TravelStream™ news feed for member llk on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/llk en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:23:11 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222453500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222453500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222453500/tpod.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:23:11 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Siros, Cyclades, Greece

This was the most incredible day! The weather was amazing and the town was unbelievable. Syros is the capital of all of the islands of the Cyclades in Greece. It is more cultured, and is a political center. The style of homes were different than anything else we have seen. The streets were paved with marble - and very slippery as we had a storm last night and everything was wet. We went on a short walking tour today which included a viewing of an original El Greco painting in a local church and just viewing the local markets and stores. We sat by the waterfront and enjoyed the view and the calm peace of the town and the opportunity to take things a little slower. We spent the afternoon basking in the sun on the top deck of the ship as we sailed to Poros which is where I am writing to you from. We just arrived here a little while ago and even though it is dark, it looks like a wonderful town and feels more resort like than touristy. We will tour the town tomorrow morning and then we are off to another island called Aegean. On Sunday we will head back to Athens and we are all already dreading the ending of this amazing time.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222258080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222258080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222258080/tpod.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:33:20 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Santorini, Naxos, Cyclades, Greece

Finally! A chance to catch up a little. We are on the island of Naxos today. Monday was a travel day - it rained all day and took us six hours to get back to Athens. When we arrived in the Port of Pireaus in Athens on Monday, the Captain of the ship we are on - the Galileo - decided we should head straight to Santorini because he was concerned about the weather later in the week and wanted to make sure we got to Santorini since that is the most popular destination.... Well folks! let me tell you - it may be beautiful in the movies - and there are many things about it that are magnificent - but the cruise ships drop of 2000 people at a time and there is no room to move! You have to go to the top of Santorini in a 'teleferik' or cable car system . The streets, as they are in most of the Green cities, are very narrow and it is extremely difficult to get up and down and to move! The views and the colors are amazing and the hoards of people give you claustraphobia. Our guide took us to a restaurant on the other side of the island. The capital city is Oia - and we drove by bus to Pyrgos. We had the most incredible lunch - met the owner of the restaurant and his wife and they were so charmed by us that they gave us 2 liters of home made wine (which was great) and two loaves of homemade bread. There was little time to shop and we had to get back to the ship in time because the hoards of tourists take so long to come down to the port on the cable cars. The teleferik only holds 50 people at a time - so the back up was unbelieveable - but we got down and back on the ship and headed to Naxos where we arrived last night around 9pm. It was Greek night on the ship and we had MORE greek food - but we had some dancers from the island that were wonderful to watch. We are getting emersed in the culture a little more everyday. Today we have been in Naxos all day and visited a kindergarten school and had a home hosted lunch in the town of Melinas where last nights dancers came from. What an amazing experience - home made food and a wonderful family to share it with. We are shopping in town (no cruise ships - no hoards of tourists) and are due back at the ship in a little while. I am sorry about not being able to upload the photos. I promise you that they will be up as soon as I can get them on the blog! We are off to the island of Tinos tomorrow - not sure what we are doing when we get there - but I will let you know.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221913680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221913680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221913680/tpod.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:38:34 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Arachova, Central Greece, Greece

I am so happy to have a chance to bring you up to date! We have been up in the Paranssas Mountains without internet in Arachova and visiting Delphi, the ancient site which is considered to be the birthplace of Apollo. The site is on a mountain, about 2000 feet above a canyon. There is an incredible museum there with artifacts they have discovered throughout the years dating back to 600BC. Incredible statues and frescos, and columns everywhere. There is a stadium where they held early competitions and explained how Apollo became a God.... too long to explain now but will cover that later.
The countryside was beautiful and the town was very friendly. Everything in Arachova closes from 2pm until 6pm when everything starts to come back to life - stores and restaurants open and people start walking all over the town. Arachova is a ski resort - so there is not much to do there right now - but we all managed to entertain ourselves. Today we arrived at Kalambaka - and tomorrow we will visit the monasteries that were built 1000 years ago that hang on the mountainside. Everyone is doing well, although the 4 hour bus ride today was a bit much. The buses are very nice - but still a little boring. We are craving some music - not a lot of dancing and singing going on - but maybe we can stir them up a little since it is Saturday night! I am at a different hotel now - The Divani Hotel - and I am going to try to upload some photos. If I can't do it from here there is an internet cafe in town and EB and I will go and try to add some tomorrow.... We are having a great time and are amazed at the similarities in climate and landscape to Arizona. A lot of the same kinds of trees and flowers as well. The three single ladies - Annie, EB & I - have not met a greek God yet.....but we aren't giving up on it.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221677820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221677820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221677820/tpod.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:07:38 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Athens, Greece

