TravelStream™ news feed for member supalen on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/supalen en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:42:13 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221362700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221362700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221362700/tpod.html Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:42:13 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates

DubaiYesterday I spent the majority of the day waiting at airports and traveling. I'm quite sad to leave Egypt. Despite it's issues, I found it to be such amazing place to visit. A real eye opener for the uninitiated, a real culture shock for my narrow minded and limited brain. Egypt is a poor, overpopulated country that is 30-40 years behind the rest of the world with environmental issues, but is so rich in history and culture. I really will miss Egypt.Today, I went on a tour called City of Merchants. It's a tour of the last remnants of what Dubai had been before the architect of Dubai, Sheik Rashid, started his vision of a Dubai that wasn't dependant on Oil. The guide said that Tourism is the largest contributor to the GDP. Oil only makes up 7% of the GDP. Oil was only discovered in the area in the 1960's so Rashid had enough foresight to see that the riches of Oil would not last. Smart man! First, we were taken by mini-bus to Jumeirah where the Bur Al Arab (the hotel shaped like a sail) is, some 210 metres tall, it is built entirely over the water and not on land. It's foundations go 44 metres into the ground. Also, in Jumeirah is the first Palm Islands, Palm Jumeirah. We didn't get to see it, and to be honest you can't see much anyway. Best to see it from the air.Next was the most important Mosque in Dubai. It's a beautiful structure, but no one was allowed inside, so we just took pictures from the outside for 5 mins.Next was the old Dubai Port next to the Dubai Creek. You can walk around the port, where the houses have been restored. Inside some of the houses are displays and tourists shops. It was interesting, but after 20mins it was time to move on.The Dubai Museum is next. It's a restored fort, with displays on how living conditions were in the early days of Dubai. The highlight of the display is the Gallery, which you enter through a door to the left of the entrance. It leads down a spiral walkway into a very large underground museum with impressive displays, video presentations. Walking through this area took me about 40mins, but it was worth it. When I exited most of the tour party was waiting for me, and then we made our way to the water taxis to take us to the Spice and gold Souks (Markets). The taxi ride took about 10 mins to cross the Dubai Creek. It was quite an enjoyable ride, and from there we went through the spice souk, looking at various stalls, and then onto the Gold souk, where we were left to browse around and spend money on gold, silver, diamonds, and fake watches if we desired. I bought nothing, not even a fake watch. Too broke now. I'm to my last few dollars.After that the tour ended, so it was back to the hotel. I tried really hard to find a bar that was playing the All Blacks vs. Aust game. There was an Aussie in the Hotel trying to do the same. It wasn't being shown anywhere and disappointingly; all I could get was Live Score updates on the Internet. That's two games I've missed while on this tour, although the game against Samoa doesn't really count since that was an arse whooping. In the end, I had dinner with the Aussie and his wife. We ate and chatted for about 3 hours. They are a very nice couple from Brisbane.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221189540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221189540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221189540/tpod.html Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:38:03 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Cairo, Egypt

Yesterday I flew back to Cairo from Aswan. As usual, it was an uneventful flight. By the time I got into Cairo and checked into my Hotel in the El Geizera district it was mid afternoon. I had a walk around a very busy area of district of Cairo, but I had not had any junk food since Rome, so Macca's it is for dinner, and hmmm it was delicious. Actually, the milkshake I had was better the one's at home. I kept forgetting that the Muslims are fasting for Ramadan, so I have to take it back to the hotel to eat.Today, I visited the Citadel. A Beautiful Mosque built by the Architect of Modern Egypt, Mohamed Ali Bashir in the 1800's. He was Albania, and not Egyptian, but apparently he was a very popular man amongst the Egyptians. He is now interred in the Citadel. Next was a Jewellery shop. I decided to buy a Cartouche bracelet. A Cartouche is a nameplate, but written in Hieroglyphics. The bracelet itself is 18ct gold, and I quite like it. The Hanging church was interesting. A Christian church built over the ruins of an old Roman fortress using the trucks of palm trees. The majority of the Christian Egyptians in Cairo live near the Church.Next was a Jewellery establishment. I wanted to get a Cartouche bracelet for me. A cartouche is a plate with your name stamped in Hieroglyphics. It cost a bit, but I'm happy with it.Finally, the Egyptian Museum. I wasn't allowed my camera inside so there are no photos, but I enjoyed looking around all the same. Tutankhamen's impressive treasures were there on display, as were thousands of other artefacts from all over Egypt. I could have wandered around that museum for hours. I though it was impressive.I did bump into 4 of the Kiwi's from the cruise inside the museum, and two of the Aussies outside as I was leaving. It's a small world after all.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221017640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221017640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221017640/tpod.html Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:29:49 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Aswan, Egypt

