Sunday, September 30, 2007
Back in the States (sigh...)
Well, we got back in the states yesterday. Randy has (finally!) put all of his pictures up on the KodakGallery.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Returning to the USA tomorrow . . . a bit reluctantly
Hello from Cathy! The Greek vacation is drawing to a close, and it's everything I hoped it would be! Greece is every bit as beautiful and charming as I thought it would be. Here's the summary of the 16 days in Greece:
- Athens: 4 days
- Mykonos: 2 days
- Delos: day trip from Mykonos
- Naxos: 4 days
- Santorini: 3 days
- Crete: 3 days
Randy's itinerary omitted Crete in favor of a few extra days in Mykonos and one extra day in Athens. Neither one of us saw anything on the mainland except Athens and the nearby ports. There is so much more to see in Greece, including Mount Olympus, Corinth, Sparta, and lots, lots more on the mainland. That will have to wait for another trip.
Throughout this trip I have been struck by the incredible antiquity of things . . . buildings and art work and pottery, etc. dating back thousands of years. In the USA we see something that's 25 years old and consider it an antique. Honey, we don't have any idea of what old really is. The last couple of days in Athens have been spent seeing the ancient ruins of the Acropolis including the Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, and much more. It's stuff that I had seen in books all my life, but seeing it in person is another thing. Also, we toured everything in daylight, and then saw it at night with spotlights illuminating the major attractions. Spectacular!
Yesterday we spent four hours touring the Archeological Museum in Athens, where many of the very best treasures from Athens and the various Greek Islands are displayed. After going through Archeological Museums on almost every island I visited, I was afraid I would be burned out on museums. This museum has the best of the best, though, and was well worth the time and energy.
A few observations about Greece and the Greek people:
1. The Greek Islands are incredibly varied. Each island has something interesting or unique to recommend it. Seeing the rest of the Greek Islands could take several more trips. The scenery is spectacular.
2. I felt safe everywhere I went in Greece, including walking in Athens alone at night.
3. It would have been helpful to learn more of the Greek alphabet and Greek language before I left Atlanta. Randy tried to warn me. In fact, Randy has done remarkably well figuring out signs and conversing with the Greek people. In turn, the Greek people have been remarkably patient with those of us who don't speak their language.
4. There are lots and lots of cats and dogs. Not as many pigeons as Italy, though. I figure the pigeons haven't figured how to fly across the Aegean yet.
5. The food in Greece has been excellent! Very healthy, tasty, and vegetarian-friendly for the most part. Have not had any difficulty finding good places to eat at reasonable prices. I did not sample the local wine, Ouzo, but I understand that the official translation is "fire water".
6. The Greeks love their families! Children are a part of the dinner gatherings, even when dinner is at 10 pm. There is an obvious fondness for the very young and the very old.
7. Religion is a part of everyday life. Bus drivers decorate the front of their buses with religious icons.
8. There are ferries that take people and cargo from island to island. Some are fast and some are slow. The ferries are all interesting in their own way. I took an overnight ferry from Crete to Athens and paid for a sleeping berth. What an experience!! I loved it!
9. A lot of people in Greece smoke cigarettes. Everywhere. It's impossible to escape cigarette smoke in public places, including restaurants.
10. Greece is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency, which makes it very easy for travelers who go from one EU country to another. I talked with people from just about every country in the EU, plus Australia, Canada, etc. I loved the variety of languages being spoken. Randy could converse with lots of people in their own languages, which was neat to watch.
11. The Greek people seem to love to talk . . . with anyone. There are no strangers to a Greek. It is very easy to strike up a conversation in Greece. It makes traveling in Greece all the more fun. Last evening I went to a Toastmasters meeting in Athens (conducted in English!) with my Toastmasters friend, Edwinna, who also happened to be on vacation here at the same time. Big fun!
It will be hard to leave Greece. I had looked forward to this trip for so long, and it's sad to realize it's coming to an end in a couple of days. Tomorrow, Friday, will be a long day of flying. That's the price we pay for a vacation seven time zones away. After a layover in Boston Friday night, we return to Atlanta Saturday evening.
