Cruising the Adriatic Sea

September 15, 2011 | Tags: Adriatic Sea

The Clipper Odyssey made a calm crossing on the deep blue Mediterranean from Sicily to the Adriatic Sea and the beautiful shores of Montenegro, Croatia, and Albania. Our first Adriatic stop was in Montenegro. Sailing there was itself an event, winding our way through the dramatically curving coastline of the fjord-like Bay of Kotor. There, tucked away at the base of a looming rocky mountain, rested one of the jewels of the Adriatic, the walled Venetian town of Kotor, a renaissance city frozen in time and filled with centuries-old palaces and churches. Kotor was just a taste of what was to come, however, as the following day we anchored outside the monumental, almost 2-mile long walls of the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. We walked the ramparts of the best-preserved medieval city in the world, and looked out over a sea of tiled roofs of picturesque homes, monasteries, and churches. It’s hard to imagine a more splendid city. It was like a dream being there, especially walking up the wide main street, which was paved entirely in white marble.

We then headed in a southerly direction to Albania. The ancient city of Durres was our first port of call, with its Roman amphitheater and small but exceptional archaeological museum. Tirana, the nation’s capital, was our next visit, where we had a wonderful lunch while being entertained by Albanian folk dancing and music. A really fantastic performance! Later, we struck out by bus to the high mountain stronghold of Kruja, where Albania’s greatest hero, Skanderbeg, had the castle from which he challenged the might of the Ottoman Empire and fought for Albanian independence.

Today we rose early and, taking to the Zodiacs, were the first visitors ever to take our own boats up the Vivari Channel to the ancient Greco-Roman city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Butrint was a fascinating archaeological site that eloquently conveyed a sense of the real life of an ancient city. The walk around the site was made even more pleasurable by the park-like ambience of the ruins, filled with pleasant paths shaded by a forest of beautiful trees. Now on to Greece and the Gulf of Corinth, where we will go by bus to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi!

A World of Thanks from Henderson Island

September 13, 2011

As part of our 2010 “World of Thanks” donation, Zegrahm contributed to a large restoration project designed to help save the endemic bird species of Henderson Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Part of the Pitcairn Island group in the South Pacific, Henderson is one of the most remote islands on the planet, and home to unique birds found nowhere else on Earth, including the Henderson fruit-dove, Henderson lorikeet, Henderson crake, Henderson reed-warbler, and Henderson petrel.

Despite its remote and uninhabited status, Henderson’s biodiversity was under threat due to the presence of introduced Pacific rats.  Thankfully, in the summer of 2011, the restoration project was a wild success. Said David Agombar, representative for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), “I am delighted to tell you the bait drop has been successfully completed! We are very pleased with the bait coverage they have achieved.”

Though the RSPB won’t know about the possible persistence of future rats until a follow-up trip, the methods used to eradicate this species of rat have never failed. A small avicultural team will remain on the island for the next month or so, to help determine the success of the project.

Agombar added, “None of this would have happened without the help you gave. Your generous support, commitment, and enthusiasm was an inspiration to all of us.”

 

Interested in seeing the change to Henderson in person? Zegrahm Expeditions is planning on revisiting the Island in the next few years; stay tuned for details, or contact us and let us know you’re interested!

A World of Thanks from Henderson Island

September 13, 2011 | Tags: Henderson Island

As part of our 2010 “World of Thanks” donation, Zegrahm contributed to a large restoration project designed to help save the endemic bird species of Henderson Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Part of the Pitcairn Island group in the South Pacific, Henderson is one of the most remote islands on the planet, and home to unique birds found nowhere else on Earth, including the Henderson fruit-dove, Henderson lorikeet, Henderson crake, Henderson reed-warbler, and Henderson petrel.

Despite its remote and uninhabited status, Henderson’s biodiversity was under threat due to the presence of introduced Pacific rats.  Thankfully, in the summer of 2011, the restoration project was a wild success. Said David Agombar, representative for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), “I am delighted to tell you the bait drop has been successfully completed! We are very pleased with the bait coverage they have achieved.”

Though the RSPB won’t know about the possible persistence of future rats until a follow-up trip, the methods used to eradicate this species of rat have never failed. A small avicultural team will remain on the island for the next month or so, to help determine the success of the project.

Agombar added, “None of this would have happened without the help you gave. Your generous support, commitment, and enthusiasm was an inspiration to all of us.”

 

Interested in seeing the change to Henderson in person? Zegrahm Expeditions is planning on revisiting the Island in the next few years; stay tuned for details, or contact us and let us know you’re interested!

Greetings from the Blue and Sunny Mediterranean!

September 8, 2011

We are now cruising from our first five days in Sicily towards the Adriatic Sea and the wonders of Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. Sicily was full of marvels. We began in Palermo and Monreale, where the 12th-century churches and chapels were adorned with magnificent mosaics from floor to ceiling. The Palatine Chapel in Palermo was especially memorable, like a jewel-box of medieval art. We enjoyed exploring the labyrinthine streets of the medieval hilltop town of Erice and the beautifully situated Greek temple and theater at Segesta. Greek temples seemed to be everywhere in Sicily. The ancient cities such as Selinunte and Agrigento have several each, including the world’s best preserved temple, the Temple of Concord. The salt flats of Trapani and Marsala, with the white hills of curing salt piled alongside, gave us an idea of how salt has been produced here for thousands of years. Believe it or not, we’ve had time for wine tasting in Marsala and at the feudal estate of Principi de Butera, where the vintners also hosted us for a spectacular Sicilian luncheon, the scenic countryside stretching out in endless vistas from the hilltop winery. We also visited Syracusa and its enormous ancient theater, and walked the picturesque streets of Ortigia, where the 18th-century Baroque-style cathedral has incorporated the impressive remains of the two-thousand year old Greek temple of Athena. Onwards!

 

Interested in seeing these incredible sites in person? Learn more about our 2012 Sicily with Montenegro, Croatia, Albania & Greece expedition.

Greetings from the Blue and Sunny Mediterranean!

September 8, 2011 | Tags: Mediterranean

We are now cruising from our first five days in Sicily towards the Adriatic Sea and the wonders of Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. Sicily was full of marvels. We began in Palermo and Monreale, where the 12th-century churches and chapels were adorned with magnificent mosaics from floor to ceiling. The Palatine Chapel in Palermo was especially memorable, like a jewel-box of medieval art. We enjoyed exploring the labyrinthine streets of the medieval hilltop town of Erice and the beautifully situated Greek temple and theater at Segesta. Greek temples seemed to be everywhere in Sicily. The ancient cities such as Selinunte and Agrigento have several each, including the world’s best preserved temple, the Temple of Concord. The salt flats of Trapani and Marsala, with the white hills of curing salt piled alongside, gave us an idea of how salt has been produced here for thousands of years. Believe it or not, we’ve had time for wine tasting in Marsala and at the feudal estate of Principi de Butera, where the vintners also hosted us for a spectacular Sicilian luncheon, the scenic countryside stretching out in endless vistas from the hilltop winery. We also visited Syracusa and its enormous ancient theater, and walked the picturesque streets of Ortigia, where the 18th-century Baroque-style cathedral has incorporated the impressive remains of the two-thousand year old Greek temple of Athena. Onwards!

 

Interested in seeing these incredible sites in person? Learn more about our 2012 Sicily with Montenegro, Croatia, Albania & Greece expedition.