Sun, Sand,and Gyros everday. The Good Life in Greece

August 19-20, 2008

Our last trip to the doctors before taking an overnight bus to Brindisi (nine hour ride). From here, we caught the Ferry to Corfu, Greece (eight hour ride). Long day but, we are getting use to these trips. The warm sea air washed over us, waking us, exciting us for new adventures. Of course, with no sleep from the night bus, we were soon catching some shut eye on the sunny top deck of the ferry. It was no problem that kids were screaming, that Italians were yelling at each other and that the intense heat of the sun beat down on our tired bodies. Nothing could have kept us from sleeping...

When we arrived at the hostel, the owners showed us to a table where we were to eat a freeeeee meal! It was good to be out of the expensive clutches of Italy and in the warm welcoming embrace of Greece. When we fell into a deep sleep this night it was with smiles on our faces.

August 21, 2008

The hostel where we are staying at is called Sunrock and it was the cheapest one we could find. For 18 Euro each, we had a room which we shared with another girl, Amber, whom we met on the ferry, and it included breakfast and dinner. It was also just a short walk to a fantastic sandy beach with crystal clear waters. We spent the day down at the beach and chillin in the area. The island of Corfu has a surprising amount of vegetation on it. There are a lot of fir trees and about 60-70% of the island is covered in olive groves. There are small towns that are perched on the edge of the mountainside overlooking the blue green Aegean Sea and sandy beaches around every corner. Amber, Henry and I enjoyed a dinner of lamb and potatoes and quiet conversation. While attempting to sleep in the oven of our room, we were suddenly and viciously attacked by hungry mosquitos. The war was not pretty and it lasted well into the early hours of the morning. Mosquitos 1, Humans 0.

August 22-23, 2008

After sleeping in as much as we could on both days, we just gave up trying. It was either the heat or the mosquitos that kept us up at night. With no fan and no air conditioning, Henry and I were forced to talk to management to see if we could arrange something. They laughed in our faces and that was when we knew to move on. The hostel really would be decent if the rooms had a fan but with no sleep, we were not in any frame of mind to start enjoying the good things they had to offer. Jenna (a friend from home), while on her travels, told us of the infamous Pink Palace which is just a short distance from Corfu town. We were hesitant to go there only because it is a well known party "palace" but it was arranged for us to go there in the morning.

August 24, 2008

We finally woke early in the morning in order to check out and get a ride back into town. Once in town , we went back to the port hoping to catch the Pink Palace bus. Sure enough we did....soon afterwards, we found ourselves in a beautiful clean cool room with an amazing view overlooking the bay. The room is a lttle more expensive than the other hostel but with all the nice comforts that we could want. The price also includes breakfast and dinner which is served in a big dining room. The hostess seats us at tables with others so that everyone has a chance of meeting other people. It was a great, easy way to get to know your neighbors. Staff here at the Palace seem to be a lot of fun, very friendly, fellow travelers as well. The food was filling and decent, the drinks cheap. Overall it seemed that if you wanted to party, the opportunity was there. But, if you wanted to relax and read a book, you could do so too. In the evening we hug out, playing a few games of pool, meeting people.

August 25 and 26, 2008

These days were spent walking through the little town nearby, hanging out at the beach, eating eating and eating! We made a few new friends, drank a few drinks, caught up on our sleep, and just enjoyed the warm weather.


August 27, 2008

We were awake bright and early this morning, determined to take the "Quad Safari Tour" today. It took awhile for things to get orgainzed but finally a big group of us were under way, learning to navigate the roads with our quads (ATV). Henry and I shared a vehicle as he believed that I would kill someone or myself...little does he know but I am a pro at driving...hhehhheeee. But it felt nice to be able to relax and enjoy the scenery, taking pictures while Henry drove. The tour took us through rural roads, seaside seawalls, dusty dirt roads through olives groves, and picturesqe little towns. We headed up to the highest point in Corfu where a monastery sat at the top. When we asked about the monastery, our guide said "it is really old", nothing more nothing less.
We headed down to the lower area of the Pink Palace once again and met up with Maggie and Jasper who we have been playing pool with in the evenings. The meal (chicken and potatoes) once again, was pretty good. We talked for a couple of hours before heading down to the Palladium for a few games of pool. Tonight was also the Pink Palace's famous toga party. Hundreds of hostelers dressed in pink togas covered the dance floor as we watched and danced along with them. The evening also included greek dancing which was a couple of guys doing these really cool greek dances that got the crowd reved up. Still the highlight was the plate smashing. They literally had hundreds of plates to be smashed and not a single one was spared. Everyone got a plate smashed over their head and to be honest....it kind of hurt. Still, the fun seemed to be endless tonight as one of the dancers even picked up a chair, with flaming bowls, in his mouth and walked around the dance floor which was also being lit on fire. Just heaps of fun as we danced the night away.


