Posts Tagged With: Greece

Where do I go now?

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

Windmills in Mykonos

Alright so I am in Romania now. How did I even end up here? Well, last time I was on my way back to Mykonos but only stayed two nights there. As luck would have it the person I was staying with ended up having an emergency. He works for the Hellenic air force and lives in Mykonos and had to leave two days after I got there and because I was staying on the force’s private property, understandably I wasn’t allowed to stay without my host being there. So with about 24 hrs (or less) notice I had to come up with another plan of action. He was feeling awful about the situation as he was the one that invited me, but I believe everything happens for a  reason.

So I enjoyed what I could of the time I had there, although most of the second day was spent trying to figure out where I was going to go. Oh and trying to get money from western union that my mom had to send seeing that I lost my bank card. So while he and I had lunch and laptops I tossed around a bunch of different Ideas while checking flights and ferry costs and available routes.He started to chuckle because he said he had never seen some one come up with so many different plans in such a short time and he thought it was weird that I tossed around the idea of countries like someone choosing an outfit for the day. I had become very good at this as I no longer plan too far in advance where I am going next and usually decide a few days before departure. Anyhow by late evening I had a plan!

After sunset last night in Mykonos

Taking a last look at Mykonos after sunset

Until he dropped me off in the city center around 6:30 a.m. the next day, by then the plan changed. I had breakfast and Skyped with my mom until the western union opened, because the day before was a holiday and it was located in the post office I had to wait another day. So after some running around due to change of plans I bought a ferry ticket to Athens, once there I went to a hostel I had stayed at before. I ran a few countries by them in search of some advice. I had to make my way to Hungary where my best friend’s family lives, but knew I wanted to make a stop along the way but didn’t want to visit too many countries en route because I wanted a bit of a break. Finally it was decided I would stop in Romania, where my cousin had a very good friend I had been communicating with who previously had been gracious enough to extend an invite. That was it! Two mornings later I found myself on a 20 hr bus ride to Romania via Bulgaria.

Back in Athens

This bus was filled with some very interesting characters, thankfully the travel gods smiled upon me that day and allowed me to be seated next to one of the few other sane people on board. Okay so I don’t even know what to say about the length of the bus ride except, ahhm, it was long!! However, 20 hours later I was being picked up at the bus station in Romania it was about two something in the morning and at this point I just wanted to sleep, something I was unable to do on the bus.

Categories: Greece, Romania | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Scooting Around Syros

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

So besides trying multiple local dishes, including mousaka which I now love, I thoroughly enjoy this little island of Syros. It doesn’t hurt that my host is on vacation and has lots of time and interest in showing me around while exploring parts of the island still new and foreign to him as well. Our mode of transport? Why a scooter of course! But unlike the one in Kos this is a rather cool, modern and comfortable Vespa and the days are spent taking full advantage of it, as well as the great weather we have been so graciously offered.

The trusty travel partner

The town center of Syros is absolutely adorable with marble block roads and an intricate weave of stores and restaurants and with every little alley seeming to lead to the sea. The main square is where many gather especially late in the evening to just relax, socialize, bike or skateboard, or as I did sit on the large steps of the main building making use of the free wifi. Standing by the coast it looks like hills of cold pastel and white colored buildings dotted along the skyline, but once inside the narrow streets on the hill you feel warmly embraced by this maze. Even better at night where you can over look the city with all the lights glistening like jewels on a showcase. Everything leaks charm in this laid back atmosphere.

Syros I am here!

Back to my favorite part however, of navigating the roads on scooter, making frequent stops either to and empty beach area, or to stop to speak with locals sitting by the roadside, or picking figs which were abundant and so sweet. We were practically begged by the owner of one tree to take them as he had so many and was unable to eat then hence the ground below being decorated by many that had fallen, a sad sight really. It was my first time trying that fruit and I loved every bite of all two million that I had. While riding we found two horses that delighted in the figs we had picked, nearly if not more than I did.  Many times we would pass large or small open fields with animals, mostly cows or sheep and I would hop off to go pay them a visit. While feeding one of the calves with some plant we had picked by the road, the farmer came around for feeding time and seemed quite delighted to have some visitors take interest in his animals.

