Arrived in Kusadasi (pronounced Koo-Sha-dars-a) after a cold and wet ferry ride to land in a beautiful hotel (Otel in Turkish). The room we were given was very comfortable. It felt wonderful to have a spacious room with lovely bathroom and a great shower. The showers in all the Greek hotels (except our first one in Athens) were really small and awkward to shower in. Some were over bathtubs that were very high and with my crook knee it was really difficult. I have been so impressed with Turkey so far. The tour guides talk about the Modern Turkey and that is exactly what it is. It has great infrastructure and much better than Greece - solar everywhere ... read more

No trip to a city like Athens would be complete without a Food Walking Tour. We spent about 4 delightful and delicious hours wandering from street vendors to Bakeries, delicatessens, the meat, fish and vegetable markets and so on. I learnt quite a few things on that tour. Firstly that Moussaka is not an original Greek dish, neither are Dolmades or Baklava. I also tasted the delights of Loukoumades with syrup and ice cream. This dish is so delicious. Looks like a dough nut but tastes nothing like it. We saw a cook prepare Phyllo pastry for sweet and savoury pies. The way this fellow put the butter between the layers - about 4 of them – made my arteries blanch just looking at it, but the end result was so light and tasty, my taste ... read more

Eager to get out and have a look we want for a wander in the area around our hotel. We are in an area called Psiri. The neighbourhood looks a bit of a shambles actually. I don't think there is one wall without graffiti on it. The odd thing is most of it is tags and where there are words, they are all in English! How weird is that? The only Greek I have seen is on formally prepared road signs or shop signs. It is all a shame as these people live among history in a daily basis. I couldn't think that you could live here and not notice the acropolis or many other ruins right there in front of you. There is an 11th century church in good repair right in the middle of ... read more

Just hanging around the lounge waiting for our call to board. We are both now travelling 1st class - the instant upgrade at the check in was about $200 cheaper than what we paid in the first round. I left the office today at 2.30 and find that I have only just given it a thought. That is what I call letting go of work and really relaxing into the holiday.... read more