AAA Journeys May-June 2006
© Dale Leatherman 2006
Photos © Donnelle Oxley
No place in the world evokes stronger feelings of romance, history and avant-garde travel than the Mediterranean. Almost everything of importance to modern man originated here, in lush valleys where rivers spill into the inland sea. The Med is actually a part of the Atlantic Ocean that is sheltered on three sides by land--Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east. It is lined with exotic ports such as Barcelona, Marseille, Cannes, Naples, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Algiers, Beirut and Alexandria. Cruise ships, ferries and private yachts of many nationalities now ply waters that once carried ships loaded with warriors bent on exploration or conquest. Alexander the Great briefly controlled of much of the region, but after his death the nations quickly went their own way, displaying the strong nationalism that endures today.
Countries bordering the Med are layered with vestiges of many civilizations, each one contributing to an incredibly rich cultural, architectural and historical mix. Take Rome, Italy, for instance, where visitors can tour the Vatican’s priceless artworks, and trace more than 20 centuries in landmarks such as the Forum and the Coliseum. Or Barcelona, Spain, a 15 B.C. Roman military post. Today travelers stroll from the city center to the waterfront along Les Rambles, a boulevard known for its grand architecture and lively nightlife. Or Athens, Greece, where the 2,500-year-old Parthenon overlooks a modern city still basking in the glow of the 2004 Olympics.
Visiting the Med involves much more than soaking up the history. It’s also about soaking up sunshine on legendary beaches, sailing waters that compete with the sky for the most incredible blue, and exploring labyrinthine streets between ancient walls overflowing with flowers. It’s about waterfront restaurants serving local fare, be it fresh Greek octopus salads, handmade Italian pasta with savory sauces, exotically seasoned Moroccan couscous, or French bouillabaisse and ratatouille. Olive oil from local groves, vegetables and herbs fresh from hillside gardens, the morning’s catch from the sea, and home-baked breads are staples here, along with sublime wines for every food and occasion.
Most of all, visiting the Med is about mingling with the region’s effusive and gregarious people. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with locals in the ubiquitous outside cafes. Talk often leads to toasts with the local liquor, be it Greek ouzo, Spanish cava, Italian grappa, French pastis or Turkish raki. A few salutations and soon everyone is dancing and laughing. It’s the stuff of priceless vacation memories.
The Cycladic Islands
More than 2,000 islands, many uninhabited, are sprinkled across the azure Mediterranean off the coast of Greece. Fishing and farming provide subsistence for most islanders, though the impact of tourism is apparent in the colorful, busy ports. Cruise ships and ferries departing Athens’ port of Piraeus are often bound for the popular Cyclades, a group of 39 islands lying in the region of the Med known as the Aegean Sea.
One of the most visited--and most unusual--Cycladic islands is Santorini. . . .
Contact me to read the entire story or to discuss second rights or a rewrite. daleatherman@cs.com