Last night, during the Galabeya Party, we had arrived in Aswan. This morning, we visit the Temple of Philae, the high dam that created Lake Nasr, a modern monument of Egypt, and sail around Eliphantine Island in a Felucca. It's a sedate morning, taking a bus to lake Nasr, then on a small boat to an island where the Temple of Philae is located. When the High dam was built; the temple was moved 12 metres higher. It took eight years from 1972 to 1980, moving the temple block by block. If this were not done the dam would have submerged the temple when the lake was formed.After we visited the temple, we take the small boat back to the bus, and make a very fleeting visit to the High Dam, before heading back to the ship. Some of the tourists depart for flights to other destinations, while most of us sail on a felucca. That was fun and serene. It sails so smoothly across the Nile, almost gliding across the water.After, sailing in the felucca, it's back on board the ship for lunch, and then some of us decide to visit the local Bazaar. Because of Ramadan, it is not very busy, but we get hounded as usual but this time I want to buy something. I need a new suitcase. One of mine has broken it straps. Eventually I find a stall sell bags and I see one I like. Let the bartering games begin. I had decided on a price and started low, he started higher and then I said my price, deal done. The others said I was too quick. Story of my life really, but I'm happy. We wondered around for nearly 2 hours, and then headed back to the ship where I repacked my bags. I also bought a belt, made of Camel Leather.There was a Nubian show tonight, but it started earlier than I was told and I missed most of it. Oh well, never mind.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221019020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221019020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1221019020/tpod.html Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:41:10 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Edfu, Egypt

Today, we wake up to find ourselves in Edfu. We get to sleep in this morning as our tour of the Temple of Edfu is scheduled to leave at 8:30am. The ship is scheduled to sail to Kom Ombo at 10am so it will be a quick tour.The Temple of Edfu, like the Temple of Karnak, is another example of Egyptian Engineering at it's best. Once again there is a massive façade, Long Columns, Large walls covered with Hieroglyphics. I think the pictures show it better than I can explain, but being there is better. You might think been there done that, but I don't see it that way. Each temple is a monument to a period of Egyptian history spanning over 6,000 years. Each is temple is a snapshot of a period in time when the gods were worshipped by kings and queens, whom showed their devotion in the hope of reaching the gods in the after life. Each temple is a shrine, to their beliefs as they were when the temples were built, so to me they are not the same, but very much so unique. Some of the temples even show influences of Roman and Greek architecture due to the rulers of the time being of Greek or Roman descent.Back on board the ship, we have the rest of the day to ourselves as we sail to Kom Ombo, where we will briefly stop to visit the Temple there. I spent the rest of the morning reading on the top deck in the sun as we sailed down the Nile. Actually it's up the Nile. The southern part of Egypt is known as Upper Egypt, the northern part is Lower Egypt as the Nile flows south to north, not north to south as they do in NZ.After lunch, I had a sleep in my cabin. The heat of the morning has taken it out of me, and besides, I need my strength for the Temple of Kom Ombo, which we will visit at 5pm, and the Galabeya Party on board to night. A Galabeya is the full authentic dress worn by the Egyptians and Arabs alike. Exactly like the Sheiks of Saudi Arabia as a common example. I've purchased one from the Store on board. I probably could have got one cheaper from one of the locals, but to be honest, it was just less hassle to do so that way. Many of the other tourists said I look the real McCoy! Len of Arabia.I woke from my slumber at 4:30pm and got ready for the scheduled tour. We had already berthed at Kom Ombo. No bus this time, the Temple is about 300 metres up the road. As I said before, here is another example of a unique temple. This time, in the past, locals whom defaced most of the figures on the walls occupied the temple. They even built their own buildings on top of the temple. There is also some Greek and Roman influences here too.After dinner, everyone got ready for the Galabeya Party. This cruise is really starting to sound like the Love Boat, except Isaac Washington is Egyptian, and Julie is a man? There are games organized by the Crew. Pass the bottle, a potatoe race, and best of all a dance off. It was a really fun night, and I still managed to get to bed by midnight. There were no prizes for best dressed.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220843400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220843400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220843400/tpod.html Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:37:07 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Luxor, Egypt