August 28, 2008

Christianna finally went for a swim today. The bandages came off a few days ago and her leg is looking much better. After a long night of partying Henry just took it easy as well. A nice relaxed day.


August 29, 2008

Had an early morning as we had to check out today. We made plans to catch an overnight bus to Athens and from there, on to Santorini. Chrissy and I took advantage of the day and finally, after one week, we made our way into the town of Corfu. We were both very surprised as to how busy and packed the streets were. Looks like this small island of fourty thousand really booms in the summertime. We wandered the narrow streets for hours and hours taking pictures and soaking in the way of life in this area. The first area we hit had absolutely no toursits which is always a treat because we get to see the way the people really are. What makes this place even better is that whether there are tourist or not, the people are still very friendly. What a nice treat after coming from Italy. The second area was touristy downtown core. Even though packed with people it was still very charming and unique in its own way. The last area we saw was the old fort. There was hardly any information and no tours so we made our way through the fort which is built within the mountain overlooking the sea and the city. It was both of our first times seeing a fort of that size and even though we didn't learn to much of it, it was still quite interesting and also held some amazing views.
We took the bus bak to the Pink Palace for our last free diner there and to get ready to leave. Our bus left at 10pm and it was a long ride to Athens. Surprisingly we were able to sleep a little.


August 30, 2008

We arrived to Athens and immediately caught the subway to the port. Once we arrived we were not ready for the enormous size of the port with absolutely no signs and no time. We rushed around to the point of sweating and with literally minutes left before departure, we boarded the ferry. We were the last ones on. What a close call as the next ferry to Santorini was not for another eight hours. The ten hour ferry ride was quick and uneventful. We spent the entire time in the restaurant area playing solitaire, sleeping, and reading.
Arriving in Santorini, we were greeted by hoards of hotel owners all trying to grab our attention with their good deals. Chrissy yelled "Who's the cheapest?" and the first guy who answered was who we chose. Looks like we chose the right guy as the hotel is very nice. It has a great pool sorrounded by flowers and palm trees. We are also a short walking distance to the beach which has loads of restaurants and bars to choose from. It is a clean family run hotel and for 15 euro a person, the price is perfect.


August 31, 2008

Since we had travelled for two days, we decided to have a nice easy day today. A nice little walk by the beach and a swim in the pool were the highlights of the day.


September 1, 2008

Today was definately all about the sight seeing and having some fun. We rented a quad for the next four days which should be more than enough time to explore the beautiful towns of Santorini. The quad itself is only 12 euro a day which is pretty cheap plus, Christianna feels a lot more secure on it than a scooter. We hopped on and made our way with no map and just the idea of getting lost in the cool streets. The first town we found was so nice and unique we were almost blown away by it. The small paths that snake higher and higher through the town are to small for cars, but not a quad. The all white building with their roundness and simplistic shapes were not like anything we had seen before. Little did we know this would be overshadowed by the capital of Fira. Still we could say, we were being eased into this style and way of living.
We spent a few hours driving along the coast stopping at beautiful lookouts and sunny black sand beaches. The greeks invented wine and there was no shortage of wineries along our path which tempted us every time to stop and try some local wine. We eventually gave in and stopped to relax with a few tasters of whites and reds. All the wineries around the area seem very small with the grapes growing in a cabbage patch type style, the vines wrapping into a small basket that stits on the ground. Maybe they are grown like this due to the windy almost desert like conditions of the Island. Still, the wine was tasty.
After driving through many small towns and almost seemingly endless amounts of coast line, we arrived into Fira, the capital of Santorini. I know Chrissy and I were both really really impressed with Cinque Terre in Italy but, I think Fira might take the prize. This is a unique town like no other. The good areas of this town can only be reached by walking and that is proabably the perfect pace. Every restaurant has the perfect sunset view and tantalizing foods that could make anyones mouth water. The shops along the pathways were very touristy but, we are tourists, we still checked them out. Some of the local seniors have donkeys that take you to the bottom where the boats and docks are. Even though we opted out of it it still gives the town that much more character.
Walking past the donkeys we walked down a shady looking alley that actually turned out to be the best part of Fira. All the white houses with their blue, red, green, and other color trims seemed to be endless as we wandered aimlessly around. Even the decorations they used were so simple yet beautiful in this unique greek setting. Everyone here has a view of the sea and the surrounding islands as each house and hotel is perched along side a cliff.

