Back on board after a nice afternoon in Corfu Town, the most Northerly town in Greece. I will report in a day or so on our extended time on the Bridge this morning during Silver Wind's approach and docking at this lovely town and of our wander around of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Here is my report of the last few days after leaving filthy but unpleasant Egypt.
Thursday - At Sea
Venetian Society Reception
Thursday evening was a the "Venetian Society" formal evening. Silversea Cruises has amassed 260,000 or so "Venetian Society" members in its 16 years. Anyone who has set foot on one of their ship in those years--or stayed overnight, actually--is a member. I guess you can say that it's an nonexclusive club with high dues but good food. At any rate, at this once per cruise event, the members reaching milestones and those with the highest number of days onboard are honored. Barbara reached the 100 day point on this cruise and was called up to receive an empty bag from the captain to rousing applauds by the others in attendance, and I was called attention to for having the most days on Silversea of all on this particular sailing, 432 days, but who's counting. The couple sitting with us asked how Barbara could have 332 fewer days. I said that she didn't come along on all of my cruises. That worked. Go figure. While Barbara was being honored I had a nice conversation about my experiences as a faculty member at CU with the president of UNC. She was enthralled, I believe, if not downright amused. The Venetian Society reception is always fun.
Friday - Gythion, Greece
I posted a picture or two during our Hellas Fix beer lunch yesterday at a taverna along the waterfront in Gythion. Consider this a supplemental report.
Gythion is at the most Southern end of the Pelloponese Peninsular. That is, the southern most part of the Greek mainland. The town looks lovely from the sea as we sailed in, and actually was pretty nice. As the temperature reached the forecast 102 degrees, it was downright mellow downtown. We were greeted by a statue of a disassembled mermaid and then took an extended but very slow walk where we discovered the Silver Wind was resting on a plinth. We found a great free WiFi hotspot and had a couple of beers with the potato chips from the Red Carpet Club in Newark we had saved for just such an occasion, tried to make a call on a very basic cell phone, and looked at a 4000 year old grandstand. It was a very pleasant stop at a lovely beach resort town in beautifully clean bankrupt Greece. I bought shaving cream and Greek Tums to help the local economy. The shop keeper was thrilled and phoned Athens with the good news (I think on the cardboard cell phone.)
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