A Honeymoon in Greece

Too much Saganaki. Too much wine and beer. We needed to come home for a rest. To be honest, a diet that consisted far too often of saganaki (a slice of cheese fried in spirits) should have packed on more than the meer three pounds that it did. It felt like I should have been flagged at the airport on the way home, had a "heavy load" sticker slapped on my ass, and charged a fuel surcharge fee for my excess weight. No, three pounds is a bit of a miracle.

Two weeks in the Greek Islands. A beautiful part of this world. Rich in history and natural beauty. We had the chance to do a little travelling while we were there. A taste of Athens, the Islands, and Meteora.


Athens

Athens is a big city and like most big cities, it sprawls for miles and miles. It is dirty and run down and were it not for the Acropolis perched high in the heart of the city, it would have little to offer. The Acropolis View hotel, in case anyone is interested, certainly can claim a view from some rooms, but here we call that a peek-a-boo view. Leaning out a little from our balcony, we could indeed see the Parthenon. I guess the 'Acropolis Peek-a-boo Biew Hotel didn't have the right ring.



Mykonos

The islands on the other hand are strung through the Agean like a necklace of jewels. The four we visited were each unique and offered something special. Designed to confuse pirates, the streets Mykonos wind and twist like a labyrinth. A tourist trap with a twist you might say. They go in, but do they all come out? The layers of shapes all painted white and stacked askew are truly magical.
The Pelicans are a sight to see as well. Tame enough for locals to scratch their stomaches, these massive birds wander the streets in search of either handouts or simply a good place to groom themselves.


Santorini

Santorini is that girl in grade six, two rows over, who was beautiful but seemed to know it. An island that was much larger, Santorini had a volcanic temper. She blew her top and sunk into the sea leaving a ring of cliff edged islands overlooking the crater, waiting for another outburst. A naturally stunning view from the cliff edge is ever greater at sunset. A must see for any island hopping trip, we found it too commercial to fall in love. More than the other islands, cruiseships seem to set the tempo for the economy.
While our hotel room did have a just claim to this gorgeous natural view, I suppose the telephone pole would have seemed jarring to most.



Ios
If Greece had tumbleweeds, we would have seen them in Ios. A party island that thrives on younger tourists, it screeches to a halt when school starts back in September. The town square was being slowly recovered by locals, drinking coffee and twirling beads beneath English signs offering a free t-shirt to anyone who would drink seven shots in a row. Beautiful, rugged, this sleepy island was a real treat to visit. With a church or chapel for every 4 to 5 people, the island boasts over four hundred chapels. The sunsets were beautiful. The beaches quiet. And with a car you could get to very remote areas easily.

Mykonos

We returned to Myknos to relax a little more. We found a fabulous hotel where we could drink wine, read books, and watch sunsets from our balcony. The windy streets began to feel familiar. We also took a trip to a beach on the far side of the island where you could do a little dancing or watch a strange man dance on tables wearing ... well, actually, what is he wearing?

Meteora
With very little time left, we made our way to a town in Greece that is under the shadow of some amazing rocks. They are carved out of a huge cliff and look ready to topple at any minute. And perched on top of these outcroppings are a handful of monestaries. Built in the 1700's, by hand, with no roads or even stairs. The monks used ropes to raise and lower themselves. Stunning. A fabulous end to a great trip.