The entire day today was spent on a walking tour. We went to the Acropolis first - and this 2500 year old structure is unbelievable in person. The huge columns of marble that have stood there for 25 centuries have defied all odds to remain standing. Greece is currently restoring the structures by reinforcing them with titanium bars and repair missing pieces of marble. It seemed kind of sad to me that they take them apart and number each piece and put them back together again - when maybe the most fair thing to do would be to just leave it all along and let it become part of the earth again - but as I was told today - this is the birthplace of democracy! And, it should stand for all forever! (Okay - that was it for the drama).... We walked through the "Plaka" surrounding all the monuments - took a ride on their version of the metro train (very nice and also full of archeological wonders) and ended the day with a trip up to 'Lychebettus Hill" where there is a church dedicated to St. George and a fabulous restaurant. The food was good but what made it fabulous (beside the fact that we were there) was the amazing 360 degree view of the city. It is the highest point in Athens - you have to go up by cable car. We watched the sunset and the lights come up everywhere - and could even see the cargo barges in the Agean Sea. I really wish I could send you the pictures of the Acropolis lit up at night from the roof of our hotel. Elayne and I worked on trying to get everything to upload from this computer and it just is not modern enough to do it. But, we will try again tomorrow when we go to Arachova and Delphi. And, Beth's luggage got here the first thing this morning - so we were all VERY happy about that.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221566700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221566700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221566700/tpod.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:44:35 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Athens, Attica, Greece

After almost twenty four hours of travel we have made it to Greece. We all managed to arrive on time and the plane left on time with out a hitch. Actually, our flight to Chicago and our flight to Munich both landed early for a change. We were all so wound up about getting here that none of us have slept yet.The only bad experience was that Beth's luggage is lost, but we have the whole world out there looking for it so we are confident it will show up tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest. It is currently about 4 in the morning in Phoenix, and it is 3 in the afternoon here. We have to attend a welcome dinner tonight so we are struggling to stay awake. We are really excited to be here - the city is huge - over 3 million people and it's not very green - mostly brown and white everywhere you look. There is a roof top bar that doesn't open for a few more hours - so we will have a chance to watch the sunset over the Acropolis and I will be sure to have some photos of that or you tomorrow. This is a boutique hotel - it is elegant - but everything is small - small rooms, small bar, small elevator....just small. Tomorrow we will start our first tour so I will have much more to share!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222804320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222804320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222804320/tpod.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:03:50 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Sunday Afternoon we arrived back in the Port of Pireaus at Athens and siince we had some overcast and very cool weather - spent most of the afternoon packing and repacking (kept having to try to figure out where to put the souveniers) and saying good bye to the friends we had made. Sunday night we had a special event and some dancers and musicians were brought in to do the "Zorba the Greek" Dance and play some Greek music on the Bouzouki... unfortunately the pictures from this event are on Annie's camera - so I will have to add a few more later - but Annie, Kathy, and Elayne, all did fabulous imitations of Dancing With the Stars. We were all especially impressed by Kathy being spun on someone's shoulders for a very long time and was still able to walk when she was finally put down. We were off to bed early for our 4am wake up call. We quietly boarded the bus and headed for the airport and for what turned out to be almost a 30 hour journey home. Everyone is home safe and sound with some amazing memories. Thank you all for your support and love. I am glad we could share this journey with all of you and especially the hasbones that couldn't be there with us. Maybe someday we can do it again! We are already thinking......Egypt?
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222800960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222800960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222800960/tpod.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:50:17 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Aegina, Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

Last night we attended the "Captain's Dinner" with cocktails all around for everyone and a great meal. Of course, we ladies, wanting to out do everyone, dressed in our Arizona finest and wowed the crowd. We had a great time - I would love to add dancing and singing....but still none of that happening.... We docked in another island called Aegina - or on the Greek map 'Egina'. Sunday morning we did a brief walking tour - as there wasn't too much to see here. A visit to the fish market and a 'floating' fruit stand and a pistachio tree... There were some significant ruins here - this was a port where they fought to keep attacks from other countries that they did not want to reach Athens. A lot of the locals work in Athens and take the water taxi's back and forth because it is only 30 minutes away. I would want to live here instead as well - since Athens is so congested.

