Sometimes Interesting

Maritime mysteries are fast becoming a popular subject for me, and I think writing about one of the most famous would be apropos. The Mary Celeste was a merchant ship that was discovered on December 4th, 1872, floating unmanned and abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. The Mary Celeste had been at sea for a month when found, and had over six months’ worth of food and supplies on board. The cargo and personal belongings of all on board were untouched (including valuables), although a lifeboat was missing. What happened to the crew of the Mary Celeste remains unknown to this day, and as such the she has become the archetypal ghost ship in history. Read more…

Craco is a commune and medieval village located in the Region of Basilicata and the Province of Matera (about 25 miles inland from the Gulf of Taranto at the instep of the “boot” of Italy).  The medieval village of Craco is typical of the hill towns of the region with mildly undulating shapes and the lands surrounding it sown with wheat. Around 540AD the area was called “Montedoro” and inhabited by Greeks who moved inland from the coastal town of Metaponto. Tombs have been found dating from the 8th century suggesting the original settlement dates back to then.  Today, earthquakes, landslides, and a lack of fertile farming land have contributed to the abandonment of Craco. Read more…