A Journey of Cobalt Blues, Calderas and Aegean Ancient Wonders Cruise on Explora I from Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha is an archipelago formed by different islands, and is located in the Southern Atlantic. The access to the island is complicated, it is named in the Guiness Book of Records as the farest inhabited place in the world.

Santorini

Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece´s mainland The island remains the home of a small, but flourishing, wine industry, based on the indigenous grape variety, Assyrtiko, with auxiliary cultivations of two other Aegean varietals, Athiri and Aidani. Wine Industry The vines are extremely old and resistant to phylloxera (attributed by local winemakers to the well-drained volcanic soil and its chemistry), so the vines needed no replacement during the great phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century. In their adaptation to their habitat, such vines are planted far apart, as their principal source of moisture is dew, and they often are trained in the shape of low-spiralling baskets, with the grapes hanging inside to protect them from the winds. Architecture The traditional architecture of Santorini is similar to that of the other Cyclades, with low-lying cubical houses, made of local stone and whitewashed or limewashed with various volcanic ashes used as colours. The unique characteristic is the common utilisation of the hypóskapha: extensions of houses dug sideways or downwards into the surrounding pumice

Rhodes

Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is located northeast of Crete, southeast of Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. From there you can access Lindos and its famous Acropolis which can be accessed on foot or by donkey.

Bodrum (Turkey)

Bodrum is one of the most turistic places in Turkey. Hundreds of thousands fo tourists arrive there each year. In Bodrum you will enjoy of a good service of hotels on full board, you can go shopping through the animated center of the city or you can rest on the beach. Nightlife is animated fun until dawn. The bright sea water around Bodrum is an splendid place for scuba diving, with it's reefs and coves, and it's colorful marine life. In the center of the city you can find the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and also the Castle of Bodrum, that represents the architecture of the crusaders, built by the Knights Hospitaller and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

Samos (Greece)

Samos outstands for its superb natural beauty, and the place that gave birth to one of the creators of mathematics, Pythagoras. Let yourself go with the amazing beaches and even visit some of the surrounding islands like San Nicolas and Macronisi, both uninhabited and heavenly.

Paros

Athens (Piraeus)

Athens, the capital city of Greece is an active cosmopolitan mix of different cultures and people, passionate about their art and history. The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and very hot summers, ideal for tourism. It is located just a few miles from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital, and the shores of southern Attica. The main attractions of Athens are The Ancient Agora, Anafiotika, The Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, Thiseion Cinema, Gazi, Monastiraki Flea Market, Pireaus seaside, Pireaus open air market, Kastella Hill, Veakio open air theatre and Piraeus Archaeological.