Elayne and Kathy and I were walking on our own and found a wonderful old building where a young man was restoring the property to make it into a second hand store. It was our first look inside one of the local old structures in a state of major disrepair. He had uncovered an old stove, an old fireplace, and some wonderful walls he was fixing.
His English was impeccable and it was great to able to talk construction to someone with a little knowledge about what was currently going on in their housing and commercial development market. Aegina was a little dissappointing because it seemed the people didn't care as much for their town as much as some of the other islands we had been on. It seemed a little dingy and not as well kept. By noon we were back on the ship and on our way to the Port of Pireaus in Athens.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222349160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222349160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222349160/tpod.html Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:32:05 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Tinos, Cyclades, Greece

This morning we woke up in Tinos.... best know for a church the is the Greek equivalent of Lourdes. People crawl on their knees to an icon of the Virgin Mary.... it was a very sacred and interesting place.... lots of spritiual energy. We had a whole hour to explore there and then got back on the boat to go to a place called Delos.... The birthplace of the "God" Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. People are not allowed to live there because it is a site that is protected by UNESCO. It is a strange feeling to walk where a civilization existed 2500 years ago and thrived - and then dissappeared!! Now we are in Mykonos - and I am finally able to throw in a few pictures. We are out of here shortly and off to another island - but none of us are dissapointed because it is just as crowded here as in Santorini. And much much dirtier. It's getting cloudy and bad weather is coming so we have no idea where we will end up in the next few days - but I will try to get some more photos loaded as soon as I can!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222513860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222513860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1222513860/tpod.html Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:19:54 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Poros, Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

We are slowly but surely moving closer to Athens - one island at a time. We are currently about 3 hours away from Athens by sailbot (our ship) and one hour away by speed boat taxi. This island is a stopover on the way to every other island. But it is very charming and calm. What makes it different is change in architecture - the have red tile roofs!! This island is less expensive.... We had pouring down rain this morning so we had to cancel our walking tour and then we went out on a sight seeing boat but couldn't see anything because the flaps were down to protect us from the weather... kind of crazy! We couldn't wait to get off and start walking on our own. More shopping! A little lunch! And tonight is the 'captain's dinner' where I am sure we will be the hit of the show. We are going to 2 more islands tomorrow - Aegena also known as Egina - only 16 miles from Athens and the Captain said this afternoon he is also taking us to another island tomorrow - so it should be a very crazy day! In less than 48 hours we will be on our way home.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221997260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221997260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/llk/1/1221997260/tpod.html Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:55:34 -0400 Hasbones Visit Greece - Our First Adventure

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Kalambaka, Thessaly, Greece

Still no luck with the photos folks - but I keep trying....the current computer is a Windows 2003 OS and it can't find the cameras..... we tried to find an internet cafe that was a little more advanced - but so far no luck. There has to be somewhere or someone out there that can help!! Pictures may be the last thing you see!

Yesterday after we arrived we relaxed in the lobby bar. no surprise there for this group. We all dressed in black and white and had dinner here at the hotel.... I really wish I had those pictures to send because they are awesome. The weather was pretty gruesome yesterday and we really never left the hotel after we arrived.
So this morning we were well rested and ready to head out to a different kind of Sunday morning at church adventure. We headed to the monasteries of Meteora. These monasteries - (there are six of them and we visited 2 of them) we started in the 9th century BC and are perched on the tops of mountains that look like ginat smooth stones. They are all greek orthodox, and house both nuns and priests - but not together!
The icon paintings are very striking and colorful. They were built by the priests hoisting one block at a time to the top in order to build the structures. In one story we were told, it took 20 years to get all the rocks to the top - and only twenty days to build the church. It is an amazing place - very spiritual - and lots of stairs to get to the top!
Tonight we are headed to a small town not far from her for a locally owned family restuarant for dinner and music! Tomorrow we are up and out early - on our way to Pireaus Port to get on the ship and head out to sea!!

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