Saturday, September 24th - Zakynthos, Greece
Yet another Greek isle about which we knew nothing; we've got to bone up on our Aegean geography (too late?).
Note: Many photos today were taken by Gael; a first! You can easily tell which ones are hers by the red border..
Here's how Zakynthos looked from our at-anchor position:
You may recall that we were earlier wait-listed on our tour of Zakynthos; when we arrived back in our suite after the show last night, we found approved tour tickets waiting for us. Yay!
Up at 7:00a and in the Constellation Theater by 8:00a as requested. On the tender and off in the harbor of Zakynothos by 8:30a. It occurred to me that I hadn't shown the inside of the tender. It's made to hold 80 people in "tender" mode and 150 as a lifeboat!
We were met by our guide Janelle, a Welsh lass married to a local Zakynothian. She was the queen of Bus #8 today.
The tour began at a public square in Zakynthos City, about a half-mile from the tender dock. One of the stories that hit home was from WW II where the Nazis had invaded the island and asked Mayor Lucas Karrer and the Greek Orthodox Bishop Chrysostomos for a list of names of Jews on the island. The Mayor and the Bishop, over a single night, arranged for all 275 Jews on the island to be hidden away in the hills in homes of non-Jewish neighbors; all survived the war.
Yes, graffiti abounds in Greece, too. 
In 1953, a 7.3 Richter Scale earthquake decimated Zakynthos and its sister island Kefalonia. Major relief to help rebuild came from the state of Israel in appreciation of their aid to the native Jews. After the earthquake only three buildings remained standing on the island -- all three were churches.
We strolled around the square and associated shops for a while..
.. and then back on the bus for a looooong ride to the Anafonitria near the northernmost end of the island. We stopped at a monastery where Saint Dionysius lived with forty other monks in the 16th century. This is among the most quiet, most peaceful places we've ever visited.
There were interesting photo opportunities everywhere I looked at the monastery:
Below, this olive tree is said to be 2,000 years old and still produces olives every year:
Janelle told us that there are 700 million olive trees on Zakynthos. Since the island is only about 158 square miles in size, I found that number very hard to believe. 158 square miles, 100 square feet per olive tree = 44 million trees which would cover every square inch of the island. I looked; olive trees are numerous but they far from cover the entire island. And where would the 40,000 Zakylonians live?
She also told us that 250 flights a week land at their airport. Really? 36 flights a day, 365 days a year? I think this is a bogus statistic as well. Nonetheless, she did a really excellent job of filling our ears with Zakynthos history and (as an aside) how a Greek Orthodox wedding works.
And, in case you were wondering, yes, I do have a large lens (thanks for noticing..):
Loggerhead Sea Turtles, an endangered species, nest in summer along the southern beaches:
Zakylonians are properly very protective of these turtles and clear any obstruction from the beaches every night so as not impede the progress of the turtles. They even close the airport between 8pm and 8am so that noise won't disturb the turtles coming ashore to nest. Very cool.
Back in the bus for another stop at a crafts village:
Clearly, I was enamored of the bougainvillia!
The bus continued to climb the twisty road (with thousand-foot drops to the left) and then to a restaurant in the village of Bochali complete with a panoramic photo op high above Zakynthos City:
This painting in the restaurant really spoke to me. It looks like Paris and looks to be done in charcoal. No, I didn't ask if it was for sale..
"Car?!? Car?!? We don' need no stinkin' CAR!"
Did I say "panoramic photo op"?
Yes, you CAN see the Voyager from up here!
After an hour (and some great lemon sorbet) we wound down the mountainside to our original stop.
I took some "improved" photos compared to this morning (better lighting):
Sorry I don't have my perspective correcting software with me!
Gael and I (well, Gael) shopped for a while and then we walked a half-mile or so in blazing sunlight back to the tender dock.
We had lunch in the Veranda Restaurant and met a nice couple, Craig and Ona from Denver. Gael and I both needed naps but first I had to write today's blog before the facts vanish from my poor head.
We sailed at 6:00p for Corfu. Also at that hour we were invited to a "repeat offenders" cocktail party with the Captain. Of the 700 guests on board, about 300 had sailed with Regent Seven Seas more than once; the couple we met earlier today were on their fourth!
It wouldn't be a cruise without an ice sculpture or two (we had three):
Entertainment was the Nature's Rhythm Trio; they play all over the ship and are very entertaining.
What better opportunity for Spencer and Hayden to get tight with the Ship's Master, Captain John McNeil?
The cruise director, General Manager, head Sales dude, and the Ship's Master toasted us (we're why they get paid, y'know). I had to sit on Gael to prevent her from asking, "Say, guys, what about Delos?!?"
Tonight, dinner at the Compass Rose with Bill and Phyllis Gifford. After dinner, a "Cirque de Voyageur" show is right in Gael's wheelhouse; the acrobatic dancing pair are the best we've ever seen anywhere..
Tomorrow yet another tour excursion in Corfu!
Click  for yesterday or  for tomorrow..
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