The sea is brilliant blue, so is the sky; even the doors and windows of the residences on the island far away are painted into the same blue, bringing people a sudden enlightenment and joy. This, is Aegean Sea, which is described by Homer as “the color of full-bodied wine”.
I once told myself, “I shall go to Aegean Sea to appreciate the sea and sky there.”
Aegean Sea is full of the atmosphere of romantic, located to the west of Turkey and the east of Greece, connecting with the Mediterranean Sea. Along the long coast line flapped by the blue seawater lies the pastoral fishing villages and olive gardens. I fell for there, when I first took plane flying over the cloudless sky of Aegean Sea, overlooking the Greek islands in the blue sea.
If blue and white represent the color of paradise, Aegean Sea is a pure paradise on earth. All the white is so natural, both the balustrades on serpentine streets and the houses, tall and low, near mountains and sea; both the Latin Cross on blue roofs and the window screening casually revealed by blue windows. When you are caught by this kind of perfect blue and pure white, and hear the Greek music from far away, you will be touched for unknown reasons, and your heart will become as clear as the blue sky.
Aegean Sea is charming not only for the water, but also for its islands colored by myths and culture. Venus, who maintains graceful in spite of no arms, Helen, who causes the Trojan War but still leaves the generations followed shocked for her beauty, and others, are all the stunners created on the islands in Aegean Sea. When you stroll around on the islands like these, reminiscing the beautiful stories left behind, waving your own romantic dreams, your heart has already been touched and overwhelmed by the charming blue illusion.
Taking a walk on the islands of Aegean Sea, every one may cherish the same hope as mine that time no longer go by and today maintain forever.
The Tragically Beautiful Myth of Aegean Sea
Once upon a time, there lived a son of King Minos of Crete (an island in Aegean Sea), and was killed in Athens. The rageful king sent a punitive expedition against Athens, compelling King Aegeus to sign a treaty that they would consecrate seven pairs of virgin boys and girls every seven years to Minotaur--king of Crete’s son, a hobgoblin with a head of ox and the body of human being. Athens had to pay the tribute in fear of the power of Crete, leaving its citizens suffering a lot. Theseus, the young prince of Athens, worried so much about his country and citizens, to save which, he sacrificed himself to the hobgoblin. Before setting off, the prince promised his father that if he killed Minotaur, white sails would be hung on his boat when he came back.
On Crete Island, King Minos’ daughter fell in love with the young handsome Athenian prince, and helped Prince Theseus going out of the maze, killing Minotaur and rescuing the children sent as tribute. On the Prince’s way back, the Oracle ordered him to give up his love or he would be punished by the God. The Prince had no choice but to leave the Princess on a desolate island and sadly go back alone. In great grief, the Prince forgot his promise to his father and went back with black sails on his boat. When the King standing on the sea shore with eager expectancy saw the boat with black sails floating near, he could not accept the fact that he lost his beloved son, and jumped into the sea in despair. To memory the King loving his son so much, people call this sea area as Aegean Sea.
Tips:
The Best Season for Travel
Aegean Sea belongs to typical Mediterranean climate with four common seasons that January is the coldest in a year and July and August is the hottest. It is the golden season for travel during April and October.
Things Must Be Taken
Sunglasses are necessary, and brown or green ones, or those protected by UV are the best; besides, sunscreen products, soothing after-sun mask or antioxidant day care mask will be very useful.
Bring Home a Bottle of Local Olive Oil
Since olive oil was firstly bestowed by Athena, it has been attached to Greece, becoming a necessity of life for local people that everything, from daily cooking to cleaning and maintaining, has something to do with it. When you come to Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean food is a must-try. The delicious food in Mediterranean area emphasizes on original taste. The cooking methods based on olive oil enjoy great reputation. I specially recommend salad of sea food and vegetables that it is neither oily nor greasy, in accordance with the way of preserving health.