Greek Escape

I left technology (besides a camera) behind for a month and set out for a vacation, a reunion after 4 months apart. A real vacation. Too often we get caught up in doing and seeing as many things as possible in the time allotted. But honestly, how many tourists actually care about the history behind a building, or remember it the next week? The draw of Greece is not its history, it is its scenery. And so we took it all in.

CAUTION: I would never recommend anyone to go to the Greek Islands - at least Crete and Santorini - if you are not traveling as a couple. There are so many young couples everywhere. I couldn't help but think how depressed I would be if I were not in a pair myself.

Here is a "brief" outline of my romantic, picturesque escape:

--Successfully met in Athens airport after my flight was delayed 4 hours and there was no way of getting that message across.
--Acropolis, walked up random hill with great view and listened to a band rehearse for a show that night at the hill-top amphitheater

--Went to Pireaus port in hopes of catching a ferry to Santorini - there were none that day, so we caught an overnight to Crete (Kreta) instead, because, well...why not?
--Arrived at Chania port at 5:30am. Sat along the Venetian harbor drinking wine/Fanta combo and eating crackers for breakfast, watching the sunrise.
--Camped at Chania Campground for a few days, explored the coastline, lay on the beach
--Hiked Samaria Gorge - beautiful. About a 5 hour hike. Gorge goes as narrow as 3 meters at one point, with a crystal clear stream running down alongside the trail. Although it is full of tourists, and they relocated a settlement in the gorge when Greece made it a national park - not okay in my eyes -still worth a visit.
--Unimpressed by Rethmyno - its Venetian Harbor is not as beautiful as Chania's, however students get into the fortress for free.
--Got bedbugs in Iraklio hostel. Miserable for the next couple of days from all the itching.
--Took a ferry to Thira, Santorini with GA Ferries - cheaper rates.
--Set up camp at campground 200m outside of the main town of Thira.
--Spent the next week bumming around Santorini...a volcano that erupted and collapsed creating a lake in the middle that merges with the Mediterranean Sea. Villas and towns are built on the top of the cliffs that drop off into the lake. Breathtaking.
--Went to a black sand beach, a red beach, and a rock beach. Not the most comfortable beaches for relaxing.
--Walked to Oia for the sunset over the Sea. Drank wine sitting on a rock while watching the sun descend. (Fyi- Oia is not really a safe walk, or in walking distance at all from Thira).
--Saw a local "walk" his dog by driving his car holding the leash with the dog running beside him outside.
--Don't waste your money getting dinner at one of the restaurants on the cliff with an amazing view - just order coffee and an appetizer and slowly enjoy the view...they don't kick you out.

--Set out on our journey to Venice Italy. Took ferry back to Pireaus, train to Patras, got molested at a park in Patras by a group of about 5 year old boys...embarked on ferry to Venice, set up our tent on the deck for the 2-night 36hr journey.
--Highly recommend this. The ferry was like a cruiseship, so even though we got the cheap deck tickets we could use all its facilities, showers, restaurant, bar, casino, discotech, pools...impressive for a ferry boat.
--Arrived in Venice. Spent next 2 days wandering around and getting lost in the neighborhoods. Neat place. We forgoed the 100 Euro gondola ride for a 13Euro ride on the bus boat. Crowded, but a nice view at night.

--Took train to Lugano, Switzerland where we were met by my sister - we were based here for the last week of our trip.
--Went to Lucerne for a yodeling festival. Not what you would expect. They were more yodeling choirs.
--Paddle boated on Lake Lugano and ate lots of gelato, and chocolate.
--Hiked up tall hill - Monte San Salvatore - basically 2 hours of stairs for a Panoramic view
--Trip to Bellinzona to see castles. Went on a Sunday, the town was pretty much deserted, so we relaxed on top of the castle playing cards.
--Eurocup final - go Spain!

--Back to Philadelphia. First time in the States in 5 months.


Interesting tidbits:
-Greeks don't seem to be the most attractive people we've ever encountered, nor the skinniest.
-Outside of the tourist areas Greece is a dump. Trash and graffiti absolutely everywhere.
-Everyone apparently speaks English. Extremely helpful, somewhat sad.
-Italians are always late.

I think I've caught the travel bug.