patmos shows considerable restraint when mixing the trappings of tourism with this most holy of Islands.
Looking up from our rooftop Taverna. The Monastery of St John the theologian (named after St John the last living Apostle of Christ) can be easily seen overlooking the town of Skala. Its courtyard lights provide accents of colour across its darkened walls.
Travelling on an architectural tour by Peter Sommer Travels we’d arrived in Patmos in the late afternoon. This was our first meal together (Eleven guests) off our yacht the Turkish Gulet the ‘Almira’ and an opportunity to get to know everyone better. Our tour guide and Archaeologist ‘Heinrich Hall’ had scouted ‘Hiliomodi Fish Restaurant’ as the place to eat, and from our point of view he’d hit the nail on the head. Continue reading ‘An evening at Hiliomodi Fish Restaurant – Patmos’
I had dinner with a Minoan Princess, in Crete, one summer night a few weeks ago. I know this, because of one of the treasures that I saw when some friends and I visited the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. (http://www.interkriti.org/museums/hermus.htm) The treasures were from Crete’s ancient Minoan civilisation.
Something that particularly caught my eye there, was a fragment from a fresco, showing a Minoan woman with a beautifully made-up face, red-painted lips and long, wavy hair. She is a priestess from a fresco at the Palace of Knossos, dated 15th century B.C; to me she looks like a princess. The fresco was found when the Minoan capital of Knossos (which is a fascinating place to visit) was excavated in the early 20th century. She was nicknamed “La Parisienne” because of her sophisticated, chic good looks. Continue reading ‘Dinner with a Minoan Princess’
David Mutlow travels to Patmos and revels in its discovery.
In 95 AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian the Apostle John (the last living disciple of Christ) was exiled on this Island of Patmos. It was here that St John wrote the book of Revelation.
The Book of Revelations’ depicts St John’s vision of historical events yet to take place. His banishment to the Island was far from comfortable, believed to have been in his late 70’s at least.
…A number of first rate ingredients are required – great sites, seamless logistics, and a passionate and knowledgeable guide. Perhaps the biggest element of all for me when planning a tour is the story. I don’t want to simply arrange a route around a series of isolated historical ruins, instead I want to weave a fascinating tale, a historical back-story where each ancient city we visit is like a jigsaw piece that sheds ever more light on the region’s history and culture. Some stories are intrinsically obvious like travelling in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, but others require much more careful consideration.
The recce
It all starts with a ‘recce’, going out to make an on the ground reconnaissance of the sites in a proposed tour area. To me this is like a marvellous adventure, I’m like a child in a sweet shop trying to decide where and what I should start with, perhaps something Greek or maybe Byzantine, Continue reading ‘How do you go about making an archaeological tour?’
Archaeological tours can range from bargain basement coach trips around the ruins of Greece to exotic adventures around the Mayan sites of Guatemala. Such cultural trips are growing ever more popular. Many travellers no longer want a simple beach holiday, instead they want to be inspired – to see some of the wonders of the ancient world, explore a culture’s past, and find out a bit more about their ancestors and themselves.
Our Turkish Gulet the Almira knifes through a mirror sea, with a gentle rumble from below we’re heading for Pythagorean on the Island of Samos. The harbour of Pythagorean is famed for its mathematician Pythagoras and his theorem: the square on the hypotenuse. In ancient times this harbour traded in goods but today yacht tourism does the same. Outside its walls yachts at anchor rest quietly in the sun waiting for room at the quay. Creating our own wind with the motion of our engine a cooling breeze slips over our bow as we enter the harbour of Pythagorean. Our spot by the quay had been booked in advanced and ensured an idyllic location to have lunch before heading by coach to the Islands capital Vathi and the Archaeological Museum that’s there. Continue reading ‘Pythagorean and Samos Archaeological Museum’
The Book of Revelations’ depicts St John’s vision of historical events yet to take place. His banishment to the Island was far from comfortable, believed to have been in his late 70’s at least.