After driving all day, we drove back into the little town of Perissa where we were staying and settled in for the night.


September 2, 2008

After yesterdays jam packed day we were wanting something a little more relaxed. We heard of this beach that is lined by towering red cliffs. Definately sounds like our kind of place. Thanks to our trusty quad we were on our way, crusing through the open streets to see something new.
When we arrived, it was definitely worth the drive. The strong deep red colors of the cliffs the black sand and the blue waters gave it a contrasting beauty. The only unfortuante part was the loads of people all trying to find a small spot to lay their blankets for some R and R. Since we had food on our mind (particularly a Greek Gyro) and no desire for crowds we were back on the quad in search of a new quest. The quest being a Gyro.
Chrissy had talked to a girl at the store and she recommended a place called Aquarius. A restaurant right on the beach. How perfect. We ordered our Gyro with a few beers and enjoyed a late afternoon lunch.


September 3, 2008

Taking advantage of having our own transportation, we headed out on the road again. This time we headed to the other end of the island, to a town called Pygos. We had to park the quad because the streets were to narrow for us to drive through. Walking through these white washed alleyways was an experience that we will never forget. The architecture was really amazing...all the houses and buildings built in the same style and colours. It made for a unity that was very unique. So often we search to find something different, where here, they have a beauty in being similiar. There weren't many tourists in this area, it seemed untouched and peaceful. After checking out some views of the valley, we spotted a beach not to far away and decided to check it out as the sun was beating down on us. We relaxed here for a few hours before heading back home to get ready for a night out in Fira. Dressed to the nine besides Henry long crazy hair, we jumped on the quad and drove the 30 minute drive to Fira to have a romantic sunset dinner. Once we arrived in Fira we searched the narrow streets to find a restaurant. The hard part was that, due to the donkeys along the cliff side, all we could smell was donkey poo. Not to great for dinner so we moved from restaurant to restaurant trying to duck the smell. Finally, we found one restaurant far away enough to enjoy a donkey free dinner. Unfortunately, the servers tried to rip us off at every chance they could get but, the food was good and the sunset was spectacular. Satisfied, we headed back to Perissa where we relaxed at an indian bar sipping $15 dollar drinks (normally $6 back home) while smoking from a hooka.


September 4, 2008

It was our last day to have the quad so we wanted to make the most of it. Puttering down any unknown roads (it was only 50 cc's), we went looking for adventure. We found amazing views of the surrounding islands and little roadside stands giving free samples of the local wines and sundried tomatoes. There was a little lighthouse perched on a rocky point with little pathways to caves and views of the rocky seas below. Later, we happened upon a small, quiet beach where we threw down our towel for a couple of hours. Here we went swimming in the cool, rocky waters and suntanning to the last of the sun's rays. Henry did a little snorkeling and even saw an octopus about 12 inches long (including tentacles)...this was a highlight for him! After the beach, we found a little roadside restaurant, grabbed a couple of beers and headed back to the lighthouse to catch another on of Santorini's famous sunsets. We found a nice big rock sit on, opened the beers, talked, and admired the colours of the setting sun. To cap the evening off, we went back to the roadside restaurant to eat some amazing greek food. It was so cheap and there was so much food to eat. The owners daughters kept us company the whole meal through, talking and laughing and bringing us more and more food. It was a fantastic day finished off by a fantastic authentic meal. We drove back to the hotel happy, stopping occasionally to stare at the bright stars that shined through the darkness of the night.

September 5-9, 2008

Relaxing at the pool, exercising, and exploring this small town of Perissa.


