Hi everyone,
We're back from St Martin and it was a fabulous time. In the near future I'll post a play by play of the trip. Including Scott screaming "YOU DON'T OWN THE OCEAN!" and nominations for the Dingy Trophy!
I know some of you might be getting this twice or even three times, but I wanted to get a firm head count on who's interested in Greece.
Please remember you'll have to leave the USA the Thursday before in order to get to the boats Saturday morning. I think we're going set sail from Paros and return to Athens (this isn't set yet but that's my hope). Some people are thinking of extending their trip an extra week but that's up to you.
Keep an eye out here for more updates... and I hope to see you in Greece!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Island of Anguilla
If you had any doubt that Anguilla is absolutely beautiful, then you have to check out this website…. http://www.anguilla-vacation.com/
Oh My Gosh! I can’t believe I get to be there in 7 days. I’m super excited. Anguilla is full of culture, pristine beaches and great cuisine.
Where to start!
The island has been inhabited for over 4,000 years! Its first inhabitants were people from South America, and then the English came in 1650. The French occupied it for about year, but the English got the island back in the Treaty of Breda. Typical… the English love their treaties (that’s about all I remember them all from high school history).
Anguilla was originally named “Malliouhana,” meaning arrow-shaped sea serpent! Then the island was renamed Anguilla by the Europeans, for its long eel shape (Guess Anguilla was easier to say!). Malliouhana (Anguilla) is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. The island is about 35 square miles, made up of coral and limestone. It is mostly rock with some scrub oak trees and salt ponds.
Cool Culture!
The Arawak people believe that there are two sacred caverns, from where all mankind originated (Big Springs at Island Harbor and The Fountain at Shoal Bay). The Fountain is the Eastern Caribbean’s most intact ceremonial site and features petrogylphs, offering bowls and a stalagmite carved in the likeness of Jocahu, their Supreme Deity.
BEACHES!
Holy Cow, there are a lot of beaches to choose from on Anguilla. I think we could spend two weeks here and never see all of them. The coolest thing for me is that the island has seven marine parks, including Dog Island and Prickly Pear Cays! The island is known for its drift, wreck and reef diving… not to mention the snorkeling next to its white sand beaches.
Well, I don’t want to spoil everything… I just know these pictures don’t do the island justice. Guess we’ll have to see it for ourselves on February 14th!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Bareboating the Greek Isles
If you’re like me, a day on the water beats any day on dry land. Therefore, it’s time to start planning an adventure to the Greek Islands.
The Destination
There are six different chains (clusters) that comprise the Greek Isles:
Each cluster of islands offers a wide variety of culture, natural beauty, history and intrigue. Some are more secluded (Sporades and Ionian), some are influenced by different cultures (Dodecanese, and North Aegean) but they all are worth visiting. Since we only have a week to explore, I’ve chosen the Cyclades Islands. There are over 200 islands located in the Cyclades chain. The major ones include Amorgós, Anáfē, Ándros, Antíparos, Dēlos, Eschátē, Íos, Kéa, Kímōlos, Kýthnos, Mēlos, Mýkonos, Náxos, Páros, Folégandros, Sérifos, Sífnos, Síkinos, Sýros, Tēnos, and Santoríni. Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited, but are just as beautiful.
Preliminary Vacation Plans
Itinerary:
I’ve done some initial research and the plans will be finalized upon my return from St Martin. My hope is to do a one way charter, so we can get the most out of our sailing experience. We’ll either start in Athens (sailing south in the Cyclades) or start in Paros (sailing north to Athens). Either way, we’ll hit six or seven islands, depending on the schedule and winds.
Expected Costs:
My initial cost estimates are extremely rough! The price includes a one way charter, $100/day in food, hotel stay (day before and after) and a flight. The price is subject to change, but I wanted you each to have an opportunity to plan. Just like the BVI and St Martin, my hope is to keep the price under my estimate.
Anticipated Dates:
I’m leaning towards starting the trip during the 1st week in September because of the Labor Day holiday. You’ll have to leave the States on Thursday (September 2nd) in order to make boat call on Saturday morning. We’ll sail for a week (Sept 4th – 11th) and then some of us are planning to tear up Europe the following week (September 11th – 19th). September 18th is the start of Oktoberfest in Munich; this might be a great place for a closing celebration (plus flights are cheaper to-from Germany right now).
Limited Participants:
I will only be planning this trip for four boats. Therefore, this trip has a maximum of 40 sailors. Reserve your spot ASAP by sending me your first payment. The $1000 is not refundable. If something happens once you’ve committed, I will work with you to find a replacement and determine a plan, but we’d much rather have you on the trip.
