Courts77

When I walked down the stairs of the plane after arriving on the runway at Athens airport it hit me how much I didn’t really know about Greece.   I still remember looking out at the dry, dusty hills with random spots of green as I almost started to cough from choking on the humidity.

Summers in Greece are hot and my Greek adventure began in August at the Athens Olympics in 2004.  I really didn’t do much planning leading up to my trip because I was too busy with work.

All I knew is that living in Melbourne, Australia we have a huge Greek population and they are very proud people.  But, then again most people are proud of where they come from.  I moved to Australia from the US.  I may not be proud of George Bush, but I love my country, too!

I had a photography job working for the Australian Olympic Committee and when I landed at the Athens Airport I was happy to have a driver to take me to my hotel in the city.  I never expected two hours later the driver, although a native to Athens, had no idea where he was going.

My little hotel might as well of been a needle in a haystack after seeing how big Athens is.  I still can’t believe that I somehow managed to return there night after night and even after a few drinks.

Once we got to know the city I have to say transportation on the train became quite routine and somewhat familiar.  We found our way to the Plaka every night to enjoy a good meal under the shadows of the Acropolis.

I was so impressed by the happy faces on waiters at one in the morning.  People only just get started at that time of the night and almost every night of the week.

Toward the end of our stay in Athens we booked a trip to the Islands for a few days and somewhere in my thoughts I kept thinking of the Bahamas and Caribbean with green palm trees, white sandy beaches and lush foliage. 

Once again I was shown something new after only a few hours of leaving Athens’ Port in a ferry when we arrived on Naxos.  It is one of the bigger Islands in the Agean Sea and proved to be a great Island to relax for a few days.

It might not have big palm trees or huge sandy beaches, but it had its own uniqueness that makes up the Greek Islands.  It had the white stucco buildings set against the dry earth with hints of blue paint here and there.  And, it did have a few beaches to lay down and sun bake.

We rented a scooter and rode all over the Island checking out the landscape and eating the local diet of gyros.

After a few days we headed over to Santorini.  I had heard a lot about this Island and wanted to check it out myself.  Entering the Island by Ferry was one of the most amazing views I had ever seen until we reached the top of Santorini and looked back down at the water.

The hotels are built right into the side of the cliffs.  It almost looked like snow capped mountains before we could make out the actual balconies and hotel windows covering the cliffside. 

It may be more expensive to stay facing the Caldera, but what is money worth when you will see what is said to be one of the most beautiful sunsets on earth.  And, I agree!

I didn’t find any extreme sports as we traveled through Greece, but after reading about Santorini just sleeping could of proved to be one.  I learned Santorini is not a dead volcano, but a dormant one, an active one.  And, it’s last minor eruption was only in 1956.  They say you can often feel tremors from time to time.

Luckily we didn’t experience any of those, but a nightlife that could be comparable. 
We experienced one of the best nights since staying in Greece finding locals and Aussie tourists to be the life of the party.  There is even a Pub in Thira with with an Australian feel.  Most Greeks have a cousin in Australia.

We almost missed the plane out the morning we left because we partied all night from the Pub to a hip hop club.  I am still convinced that might not have been such a bad thing.  I know a few people who came to the Greek Islands for a visit and stayed all summer.