Lake Avernus in 2022 during the Blossoming of Cyano-Bacterium Planktothrix Rubescens A good 25 kilometer west of Naples, on the volcanic Campi Flegrei, is Lago Averno, a crater lake with a radius of ½ km. Its name tells a story. “Áornos” in Greek means bird-less lake. Birds flying over it were said to fall dead. This must have been true 2’000 years ago, when toxic fumes still evaporated. Today, the lake is dormant. From time to time though, it turns pink due to the blooming o

The well preserved Greek Temples in Paestum attract every summer Thousands of Tourists The piece I wrote two days ago showed a photo of the Castello Aragonese di Agropoli . A few kilometers north of it lies Paestum, a town founded by Greek colonists from Sybaris in 600 BC. Its original name was Poseidonia. Pictures of Paestum made me wonder why the town had such big temples. Three of them are well preserved and attract thousands of tourists every summer. They are almost as la

Scuba Divers are allowed to explore the Submarine Archeology Park in Baiae Despite fumes, frequent tremors and occasional eruptions, Greeks loved to live in and around the Bay of Naples. Nea Polis (Naples), Kumai (Cumae), Pithekousai (Ischia), Dicaearchia (Pozzuoli) and Poseidonia (Paestum) are the best known ancient Greek settlements which still exist today. The Romans loved loved living there too as did the Etruscans (founders of Capua) and the Samnites (founders of Pompeii

Etruscan Buccheri (simple pottery) exported to Sardinia, now in the National Archeology Museum in Calgari At times, I stumble on fascinating facts which stare into my face for years without me noticing. Happened again last week when I wrote about Campi Flegrei , the large cauldron west of Naples. As I was searching for craters, I came across the Greek colony of Cumae, a settlement with acropolis, port and long town walls. In 474 BC, 6 years after the Athenians destroyed the P

Am often asked “what was the highlight" of the 2025 trip? Most people expect an answer like the "Turquoise Beach of Kasos", or the...

Our Boat, the MYRA, this morning at Sunrise at 06.59 am (in Rhodes it was 06.25 am) This morning, after breakfast, it was time to say...

On the horizon to the west, in the hazy afternoon, the small island of Antikythira comes into view. We are on the way to Kythira but will...

The Venetian Harbor of Chania with the Workshops to maintain the Fleet on the Left Sailing from Rethymnon to Chania was fun - albeit a...

Fresco of a young, dancing Minoan Noble Woman from Knossos Seven miles north of Heraklion lies the island of Dia. Four of its bays...

We arrived at 09.30 am at the Palace of Knossos which is indeed a complex Labyrinth Knossos excursion today. Planned it luckily last week...

We are stuck in the Marina of Agios Nikolaos but the Sailing School for Kids is undeterred Saturday is change-over day. The first guests...

Riding out 2-Meter-Waves today was actually quite enjoyable We are lucky having sailed to Crete yesterday. Now on the way to Agios...

The day started windy as expected. The wind continued to blow from the north-west at a strength of 20 knots. We would enjoy a wonderful...

Arrived in Rhodes - one day from boarding the MYRA! The Ports in Rhodes are still the same as in ancient Times - Open Port (left), Big...

Doric Temple at the open End of Messene's Antik Stadion On the 9 th of August, a good hour after bidding farewell to our home for three...

Aerial View of Rhodes - at the Back the Ancient Acropollis with Stadion & Temple of Apollo Never underestimate the power of a Map. In...

Cypresses line the Road to my House in the South of France A row of Cypress trees lines the road to my property in the South of France....

Can't believe - only 101 days to go until we set foot on the Myra, our sail boat this summer! Much of the Pharos (Lighthouse) of...

Mainstreet of the Dorian City of Camirus, 40 km SW of Rhodes, with the Fountain Square Was trying for months to find out more about the...

The Greek Navy Ship Olympias somewhere in the Aegean A few weeks ago I wrote about Persian Emperor (King of Kings) Xerxes ' efforts in...