Wanted to say hello

Feeding figs to the horses

Made another cow stop

I found the people in Syros to be so charming and lovely I could have easily stayed far longer than the 4 days that I spent. Alas it was time to move on back to Mykonos. My host lives on another island Xios/Chios and invited me to visit there also once he returned. One thing I have found with Greek people is how passionate they are about their country and culture, eager to share it with others. I am definitely interested in visiting Xios and hey it doesn’t hurt that he is easy on the eyes :)

Categories: Greece | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Island Hopping

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

In the DJ booth turning the rock bar to reggae!

After a very eventful night in Kos and an invitation to stay the week, seeing that my night scene tour guide was leaving the next day for the UK , he offered his apartment for me to tour the island leisurely.  Though this was a great offer and one I would have normally been up for, I had to decline as I already made plans to leave the next day to another island. This day following my night out was a rough one for me. By the time I made it back to my room and collapsed into bed there was a not so gentle knock on my door and a robust bottle blonde, let me know it was time to leave. I had been out all night and morning and it was now 11:30a.m. I was beyond exhausted but managed to scrape up whatever dregs of energy was left or created. So I reluctantly packed up and headed out, well not really out, I left my luggage downstairs and sat in the outdoor area in front of the house. The ferry I needed wasn’t leaving until 8:30 p.m. and I was tired, hungry and hung over! The perfect recipe to create the longest day ever!

Heading to the port in Kos

Oh but it gets better! At one point in the day I manage to make it to an agency to buy my ticket only to realize I don’t have my bank card arghh!! And by didn’t have I don’t mean I left it back at the house, I mean I lost it. Anyhow I purchased it with a credit card which increased the price (they charge extra to use a card) and went back to sit outside the house and suffer through the remaining hours. Luckily I met a lovely young boy from Turkey with Bulgarian heritage who kept my company and helped the time pass and divert attention away from my ill state. He filled me in on his family and heritage and reasons for travel along with a few other stories that I found quite entertaining. He then helped me take my luggage back to the port a few hours later until it was time to board my 7 and a half hour ferry ride to Syros/Siros. A place I had not even heard of before receiving a couch surfing invite that I decided to accept. I decided to not research anything about the island as I just wanted to discover everything in a completely raw way.

Sunrise in Syros

So I arrive in Syros its almost five in the morning and as soon as I disembark, I hear someone call my name and I turn to find myself standing face to face with a very handsome Greek guy who welcomes me to the island. Okay, so this is my host for the next four days? Not bad Jodi, not bad! I decided to try couch surfing after the many great reports I heard from other travelers along the way. I jump on the back of his scooter for a short 3 minute ride to where he stays in the summer, I get settled in and we end up exchanging stories and then decide to go watch the sunrise since we were already up and he was just feet away from the sea. After our rendezvous with the rising sun we then walked to a favorite bakery of his to purchased freshly baked goods for breakfast, which we sit on a bench by the harbor to consume. What a great start to Syros, at this point I am excited for what this island has to offer, but first, I NEED A NAP!

The sunrise spot in the day time

Leaving the sunrise spot

Categories: Greece | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

From Coast to Cos

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

Sailing along the coast of Turkey

I spent my last few days in Turkey along the southern coastal area called Bodrum near the Greek isles. My first night out I was completely shocked, I felt more like I was in Cancun during spring break rather than Turkey, especially the Turkey I had been exposed to so far. I went to an area called bar street, appropriately named I suppose as it is a street lined with bars and clubs with the staff stalking passers by offering free alcoholic shots or cocktails in exchange for patronage.  The culture of the country was definitely lost in this place, but I suppose there is a time and place for everything, so I enjoyed the night with new friends and went back to the hotel in the wee hours of the morning. Something I have become far too accustomed to. The next day a friend and I (who was working at the hotel bar but also on her last days in the country) toured around a bit and went to a place called camel beach. Yes, a beach with camels, I have found that places aren’t too creatively named around these parts.

