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In Greece, I’m anything but Australian. “Spanish?” “Russian?” “Italian?” “French?” even “Greek?” Unlike my husband I look Mediterranean. When I explain my heritage is Croatian and not greek they are still pleased that they were ‘close’? I think Greeks just like to show-off their immaculate ability to speak at least six European languages. One Taxi driver, for example, preceded to give Pete and I a linguistics lesson, explaining how the English language is made up of more than 6000 Greek words. Our journey in Greece began with a walking tour of the largest Dodecanese island, Rhodes, about ten miles from Turkey after arriving by a hydrofoil.
Greek Island #1 – Rhodes
We walked along the Street of Knights and explored the Palace of the Grand Master, a UNESCO world heritage site. A medieval city, Rhodes in the North, is most famous for its Colossus statue, one of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World built by the Knights Hospitaller. The statue stood over 110 feet tall as an offering to sun God Helios until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226BC.
Rhodes has many similarities with Turkey, suffering years of occupation first from Minoans, then Mycenaen Greeks, Dorians, Phoenicians,
Persians, Byzantines and Ottomans. But these varied influences form the very beautiful sites in this old city, surrounded by medieval walls.
After a plethora of walking we sat at an outdoor patio restaurant and enjoyed our first Greek meal. Naturally we went with lamb and chicken souvlaki, a Greek salad, the national Mythos beer and locally-produced wine served in a half-litre jug.
With the amount of tourism in Rhodes, it’s hard to see how the Greeks have been affected by debt and the European bailout.
Greek Island #2 - Santorini
Santorini is one of those picture-perfect places that you see in brochures and it’s no different when you arrive and snap away with your camera either. Whitewashed buildings are perched precariously on top of one another on the edge of the cliff-face of a gigantic volcano crater, more than 500 stairs above the sea. It’s absolutely breathtaking.
Even though almost everybody runs to Oia for the sunsets, those who really know choose Imerovigli. So we booked Ampelonas studios and masionettes here and I can’t recommend the place enough for its location and proximity to Fira (only a 30 minute walk away from the main town) but quiet enough to
enjoy the Caldera without the crowds and noise and incredible views (the highest point on the island). And I can say this with 100% certainty as we walked to Oia (1.5 hours away) just to compare sunsets!
The imperative walk from Imerovigli to Oia on an old uphill dirt track and mountain top is a must. It’s hard work in thongs and it will take you about 2 hours to get there, but you will pass beautiful mansions at the tip of the brow and the best picturesque views of the Caldera.
Santorini is a very unique and romantic destination, and it rates highly up there with Venice for me. It boasts one of the most spectacular views in the world, as there is nothing else like it anywhere else. It sets Greece apart and is defintely this nation's highlight.
Greek destination #3 – Athens
Athens is a fast come down after 4 spectacular nights in Santorini. We stayed in downtown Athens and the high ratio of police to illegal immigrants, prostitutes and drug lords in front of our hotel, certainly made our stay interesting to say the least. I never felt unsafe, but you certainly knew you
were in downtown Athens and like any city, there’s the good, bad and ugly. We got to see it all!
The good was its anitiquities and ruins. The Acropolis was something to behold, but the scaffolding surrounding the Parthenon, took the lustre away. It must be said, we are somewhat jaded after seeing so many monuments, castles, cathedrals, mosques, ruins and “other piles of rocks” throughout the 18 previous countries we have visited. Maybe Athens caught us in a jaded mood.
The best thing about Athens was visiting with my old-time Moree friend Cathy and her daughter Barbara, who have been living in Athens for the last 4 years. They showed us where the gypsies live, where the African migrants frequent, where the locals eat and celebrate their weddings, and where the pompous Greeks like to hang out. It was here at bar Apelis, we saw a scenic view of the modern Athens lit-up at night and the Acropolis a mere pinprick of light in a galaxy of apartment buildings and city lights..
Overall, Athens was a let-down. It is run down, smelly, dirty and congested, maybe representative of its near crumbling economy. On the plus side, it was relatively
easy to get out of Athens, and the road out provided the best view…. a receding one!
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martha
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cool
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