- Athens: 4 days
- Mykonos: 2 days
- Delos: day trip from Mykonos
- Naxos: 4 days
- Santorini: 3 days
- Crete: 3 days
Randy's itinerary omitted Crete in favor of a few extra days in Mykonos and one extra day in Athens. Neither one of us saw anything on the mainland except Athens and the nearby ports. There is so much more to see in Greece, including Mount Olympus, Corinth, Sparta, and lots, lots more on the mainland. That will have to wait for another trip.
Throughout this trip I have been struck by the incredible antiquity of things . . . buildings and art work and pottery, etc. dating back thousands of years. In the USA we see something that's 25 years old and consider it an antique. Honey, we don't have any idea of what old really is. The last couple of days in Athens have been spent seeing the ancient ruins of the Acropolis including the Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, and much more. It's stuff that I had seen in books all my life, but seeing it in person is another thing. Also, we toured everything in daylight, and then saw it at night with spotlights illuminating the major attractions. Spectacular!
Yesterday we spent four hours touring the Archeological Museum in Athens, where many of the very best treasures from Athens and the various Greek Islands are displayed. After going through Archeological Museums on almost every island I visited, I was afraid I would be burned out on museums. This museum has the best of the best, though, and was well worth the time and energy.
A few observations about Greece and the Greek people:
1. The Greek Islands are incredibly varied. Each island has something interesting or unique to recommend it. Seeing the rest of the Greek Islands could take several more trips. The scenery is spectacular.
2. I felt safe everywhere I went in Greece, including walking in Athens alone at night.
3. It would have been helpful to learn more of the Greek alphabet and Greek language before I left Atlanta. Randy tried to warn me. In fact, Randy has done remarkably well figuring out signs and conversing with the Greek people. In turn, the Greek people have been remarkably patient with those of us who don't speak their language.
4. There are lots and lots of cats and dogs. Not as many pigeons as Italy, though. I figure the pigeons haven't figured how to fly across the Aegean yet.
5. The food in Greece has been excellent! Very healthy, tasty, and vegetarian-friendly for the most part. Have not had any difficulty finding good places to eat at reasonable prices. I did not sample the local wine, Ouzo, but I understand that the official translation is "fire water".
6. The Greeks love their families! Children are a part of the dinner gatherings, even when dinner is at 10 pm. There is an obvious fondness for the very young and the very old.
7. Religion is a part of everyday life. Bus drivers decorate the front of their buses with religious icons.
8. There are ferries that take people and cargo from island to island. Some are fast and some are slow. The ferries are all interesting in their own way. I took an overnight ferry from Crete to Athens and paid for a sleeping berth. What an experience!! I loved it!
9. A lot of people in Greece smoke cigarettes. Everywhere. It's impossible to escape cigarette smoke in public places, including restaurants.
10. Greece is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency, which makes it very easy for travelers who go from one EU country to another. I talked with people from just about every country in the EU, plus Australia, Canada, etc. I loved the variety of languages being spoken. Randy could converse with lots of people in their own languages, which was neat to watch.
11. The Greek people seem to love to talk . . . with anyone. There are no strangers to a Greek. It is very easy to strike up a conversation in Greece. It makes traveling in Greece all the more fun. Last evening I went to a Toastmasters meeting in Athens (conducted in English!) with my Toastmasters friend, Edwinna, who also happened to be on vacation here at the same time. Big fun!
It will be hard to leave Greece. I had looked forward to this trip for so long, and it's sad to realize it's coming to an end in a couple of days. Tomorrow, Friday, will be a long day of flying. That's the price we pay for a vacation seven time zones away. After a layover in Boston Friday night, we return to Atlanta Saturday evening.
About to leave Athens
Well, today is our last full day in Greece. We leave at the crack of dawn (before, actually) local time on Friday for the airport to fly back to Boston via Madrid.