Camel Beach

Just in case you were wondering where the camels were

After a second night on bar street, watching the youth of Europe dance and drink their lives away on stages and dance floors, baptizing anyone nearby in their sweat, I realized I might be getting too old for this. So the next day and a little more my speed, five of us took one of the boat trips together, along the coast making a few stops at bays and beaches.  This was a lovely day, the waters were clear and refreshing painted in multiple shades of blue. We spent the day soaking up the sun, people watching and jumping off the boat at each of the stops, one of which was camel beach where we had been the day before. As always it was cute to hear one of the workers there who had remembered me, call me by name, I always find that so charming (or maybe I’m just vain who knows!) By the time we got back to the hotel that night we were completely drained so it was an early night sans bar street. The next day as the newly formed group was breaking apart, we did the usual exchange of info and hopes of catching up in the future on the road, hugs and goodbyes. I then headed to the port to board a ferry to Cos/Kos.

One of the stops on the boat tour

Jump!

It took a bit over half an hour to get to the Greek island of Kos or Cos. Quite often you find multiple spellings of places in Greece due to the fact that they use a different alphabet so when translated to English (Latin alphabet) different letters can be used as long as it’s phonetically the same.  Here I spent one night only as it was just a stopover before heading to another Island for my first couch surfing experience. However, I found Kos to be a cute little place where I would have been happy to spend more time. I had made no accommodation reservations for Kos as I decided with much encouragement to just go and find it once I got there. I was told there would be many people at the port looking for guests. I got a bit nervous when I arrived at first and saw no such people with their usual signs advertising places. After walking a bit though towards the city an old lady approached me about rooms, following a short price haggle I jumped on her husband’s little scooter and headed to their home, where they rented rooms on the second and third floors.

My ride from the port

The moment I had arrived back in Greece and was riding on the back of that little scooter, a feeling of happiness and relief came over me. There is just something about being in Greece that makes you feel great something indescribable that I had missed in Turkey. I was lead to my small but sufficient and clean room, where I napped for about two hours before deciding to take a stroll later in the evening. On my stroll I stopped at a small café for a milkshake, and got into a conversation with one of the sons of the owner who then offered to be my guide through the town’s social scene later that night. Our first stop was a fantastic lounge that his friend owned and instantly the drinks began to pour! Indeed I was back in Greece.

Evening time in the city of Kos

Categories: Greece, Turkey | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Meteora and More

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

Arrived in Meteora

After leaving Mykonos (sadly) I spent another night in Athens, but a much better area than the first time I had arrived. This area allowed me to walk around at night a bit more freely. Then in the morning we took off for Meteora, a five hour bus ride away, in the town of Kalambaka.

Jump!!

Once I arrived in Meteora, meaning suspended in air, I was immediately astonished at the rock formations around the small town. The locals, expectedly, seemed completely unphased by them while I , in my wide eyed wonder, was amazed! At night the rocks that were by the hotel didn’t even look real. With the lights shining up on them they seemed like something from a movie set or some other artificial structure that would be at universal studios maybe. The first night we took a ride to the top of one of them and watched the thousands of stars twinkling above like lights on a Christmas tree, while looking on the little town far below. Then returned to the hotel (a cool family run place) and lounged with locals til the wee hours.

Taking in the View

Rocks at night

The next day we walked around and did some exploration of our own in the blistering heat of the midday (not so smart). We then went back up before sunset to get the view of the multicolored rays bouncing of the rocks and monasteries perched atop them. These were built in the 15th century, a total of 24 scattered around with 6 in use today. That place seemed so unreal, It sort of reminded me of the floating mountains in “Avatar”. After sunset we returned to the hotel and readied ourselves for dinner at a local restaurant, with three other girls we met that day. After dinner the owner’s son met back up with us in the garden area in front of the hotel, he brought his guitar and drinks and we all laughed, drank, danced and were merry. This is definitely my favourite part about traveling. Meeting and enjoying times with great people who become friends.

