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J - 177 : Villa Jovis - Imperial Fortress in the Sky
Villa Jovis behind Capri as seen from Monte Solaro, the Island's highest Elevation High above the Tyrrhenian Sea, on the island of Capri, stand the ruins of the Imperial Villa Jovis. For ten years (27 – 37 AD), the second Roman Emperor lived and ruled from here. Tiberius’ old palace towers 334 m or 1066 feet above sea level. It was placed on Capri’s second highest mountain. To our ears, Villa Jovis does not sound like anything special – just "Jupiter House". For the Romans th
hbanziger
11 hours ago5 min read


J - 206 : Etruscan Mariners in the Tyrrhenian
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
hbanziger
Feb 45 min read


I + 19 : A Castle for Franks, Venetians, Genovese, Ottomans, Egyptians and Rebels
Staying in the Bay of Navarino last night was a good choice. The sea was calm. We were well protected from the westerlies. This morning,...
hbanziger
Aug 8, 20253 min read


I + 18 : Navarino Bay - Where Greece became Independent
Sunrise over the location of the Navarino Battle today What a rocky start this morning. Swell from the west hit us hard after leaving...
hbanziger
Aug 7, 20253 min read


I + 15 : Pirates of the Aegean
Turkish Sailors surrender to the Greek Privateer Katsionis - Painting from his Crimean Villa Greek folklore is full of tales of heroic...
hbanziger
Aug 4, 20255 min read


I + 12 : Chania - Oldest Settlement in Europe?
The Venetian Harbor of Chania with the Workshops to maintain the Fleet on the Left Sailing from Rethymnon to Chania was fun - albeit a...
hbanziger
Aug 1, 20253 min read


I + 11 : The Beauty of Having Been Irrelevant
Rethymnon in the Morning Light at 7 am - the Venetian Port is behind the Light Tower Rather heavy sailing today from Heraklion to...
hbanziger
Jul 31, 20254 min read


I + 9 : Were the Minoans really peaceful?
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...
hbanziger
Jul 29, 20254 min read


I + 6 : Diverted by the Winds - Venetian Fort instead of Minoan Palace
Riding out 2-Meter-Waves today was actually quite enjoyable We are lucky having sailed to Crete yesterday. Now on the way to Agios...
hbanziger
Jul 25, 20254 min read


I + 4 : Ancient Shipwrecks around Kasos
The tiny old Harbor of Kasos accommodates a few Fishing and Leisure Boats Last evening, we could not find a well-protected by on Kasos so...
hbanziger
Jul 23, 20252 min read


I + 3 : Kasos - Sinister Echo of a Massacre?
The barren Island of Kasos has thousands of Terraces but little Vegetation and no Water Today, winds finally died down. We woke up to a...
hbanziger
Jul 23, 20253 min read


I - Day: A Windy Day on Rhodes
After 9 months of planning and booking, the day has arrived. We are boarding the MYRA this afternoon. The adventure begins. The weather...
hbanziger
Jul 19, 20253 min read


I - 2 : The Man who blew up the Parthenon
Francesco Morosini, Venetian Military Leader and Doge. He blew up the Parthenon As sad as it is, most people disappear in the grey ghoul...
hbanziger
Jul 17, 20255 min read


I - 7 : The Venetian Families of Methoni
One week to sailing – in exactly 168 hours we will board the Myra. Venetian Tower guarding the Port of Methoni - we visited once in 2017...
hbanziger
Jul 12, 20254 min read


I - 24 : Tar - More than just Pitch Black
Tar has a high Viscosity and flows slowly but is still liquid at Room Termperature There are many unsung innovations in history. One of...
hbanziger
Jun 25, 20254 min read


I - 43 : Dodecanese - The 115 Years Wait
On 15th of May, Locals enthusiastically receive the Officers of the Greek Battleship "Averof" which just had arrived in Rhodes - it was...
hbanziger
Jun 8, 20255 min read


I - 47 : When the Cyclades were Russian
Recognize this Naval Flag? A Russian Ship-of-the-Line sailing thru the Bosporus in 1798 Were we travelling 250 years earlier on our route...
hbanziger
Jun 2, 20255 min read


I - 54 : Rhodes - Ancient Armed Neutrality
Aerial View of Rhodes - at the Back the Ancient Acropollis with Stadion & Temple of Apollo Never underestimate the power of a Map. In...
hbanziger
May 25, 20254 min read


I - 72 : When the Peloponnese spoke French
The Navarino Castle between the Ionian Sea and the Bay of Navarino was built from 1287 - 1289 by Nicholas II Saint-Omer. Relatively...
hbanziger
May 8, 20254 min read


I - 107 : Naval Battles around Crete in WW2
Aerial View of La Valetta in Malta, the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Base from 1814 - 1937 The seas around Crete where we sail this summer...
hbanziger
Apr 4, 20255 min read
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