It's been great and I don't want to come home...
Randy
It's been great and I don't want to come home...
Randy
Monday, September 24, 2007
Randy in Athens again
Ok, after my 7:30 a.m. slow boat (which was over-packed) I finally made it to Athens. I just met with the local Esperanto group, which was quite nice. I'm still sleep-dificient, so I probably won't see much more of Athens tonight. Tomorrow Cathy gets here. Hope everyone is doing fine back home.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Cathy in Crete
Hello from Cathy. I took a 3 hour ferry from Santorini to the island of Crete, the biggest of the Greek islands and most southernly (I think). The biggest city on Crete is Iraklio (also called Herklion), and I stayed there just long enough to do the two things I planned on: see the ancient ruins at Knossos and go through the Archeological Museum. So glad I did both of these.
The Knossos ruins date back to the Minoan civilization, which pre-date Mycenean and Classical Greek civilizations. I was there very early in the day, avoiding the huge crowds that arrived as I was leaving. I was allowed to join a college student tour by a retired Archeology professor from Sacramento, California. Superb information that made the whole site come alive! This was the beginning of a semester's study in Greece. In return I took group photos for them on about 8 different cameras. A win-win deal.
Later the same day, I took a 3 hour bus ride with scenic views along the northern coast of Crete to the city of Hania, talking the whole way with a nifty woman from England who is hiking/back-packing off the beaten trails in rural Crete, and got off the bus about 25 miles before we got to Hania.
The city of Hania is lovely! I am spending a restful two days strolling the streets and passageways, going to museums, etc. The island of Crete has an interesting history, being governed over the centuries by Turks, Venetians, and Germans (during World War II) to name a few. The old harbor area definitely shows the Venetian and Turkish influence.
There is a lighthouse at the end of a narrow, curving spit of land that curls around the harbor area. I walked out to the lighthouse today, doing my best to avoid the waves that crash over the walkway. My feet got a bit wet, but I'm no worse for the adventure. I got some great pictures, too.
Tomorrow night I board the ferry in Hania at 11:45 pm and go to sleep in a berth, to awaken in Athens on Tuesday morning. The few times I've taken overnight trains have been fun, so I'm really looking forward to this experience. In the meantime, I plan to continue enjoying the beautiful city of Hania.
The Knossos ruins date back to the Minoan civilization, which pre-date Mycenean and Classical Greek civilizations. I was there very early in the day, avoiding the huge crowds that arrived as I was leaving. I was allowed to join a college student tour by a retired Archeology professor from Sacramento, California. Superb information that made the whole site come alive! This was the beginning of a semester's study in Greece. In return I took group photos for them on about 8 different cameras. A win-win deal.
Later the same day, I took a 3 hour bus ride with scenic views along the northern coast of Crete to the city of Hania, talking the whole way with a nifty woman from England who is hiking/back-packing off the beaten trails in rural Crete, and got off the bus about 25 miles before we got to Hania.
The city of Hania is lovely! I am spending a restful two days strolling the streets and passageways, going to museums, etc. The island of Crete has an interesting history, being governed over the centuries by Turks, Venetians, and Germans (during World War II) to name a few. The old harbor area definitely shows the Venetian and Turkish influence.
There is a lighthouse at the end of a narrow, curving spit of land that curls around the harbor area. I walked out to the lighthouse today, doing my best to avoid the waves that crash over the walkway. My feet got a bit wet, but I'm no worse for the adventure. I got some great pictures, too.
