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GREECE
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Yia sas!
 This
description encompasses a sail starting in Corfu in the sun-washed Ionian
Islands of Greece, a transit of the Corinthian Canal to the Saronic Gulf,
finishing in Athens – a true voyage of discovery – about 270 miles. Other
wonderful sailing options can be tailored just for you.
The name “Ionian” is, like many names in Greece, derived from Gods and
Goddesses. The Goddess Io gave her name to the Ionian islands and Ionian Sea. Io
was a priestess of Hera and was, for a short time, a mistress to Zeus. When Hera
discovered that Zeus was deceiving her, Zeus fearing what Hera might do in
retaliation, turned Io into a white cow! Hera, not to be out done, sent a gadfly
to torment Io (now a white cow), and Io plunged into the sea to rid herself of
the stinging gadfly – hence the Ionian Sea.
Unlike much of Greece and her islands, the Ionian Islands are known as the Green
Islands. Cypress, pine and elm trees cloak the hills, along with ancient olive
orchards dating back, in some cases, to the Venetian occupation (1204 – 1550)
when they were planted so the local population could pay their taxes in olive
oil.
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Our adventure begins in Corfu, the Homeric island home
of the Phaeacians, who ferried Odysseus home to Ithaca. It is now a major
holiday destination for Europeans and boasts many fine resorts and villas. Our
route will include Paxos, a major producer of fine olive oil. Harrods, the
London department store, reportedly sells only olive oil from Paxos. There are
some spectacular caves on the west side of the island. We will navigate the
Levkas Canal and enter the charming harbor. Further south, we will visit
Fiskardo on the island of Cephalonia and finish our Ionian Odyssey at Ithaca.