LaToya and I

Sitting on top of the world

Meteora at sunset

The next day, we left for our next spot, Thessaloniki, with only four or so hours of sleep under our belt. No worries, I trained well in Mykonos for this type of thing. Thessaloniki was really intended only as a stop over before leaving Greece and I had no real expectations for any type of fun there. Oh how I love to be proven wrong in such instances! Despite the little hiccup at the hotel (argh terrible ownership and place the Alexandria Hotel), the night ended remarkably. We went through some very questionable looking streets to find the social area of this town, with each corner looking shadier than its predecessor and then BOOM! You are surrounded by the cutest bars and lounges and restaurants a cool downtonish area, amazing! We selected one that seemed neat, the service was great and when we were ready to pay we were told that a shot at the bar was necessary first!

Learning Greek dances

Now this shot, lead into hours more of drinking and hanging with the bar staff. My kinda night! Oh did I mention they offered  me a job, but first I had to go through the interview process which was me downing a pitcher of alcohol in the form of multiple shots with the bartenders. The point where I ended up behind the bar making drinks (something I had never done in my life) I figured I passed! The night continued in this fashion until we had to leave, since we had another long (12hour) and early bus ride in the morning. They were not happy about this despite the fact it was now after 4 a.m. There you have it! I then left early the next day for where I am now…Istanbul.

Behind the bar!

Shots anyone?

Categories: Greece | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Attempted Robbery In Athens

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

So I have had limited internet access and thus have been a bit delayed with my posts, but after having been in Greece for almost a week now I think I owe it to you to make the extra effort. Not to mention I have been dying to get my initial Athens experience off my chest. So here goes!

My first day in Athens I followed the hotel’s directions from the airport to their location, which was pretty easy and straight forward. Even though the Greeks not only have a different language but alphabet also, there were quite a few concessions for English speakers. Plus the metro system is fairly well organized and easy to navigate, so no problem there. However, when I got off at my stop and began to ascend upwards on the escalator towards the street, I was pretty sure that somewhere between the Airport and metro ride I had been transported to a place that was entirely different than the stamped location in my passport. This after all was not the Athens I had imagined or dreamt about.

Looking out at the concrete jungle that is Athens

I was certain I had been teleported to a 5thworld country (yes I made that up). Not to be rude or anything but the area that the hotel was in was totally shady, I mean had I any interest in prostitution or dealing heroine I probably would have fit right in. So needless to say I didn’t pause in the streets to take any photos really. I was so happy to have flown in early in the day because there is no way I would have been caught dead (or maybe I would have been) on those streets at night. So as soon as I got to the hotel I pretty much retired for the day until my cousin arrived the next morning from Florida. She by the way, when asking for directions, was told by a local that it wasn’t such a good area. You think!! They must have forgotten to add that on the hotel’s homepage.  Nonetheless, I took it all in stride and walked as if I knew where I was going and looked forward to my visit to acropolis and the surrounding area.

The cousin walking around the Acropolis area

My cousin Latoya and I

Okay so, we get to acropolis on my day two and the area is a bit touristy but I am super stoked to be somewhere I can freely walk around the streets and not worry that I may become a witness to any illegal activity. We walk around go up on a stone hill by the acropolis to take photos and started chatting with some other Australian travelers. This was it, back to normal travel mode. Until I sat on the top of the hill to take in the view with my cousin and just chit chat when out of the blue this guy in a small group of about three or four others, grabs my bag and is trying to hand it off to one of his buddies. I was completely shocked and taken aback! I grab his arm and sternly tell him that it was mine and proceed to take it back from him. He looks at me, hands it back over and apologizes as if he had no idea it wasn’t his. Imagine, we are in an area with other people in broad daylight I was so absolutely stunned at the audacity of this guy. I couldn’t stop staring at him in awe at what he had just attempted to do. He then quickly apologizes again and moved to another area. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs on that hill under the spotlight of the unrelenting Greek sun, pointing at him so that everyone knew what he had done! Total buzz kill. That moment stuck to me all day like gum on the bottom of your shoe that you can’t seem to scrape off completely.

Acropolis in the background

I was safe however, had everything with me and was calmed back down by the short, balding but charming Greek waiter on my walk back and his shower of compliments. Oh, yeah and the fact that I was leaving for Mykonos in the morning.

Beautifully lit at night (took this from a different part of town)

 

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

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