Mykonos

We visited the postcard like island of Mykonos with its hundreds of white washed churches, thatched roofed windmills and promenade restaurants surrounding a harbour bobbing with fishing boats and luxurious private yachts.  This island has a population of 9000 with 11,000 workers coming in for the summer months to cater to the 150,000 tourists that are there on an average day thankfully we were there at the end of the season.  Most businesses are only open for the tourist season.  This is one of the driest islands as is very brown but by law the houses and buildings must be painted white so they are a nice bright contrast.  Islanders no longer are required to paint their trim blue so there is some variety seen.  One must paint your home twice a year to keep it bright white in this climate.  Seems like becoming a painter in a country with such high unemployment might be a smart move.  We did a tour of the island which gave us a good overview.  We visited a winery and had a wine tasting. Their vines were very low to the ground and after the first two years require no irrigation so produce a different tasting wine though quite nice.  A visit to a local taverna for some ouzo and traditional homemade mere or appetizers accompanied by Greek music was enjoyable.  The old town is literally a maze of narrow alleyways designed by the Mykonians centuries ago to discourage would be invaders from finding their way.  It also works on tourists but the town is small and the alley ways are lined with coulourful shops and cafes so it a very pleasant stroll.  A lunch of fresh octopus in a charming restaurant overlooking the harbour before going for a wonderful swim in the sea made for an ideal day. 

Adios Giannis Beach where the movie Shirly Valentine was filmed so many years ago

Alleyway lined with plant pots to introduce some green to a very dry island 

A large percentage of homes have their own church on their property as in years gone by many of the men were fishermen and this is where family went to pray for their safe return

The vineyard was very dry and the vines miniscule to what we are used to seeing

The cobble stoned alley ways were fun to explore and were a mix of homes and shops.

Churches were of course inter mingled with the homes and businesses 

This area of Mykonos is referred to as Little Venice as the homes are built right over the water.  Apparently it is very sought after real estate.

The iconic wind mills of Mykonos are no longer in use today but have been restored for their tourism value.

The main town with the dry hills in the background. Not a tree in sight.

Beautiful contrast with the bright white and blue

Small cafe right outside the church in case one needs to make a quick visit

Homes interspersed with the shops

This church is a world UNESCO site in Mykonos

View from our table at lunch on the promenade 

My lunch of grilled octopus. Yum!  I was a happy girl.

Nafplio and the Corinth Canal

Our first stop on the Windstar was the charming city of Nafplio on the Peloponnese Peninsula.  This town has a very important part in Greek history as it was the first capital of independent Greece and is thus guarded by three castles with two towering over the city and one taking up a small island in the Harbour.  The town itself is mostly traffic free and is a maze of stepped lanes lined with delightful shops and restaurants. The town was immaculate which really added to its charm.  We look forward to coming back here later on our trip and spending a couple of nights here to visit some of the historic sites.  On this visit we went out to visit and take a trip through the Corinth Canal.  Built in the 1800s this is regarded as the third most important shipping canal in the world.  It connects the Ionian and Aegean Sea and saves the 12,000 ships that use it annually an immense amount of time.  After our trip through the canal we visited a winery in the area and had a wine tasting. The wines were actually quite good. The drive to the canal was quite interesting as we went past endless expanses of orange trees as this is the area where the largest percentage of Valencia oranges are grown.  The fields are dotted with windmill like contraptions which come on automatically when the weather gets cold to keep the trees warm so not to damage the crops.

After the Captains cocktail party Eric and I were invited to dinner at the Captains table with two other couples. The captain is a woman from St Helena and is an absolute delight so was a very pleasant evening.