“In Greek mythology, the Anemoi (in Greek, Ἄνεμοι — "winds") were wind gods who were each ascribed a cardinal direction, from which their respective winds came, and were each associated with various seasons and weather conditions. They were sometimes represented as mere gusts of wind, at other times were personified as winged men, and at still other times were depicted as horses kept in the stables of the storm god Aeolus, who provided Odysseus with the Anemoi in the Odyssey. Astraeus, the astrological deity sometimes associated with Aeolus, and Eos, the goddess of the dawn, were the parents of the Anemoi, according to the Greek poet Hesiod.
Of the four chief Anemoi, Boreas was the north wind and bringer of cold winter air, Notus was the south wind and bringer of the storms of late summer and autumn, and Zephyrus was the west wind and bringer of light spring and early summer breezes; Eurus, the east wind, was not associated with any of the three Greek seasons, and is the only one of these four Anemoi not mentioned in Hesiod's Theogony or in the Orphic Hymns. Additionally, four lesser Anemoi were sometimes referenced, representing the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest winds.” (Thank you, Wikipedia!)
Some of you know… I really really want a dog!! Maybe I’ll name him Zephyrus… the only problem is Zephyrus was kind of a player. Think that matters to the dog? Anyway…I’ll send more history on Greece as the planning gets underway. This is going to be a true adventure… Pack your bags and I’ll see you in the Med.
The Destination
There are six different chains (clusters) that comprise the Greek Isles:
the Argo-Saronic Islands in the Saronic gulf near Athens- the Cyclades, a dense collection in the Aegean Sea
- the North Aegean Islands, off the west coast of Turkey
- the Dodecanese, a collection in the southeast between Crete and Turkey
- the Sporades, a small tight group off the coast of Euboea, and
- the Ionian Islands, located to the west of mainland Greece in the Ionian Sea.
Each cluster of islands offers a wide variety of culture, natural beauty, history and intrigue. Some are more secluded (Sporades and Ionian), some are influenced by different cultures (Dodecanese, and North Aegean) but they all are worth visiting. Since we only have a week to explore, I’ve chosen the Cyclades Islands. There are over 200 islands located in the Cyclades chain. The major ones include Amorgós, Anáfē, Ándros, Antíparos, Dēlos, Eschátē, Íos, Kéa, Kímōlos, Kýthnos, Mēlos, Mýkonos, Náxos, Páros, Folégandros, Sérifos, Sífnos, Síkinos, Sýros, Tēnos, and Santoríni. Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited, but are just as beautiful.
I’ve done some initial research and the plans will be finalized upon my return from St Martin. My hope is to do a one way charter, so we can get the most out of our sailing experience. We’ll either start in Athens (sailing south in the Cyclades) or start in Paros (sailing north to Athens). Either way, we’ll hit six or seven islands, depending on the schedule and winds.
Expected Costs:
My initial cost estimates are extremely rough! The price includes a one way charter, $100/day in food, hotel stay (day before and after) and a flight. The price is subject to change, but I wanted you each to have an opportunity to plan. Just like the BVI and St Martin, my hope is to keep the price under my estimate.
Anticipated Dates:
I’m leaning towards starting the trip during the 1st week in September because of the Labor Day holiday. You’ll have to leave the States on Thursday (September 2nd) in order to make boat call on Saturday morning. We’ll sail for a week (Sept 4th – 11th) and then some of us are planning to tear up Europe the following week (September 11th – 19th). September 18th is the start of Oktoberfest in Munich; this might be a great place for a closing celebration (plus flights are cheaper to-from Germany right now).
Limited Participants:
I will only be planning this trip for four boats. Therefore, this trip has a maximum of 40 sailors. Reserve your spot ASAP by sending me your first payment. The $1000 is not refundable. If something happens once you’ve committed, I will work with you to find a replacement and determine a plan, but we’d much rather have you on the trip.Geeky Greek History
Of the four chief Anemoi, Boreas was the north wind and bringer of cold winter air, Notus was the south wind and bringer of the storms of late summer and autumn, and Zephyrus was the west wind and bringer of light spring and early summer breezes; Eurus, the east wind, was not associated with any of the three Greek seasons, and is the only one of these four Anemoi not mentioned in Hesiod's Theogony or in the Orphic Hymns. Additionally, four lesser Anemoi were sometimes referenced, representing the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest winds.” (Thank you, Wikipedia!)
Some of you know… I really really want a dog!! Maybe I’ll name him Zephyrus… the only problem is Zephyrus was kind of a player. Think that matters to the dog? Anyway…I’ll send more history on Greece as the planning gets underway. This is going to be a true adventure… Pack your bags and I’ll see you in the Med.
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