September 10, 2008

Check out time! We felt really sad as our morning consisted of packing and getting ready to leave the Island of Santorini. We had such a fun relaxed time here but, we know there are many more places to see. Our ferry did not leave until 4pm so we spent much of the day enoying our last walk throughout the town. Henry started collecting sand at some of the nicer beaches we have been at and Santorini would be no different. Not so much that it had the nicest beaches but, because the black sand was really unique.
After enjoying our final lunch here, we made our way to the Ferry dock and hoped on a boat to Athens. The 10 hour extremely rocky boat ride seemed endless as we slept, talked, played games,and read the entire way. We arrived at midnight and caught a cab ride to the center of Athens with some young honeymooners that we met at the dock. Eventually we parted way and Chrissy and I made our way to the hostel for some much needed sleep. We arrived at 1am and headed straight to bed.


September 11, 2008

With other hostelers in the room, we were woken up early once again. Tis the life in a dorm room. We made our way out for some early lunch which also gave us the oppourtunity to explore Athens. With a few hours of walking around we eventually headed back to the hostel to catch up on that missed sleep. Once again we were up and heading out the door feeling refreshed and excited to see more of Athens.
We jumped on the local bus and headed towards the main attractions. Since we started a little late we only had time for the National Archeological museum which is also Greece's biggest museum and also home to some very impressive and famous artifacts along many works of art.
It was definately worth the money as there were countless things to see, each remarkable in it's own way. It was really interesting to find out how many of these pieces were found after so many years. Some were found by fishing boats in the ocean, while digging a subway system underground, and some by lots of exploring. The walk around the museum took hours and hours
and definately a must see. Most impressive to us was the golden mask of death, the giant Apollos statues the towered at around fifteen feet, the ancients swords with the golden details on the blade, the bronze statue of Poseidon, and many more.


September 12, 2008

Today we meet with Sophie and Aleem, a few friends from back home. We were both really excited about today because we knew we would have a lot of fun. We met bright and early and after some quick re-introductions we were walking around eager for some exploring. Both of them looked nice and relaxed as they have been touring around on a cruise ship for a few days. During breakfest they surprised us with a gift of hot sauce and jalepenos from Chrissy's friend Maria. Just another piece of home that we miss so much. THANKS ROJITA!!.
While with Sophie and Aleem, we climbed up to the hilltop to see the Acropolis. This is Greece's most famous tourist attraction and it was easy to see why. Built thousands of years ago, this ancient site was where the most important decisions affecting Greece and it's people were made. It is also made of pure Marble. Literally, all the roads, walls, and statues.
The four of us casually walked down many streets lined with tourists shops , artists selling their wares, and numerous restaurants. By the time we all caught up on each others lives, it was time for Sophie and Aleem to head back to the cruise ship. Before they boarded the ship, they had to try the famous Greek Gyro with a few Mythos (the Greek beer). With our stomachs full and a great day behind us we parted ways with our friends. It was really great being able to spend time with them and we definately look forward to returning home to see good friends like that. Chrissy was sad to see her friend leave but knew it is only a matter of months before we are all reunited once again.
Although the both of us were burnt out, we knew this was our only chance to get some major souveneir shopping done. For hours on end, end we stalked the stores looking for the right things to buy. With more than our budget spent for the day, we walked back home and prepared for tommorows flight out to Japan.


September 13, 2008


We woke up early, checked out and headed into the city to run a few errands. We had to to send home a package which is always a very long process and a few other small things. With not much time to spare, we ran back to the hostel, grabbed our bags and caught a bus to the airport.
When we arrived at the airport we found out that our plane had already left. Since we bought our tickets eight months ago there had been a few changes that we did not know about. Thankfully, Emirates airlines took care of everything for us and within a ten minutes we had a new flight only one hour later than previous.
We said our final goodbyes to Greece as we had a wonderful time there. So many people told us that Athens seemed very dangerous, ghetto, and with not much to do. Once again, we found the opposite to be true, It was a great city with tons to do and more importantly, the people were some of the friendliest we encountered throughout our trip. Its the people that make the great country it is. We will be back!
Our flight took us to Dubai where we would have loved to check out. Just the airport itself was pretty impressive with its indoor palm trees, flashing lights, and even space ships above. But, with Chris and Yoko ( Chrissy's brother and sister in law )waiting for us in Japan we were excited to be starting our Asian leg of the trip.

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