by Mary Jo
Continuing our dream cruise on the luxury yacht Wenchly Winds, we're heading to the Dalmatian Coast, a place I've yearned to visit for years.
Just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, the coast was heavily Romanized during the Roman empire while the mountainous interior stayed wild, independent, and Balkan. The scenery is said to be spectacular, and the old cities likewise.
We’d call in Venice, La Serenissima, of course, then sail south. Ports of call would include places like the island fortress at Hvar.
We'd visit Dubrovnik, once a maritime city-state to rival Venice itself. (Left)
And certainly we must stop at Korcula, which is only a few miles from the Greek island of Corfu. (Picture below)
From Sarande in Albania, we'd be able to visit the Roman ruins in Butrint:
Then we'd head to the Greek Islands and Crete, since Andrea/Cara has requested that we dally there.
But there are plenty more Greek Isles to see as we wander where the wind takes us. Certainly we can't miss Santorini, the island formed from the remains of an ancient volcano which might have been the model for Atlantis.
So many islands, so little time! But eventually we'll head to the Antipodes where we'll collect Wench Anne in Melbourne and sail on to the Whitsunday Islands off Queensland.
I've always found islands rather magical and intriguing. What about you? What are your favorite islands? Have you visited your favorites yet, or do they lie in the future?
Mary Jo