Tomorrow night I board the ferry in Hania at 11:45 pm and go to sleep in a berth, to awaken in Athens on Tuesday morning. The few times I've taken overnight trains have been fun, so I'm really looking forward to this experience. In the meantime, I plan to continue enjoying the beautiful city of Hania.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Randy in windy Mykonos
Well, I made it by high-speed catamaran to Mykonos. The boat was going every which way. I'm glad I don't get seasick, because almost everyone else on the boat did. It was an awfull experience, but that's part of travel. The power went out on the island last night, but they got it back. They canceled all the boats today because of the wind. I tried to go to the beach, but it was just too windy. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Monday I leave for Athens. Hopefully the ferries will be back to full schedule then. I will (again hopefully) be meeting with the Greek Esperanto Group Monday night.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Leaving Santorini for Crete (Cathy) and Mykonos (Randy)
Hello from Cathy! Had two excellent days on the island of Santorini, noted for its volcano that blew its top around 1500 BC, affecting weather and civilizations all over the world. What's left is the top of the caldera with a volcanic island in the middle, visible from the towns on the surrounding outcroppings of land. Santorini is unlike anything else in Greece or elsewhere.
We took a 5-hour dinner cruise last evening that took us on a reproduction of an 18th century brigantine sailing ship that was the highlight of our stay on this island. They took us first to the volcanic island, and we hiked as a group to the top, stopping along the way for explanations from a charming Greek-American woman named Zoe. From the top of the volcano we could see the whole rim of the caldera and understand better the workings of the volcano over the centuries. The rest of the cruise included stops at a hot springs, dinner, and stopping below the town of Oia to watch the sunset.
Another interesting aspect of this island is that the steep hills from the harbor to the town require vehicles (where there are roads) that take switchbacks that zig zag up the hill, OR riding a donkey up a zig zag path (which we did NOT do), OR walking the same zig zag path, avoiding the donkey dung (which we DID do going down the hill), OR taking a cable car (which we DID do going up th hill). It's an important part of the Santorini experience, I am told.
The other neat thing about Santorini is that the views from everywhere are "picture postcard" perfect. It's hard to take a photo that isn't spectacular. The little white buildings with blue trim are everywhere, as they are on the rest of the Greek Islands.
Randy left this morning to go back to the island of Mykonos for a few days. I leave in a few hours for Crete to see the ruins at Knossos and the Archeological Museum in Iraklio (also called Herkalion). Then I take a bus to the town of Hania, in western Crete, for a couple of days before taking an overnight ferry back to Athens. Randy and I will meet up in Athens on Tuesday, to stay at the same hotel where we stayed at the beginning of our journey.
Hope you're enjoying these blogs. You'll note that my entries are very, very, very long, and his are very short. Not surprising.
We return to the United States on Friday, September 28, and return to Atlanta the next day.
Cathy
We took a 5-hour dinner cruise last evening that took us on a reproduction of an 18th century brigantine sailing ship that was the highlight of our stay on this island. They took us first to the volcanic island, and we hiked as a group to the top, stopping along the way for explanations from a charming Greek-American woman named Zoe. From the top of the volcano we could see the whole rim of the caldera and understand better the workings of the volcano over the centuries. The rest of the cruise included stops at a hot springs, dinner, and stopping below the town of Oia to watch the sunset.
Another interesting aspect of this island is that the steep hills from the harbor to the town require vehicles (where there are roads) that take switchbacks that zig zag up the hill, OR riding a donkey up a zig zag path (which we did NOT do), OR walking the same zig zag path, avoiding the donkey dung (which we DID do going down the hill), OR taking a cable car (which we DID do going up th hill). It's an important part of the Santorini experience, I am told.
The other neat thing about Santorini is that the views from everywhere are "picture postcard" perfect. It's hard to take a photo that isn't spectacular. The little white buildings with blue trim are everywhere, as they are on the rest of the Greek Islands.
Randy left this morning to go back to the island of Mykonos for a few days. I leave in a few hours for Crete to see the ruins at Knossos and the Archeological Museum in Iraklio (also called Herkalion). Then I take a bus to the town of Hania, in western Crete, for a couple of days before taking an overnight ferry back to Athens. Randy and I will meet up in Athens on Tuesday, to stay at the same hotel where we stayed at the beginning of our journey.
Hope you're enjoying these blogs. You'll note that my entries are very, very, very long, and his are very short. Not surprising.
We return to the United States on Friday, September 28, and return to Atlanta the next day.
Cathy
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