Advertisement
Published: September 30th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Acropolis, Athens
Tash W, and the loads of other tourists all wanting to take the same pictures! Europe here we come...
After leaving Egypt, we were dying for some kind of luxury, familiarity... anything Western really!
Tash A was excited as her first 'real' venture into Europe, and a first for both Tash's to Greece. In short, we had 1 week to see all we could of what Greece has to offer!
Firstly 2 nights in Athens, The Hermes hotel was ultimate luxury compared to where we had been the previous 2 weeks in Egypt. All booked through Contiki, it's always hard to know what to expect! New Hotel in the Plaka district, close to all restaurants/ cafes/ shopping/ good coffee etc. And The Acropolis around the corner... just perfect.
The temperature in the mid 20's was an unbelievable relief. We found Athens a truely fashionable city, cultural and for the most part friendly. Shopping was more 'catwalk' than we were used to, but not complaining as it was nice to people in 'Western' clothing!
Tash W enjoyed good coffee, even though being on the Euro was a little shock to the system! And we both enjoyed healthy servings of Gyros, souvalaki's etc.
A few days of sightseeing, The Acropolis/ Temple of Dionysus/ Temple
of Athena Nike/ Hadrians Arch etc... And it was time to jump on the Louis Cruise Boat for our 5 day Aegean Classic cruise of the Greek Islands! Having met our Contiki group, it was safe to say 'par-ty' would be the word of the week!
Cruising was great, it forced us to relax and was a stress and hassel free way of getting a quick summary of what the Greek Islands were about. All meals included, buffet of all types, and we signed up for a beverage package onboard, $40 NZD pp per day unlimited - all you can drink. Beers/ Liquers/ Spirits/ Coffee/ Cocktails of the day... you get the picture!
Off we set, onto Mykonos which we both just loved. It would certainly be on the agenda to return. Quaint cobbled streets, amazing sunsets, shopping to die for and restaurants that were so beautiful but 'not this time'!
The way the cruise work briefly, we sailed at night and docked in the morning to have most/ part of the day to sightsee at a different island. So next was Turkey (Kudsadasi) where we briefly docked and onto Patmos.
We spent the day at Rhodes, where we
spent the day shopping and swimming, another Island worth a return visit. And then Crete, finishing off at famous Santorini.
There is no doubt about it, Santorini is as beautiful as all the 'postcard' shots. We visited the village of Oia, where al the blue domed church shots are taken. And then spent the evening and a sunset of course in the main town of Fira.
Our first 'cruising' experience had been a good one, our limit would definately be a 1 week cruise, but we would do it again. Very, very easy.
We finished Greece with 2 more nights in Athens, before heading up to London.
(For anyone who doesn't already know, the Easyjet London Luton Airport is just light years away from London Heathrow/ or the centre of London - Thanks so much Anna and Chris for picking us up you were a savior!)
Now onto London, thankfully we had good friends to stay with Anna and Chris, who kindly took us on the famous 'Hawkes' walk tour of all the main sights, Big Ben/ London Eye/ Buckingham Palace/ Westminster Abbey/ Hyde Park etc... And saved us a fortune on the double decker tour bus
with commentry!
Keith and Margaret also ensured we had a humourous, and unforgettable time. A big congratulations too, to Chris and Anna who are getting hitched! Very exciting news and Tash W is gushing about her debut Bridesmaid appearance!
Tash W and I both agree that London may be a potential 'home' for us in the future, apart from the weather (which we think people complain way too much about!) it sems to have tonnes to offer, always something to do and see, and a good place to work and explore the UK and Europe.
Next, and our last stop in Europe, we caught the Eurostar to Paris. Just missed the Eurostar fire that closed the chunnel for 3 days! Loved the fast train. And enjoyed our 2 nights in Paris, a quick look around, some more shopping, Eiffel Tower by night. A bloody expensive beer ($16 NZD)! But a wonderfully magic city...
To wrap it up that's pretty much it... I think the photos speak for themselves, we had a fantastic time and can't wait to return!
We now head to the Southern Thailand's beautiful beaches for 2 weeks before arriving into Canada, and onto
Mykonos
We only got to spend 5 hours at Mykonos, we would definetly like to go back and explore this island some more. our new home in Whistler. And resuming work, after 3 months on holiday...
Advertisement
Tot: 0.347s; Tpl: 0.019s; cc: 12; qc: 50; dbt: 0.2933s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
kez
non-member comment
wikd pics!
mmmmmm the greek islands! lol wicked pics bro :) xo