We were hitting 2 ports a day. Unfortunately, both Mykonos and Santorini were for afternoon arrival.
Continue reading “Travels Revisited: Santorini”Tag: Greece
Virtual Greece: Athens
So this challenge is officially over…
Continue reading “Virtual Greece: Athens”Virtual Greece: Soros and Spanikopita
The virtual trek continues, and another postcard arrives. Morley of it takes us back to the ancient battle from when the concept of a marathon originates:
Continue reading “Virtual Greece: Soros and Spanikopita”Virtual Greece: Marathon to Athens
For the holiday gathering I’m making spanikopita and tzatziki and maybe some souvlaki.
So in the spirit of synchronicity, I’m also doing the Conqueror Marathon to Athens challenge.
Continue reading “Virtual Greece: Marathon to Athens”Culinary travels – Greece
It all started because I made tzatziki. Maybe even too much tzatziki. If there is such a thing.
So it turned into a whole Greek feast.
Continue reading “Culinary travels – Greece”4 of 10
There’s a Facebook meme going around. A bunch of them really. 10 things you are thankful for. 10 albums that impacted you. 10 travel photos.
Ok so T – from my Asia trip – tagged me in the travel photos challenge. 10 photos, 10 days, no explanation, tag someone else. (Yeah, my wall on FB is locked down tight and I’m not assigning homework to anyone. But if this inspires you, feel free to consider yourself challenged!
This is harder than you think! So many places to choose from! So many wonderful times remembered!
So: Day 4 of 10
Ok so it turns out that I can’t not say anything. This stop on our trip was the one I was really excited for. But at our time of year, the sunset is earlier, and our landing was just as the sun was getting ready to set. By the time we raced to this end of the island, the sun was down. But our guide could get a few of us into a private little nook to get this picture.
Some of the distant lights are our cruise ship.
I had a wonderful time on this trip – and I miss my found-friends from this adventure so much! (Hi Troy and Deana! Love you guys! Connie, are you and Marge out there too? How about the rest of the gang? Christiana and Elena, we loved seeing your country in your care!)
Also… I am literally making Greek food today to go with this post. That will be a separate writing in the future.
Day 10: Final Day in Athens
In which we put ourselves on a forced march through the city.
Christiana organizes us off the ship in what must be record time, and we are shortly back on the bus and again in the weekday traffic to Athens. Continue reading “Day 10: Final Day in Athens”
Day 8: Night on Patmos
We arrive on the tiny isle of Patmos at dusk. We walk up first to the monastery, our tour guide very soft spoken but very clear, which makes her seem very earnest. And thoroughly likable. Continue reading “Day 8: Night on Patmos”
Day 8: Morning in Ephesus
The excursion to Ephesus is included in our package and was noted by both Elena and Christiana as a highlight of our trip.
They were not kidding!
Despite the late night we are all up and on time (good thing too) for our tour of Ephesus, in Turkey. Which means it’s not just another country for me: it’s another continent!
Our tour guide (whose name I can’t spell but it is pronounced like “John”) is delightful. He tells us, on route to the ruins at Ephesus, about his experience over 20 years as a tour guide. About common misconceptions about Turkey, about his family, and about the site we are visiting. Continue reading “Day 8: Morning in Ephesus”
Day 7: Embarkation and Mykonos
This morning we meet back up with Christiana, for the first time since our intro on the first night. (She’s a lovely person though I think we have all fallen a little bit in love with Elena as our guide, and we miss her.)
It takes a bit longer to get to the port this time: rush hour.
It’s scattered and chaotic at the ship checkin process. To some extent that is par for the course but Christiana won’t know who is who by sight so she won’t realize when some are hung up by security and are lagging.
I am inclined to mother hen a bit.
We get to our cabins. I am surprised to find we have outside cabins, views to the sea. I am less surprised that my single has been set up with separate beds; that has happened at all the hotels for me too. And we have a drinks package.
Once again, we ask ourselves how they can be making anything on this package, with all that is included?
I explore the ship, get lunch, attend one of the shipboard activities and then bump into Connie, who has found a nook in one of the bars where there’s music setting a mood and a bartender sending her stuff that isn’t in our drink package, and I visit with her a while. We know we’re going to be back here again!
The sea is smooth as we sail to Mykonos for our evening stop.
It’s the end of the season, so we are the last ship making this route, and the only one in port (will be the case throughout our sail). So although the narrow streets are busy with cruise passengers, it’s less so than it would otherwise be. I can’t imagine if it was summer and 5 ships in port plus tourists staying. But it’s not summer, so arriving in the evening means we have landed after sunset.
No light, few pics. 😕
We traverse the narrow streets, single file. Christiana takes us herself rather than the cruise line’s fee for the same thing. She takes us around and then lets us free to enjoy what we will of the island before we head back to the ship ahead of its departure.
Connie, Troy & Deana and I grab dinner together, hang out at the bar getting free (on our package) drinks and free (great bartender) shots to all hours, with laughter and dancing and just generally a great time had by all.
aka gringita 