Arriving at our first port of Nafplio 

This Venetian fortress was a built in the 15th century to protect the harbor 

A second fortress sits high above the town. 999 steps lead up to this one

The canal looking towards the Ionian Sea

A freighter being guided through the canal by a tug. Ships with tall masts can't use the canal due to the bridges overhead

Heading through the canal

Hard to picture large boats actually fitting. They must be able to reach out and touch the sides

Each end of the canal has underwater bridges which rise up out of the water so cars can cross periodically 

A centuries old monastery built right into the hillside 

No need for a stair master in this town

Charming displays tempt passer us

Varieties of stones and pale pastels

Vines often spill from one balcony to the next

Ornate church steeple with fortress in the background 

A charming place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee

Windstar waiting for departure to our next destination 

Greece 2017

We arrived in Athens late at night after long flights and rose early on the morning of the 15th to start exploring.  As we would be touring the Acropolis in depth later on our visit we are only viewing it from a distance for now but it's quite the spectacular sight and right now feels a bit like candy in a candy store that we are not allowed to taste.  Will make it more exciting when we do go to the site.  For our first day in Athens we did a walking tour using the Rick Steeves guide and it worked out perfectly.

We started the walk at Syntagma Square which is dominated by the Parliament buildings.  From there we set off down Ermou Street which was turned into a pedestrian street in 2000 with many of the stores housed in impressive neoclassical mansions.  Along the way were three Greek Orthodox churches built in the 11th century which we visited. Amazing to see the wonderful architecture.  We also visited the cathedral built in 1842.  A stroll down Agia street was quite different than anything we had seen before as many on the street were Ortodox clerics and all the stores sold religious paraphernalia and religious robes.  Further on we explored the atmospheric twisty lanes of old Athens in the Plaka.  We visited the Arch of Hadrian built in AD 131 to celebrate the completion of the Temple of Olympian Zeus which had taken 700 years to complete and whose ruins we also viewed. We stopped along the way to marvel at the Lysicrates Monument which was erected in 334 BC.  We took a delightful stroll through the Anafiotika which is an area below the Acropolis built by the people of Anafi.  Narrow paths wind past small higgledy-piggledy homes lined with flowers and doted with dozing cats. Eventually the pathway winds back down a hill past a delightful church before heading down to the Roman forum. On our way down we passed a delightful little cafe where the owner seeing the Rick Steves book in Eric's hand encouraged us to join him for lunch stating he was on page 272. Good decision.  Finished the afternoon viewing the tower of winds and the Library of Hadrian ruins which were built in the second century AD. The history here is simply overwhelming.  A wonderful Greek tasting menu and drinks at a bar overlooking the Acropolis rounded off a wonderful day.

Our second morning in Athens we spent with a professional photographer from Flytographer having a photo shoot done at various sites around the old city.  Jury is out on the results until we get them but it was a lot of fun.  We then boarded the Windstar to start our next adventure.

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The Acropolis from our hotel

Can't wait until we get up close

Old Greek Orthodox Churches are dotted through the old town

Remains of the Temple of Olympiam Zeus which is the largest ancient temple in mainland Greece begun in the late sixth century BC

Arch of Hadrian built in AD 131

This elegant marble monument was built in 334 BC. Unbelievable!

The winding lanes built by the people of Aanafi

Wonderful contrast of greenery with the stark white walls

Enjoying our first Greek meal at a small cafe that spilled out onto the walkway. The moussaka was delicious as was the wine.

Ruins of the Library of Hadrian

Beautiful flowers spill from the rooftops.

Narrow pedestrian streets are lined with shops selling everything from the necessities to the tacky.

Enjoying our view of the Acropolis at night while having a martini on the poolside bar.  Perfect ending to the day.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand and the largest island in the  Chumphon Archipelago.  Coconuts and fishing were the main source of income until the late 1980s when the island became a tourism destination because of its beautiful beaches and warm water.  The purpose of our visit was simply to relax before our long journey home and it was the perfect stop.  We stayed at a wonderful resort with a both a beautiful pool and beach which we made good use of.  The restaurants on site served wonderful Thai food so we were able to enjoy more of that before returning home.  A short walk took us to a small town which had a variety of small massage parlors which we all made use of.  We are all going to go through massage withdrawal.  As we head home we take with us so many wonderful memories and experiences.  We were so blessed to meet so many wonderful people who shared their countries and lives with us and for that we are richer.

Expanses of golden sand and warm water

Very modern taxi stand alongside the road

Colourful boat sitting at anchor 

Friendly spa staff trying to convince me to come back everyday

Eric enjoying a walk on the beach

Our home for a few days

A farewell toast on our last night

Rest and relaxation after a fantastic trip