So Long from Salamis

The week has flown by and we find ourselves on the historical island of Salamis for their last night on the boat. We choose a quiet private bay where we are the only boat to anchor out for the evening to spend the last night together. I fixed a Thai dish of lemon chicken and stir fry vegetables for dinner that we have on the front of the boat complete with linen tablecloth and napkins. It has been a full week that seems some how less than 7 days. In the sun breaking light of morning we take the group to the Athens marina so they can catch their flights. Fortunately our trip is not over and we choose to go back to Salamis for another night anchored this time on the southern coast. This summer I read a historical book about the rise to greatness that Athens obtained before Christ’s birth redated the calendar. The island of Salamis played a major role in fighting off the Persian king Xerxes from taking control of the Athenian empire. Through trickery and strategic maneuvering, they trapped the Persian navy in the narrow waterways between Salamais and the mainland. It is actually this same invasion that the famous 300 Spartans held the Persians at the pass. They all died in battle, but their bravery became legendary for centuries. Through their bravery, Persia was unable to reinforce their navy with ground troops. The battle off of Salamis so destroyed the Xerxes’s navy that the Persians were forced to give up their goal of ruling this part of the Mediterranean. One of the things I have enjoyed about spending so much time in the Mediterranean is learning more European history and having it come to life as we visit these important pivotal places where a nations fate hung in the balance.