It's another early start, to visit the Valley of the Kings, to take advantage of the cooler morning rather than going during the hottest part of the day. Up at 5:30am, breakfast at 6am, and then depart at 7am.Still when we get there it is approx 30 degrees. I'm glad it's not midday. It seems to be the thing to do to arrive early, as there are about 20 busloads of tourists already here. At the entrance, we board an electric cart to ride most of the way up the hill. It's not a long trip, but if we had walked up, we would have baked before reaching the drop off point before the first tombs.Abdallah, tells us very colourful and interesting facts and history about the various tombs of Ramses II, VI, Thutmosis I, II, III, IV, Seti, and of course Tutankhamen to name a few. It is absolutely fascinating history. The first tomb we enter is Ramses IV. The entrance way has a high ceiling, covered in stars, and all along the corridor to the burial chamber is covered with Hieroglyphics. The tomb is empty but the covering the walls are better preserved Hieroglyphics.I entered the Tomb of Tutankhamen next. It cost an extra 80 Egyptian Pounds to enter his tomb. It is narrower than Ramses IV, but in the burial chamber is the mummy of Tutankhamen himself. Again the walls and ceiling are adorned with Hieroglyphics.Finally, I enter the tomb of Thutmosis III. It is one of the deeper tombs. Access to it is via a narrow, step, stairwell that leads down to the first chamber. From there, there are more stairs that lead to a further chamber deeper within. In all, 78 steps deep within the valley. As per the other 2 tombs, this one is just as ornate, and very hot within.It is after I visit this tomb, that our group departs the Valley of the Kings. It is approx 9am and the temperature has risen to the late 30's.Next stop the temple of Hatshepsute. Another example of a magnificent temple situated 45mins walk thru the Valley of the Kings. Naturally, we didn't walk it in the heat and cheated by taking the air-conditioned bus. Statues, Facades, courtyards, Hieroglyphics are this temple, that is built up against the mountains on the west bank. We spent approx 1 hour there looking around and taking in the view of the district of Karnak from the steps of the temple. One of our group caught one of the locals trying to pick his pocket. Next minute we were checking ours to make sure we were not victims. All accounted for thankfully.The next visit was a quick stop to take pictures of two giant statues, before heading back to the cruise ship and begin sailing to Edfu through the Esna Locks.Up until now I have not mentioned much about the locals who try to sell and then barter their goods on all tourists. They try all sorts of tricks to get you to buy, and are quite adept at hassling you. I've learnt three tricks to avoid them. 1) If they give you a free gift, do not accept. Do not even touch it. It is not free. They will hound you until you buy something. 2) Use this phrase; "La ah shokran!" It means "no thank you". If they continue to hassle, just say "la ah" sternly and keep walking, but 99% of the time they will leave you alone.3) Don't let them see your eyes. They are very good at reading your face for a sign of interest.With this in mind, I have managed to stay hassle free. While at one of the temples you have to pass the market area where. Someone made the mistake of spending a lot of money with one of the locals. Within seconds that person had another 10 locals swooping down on him to sell their wares. Buyer beware!We got to the Ship and it set sail while we lunched. The rest of the day was left to ourselves. I went to my cabin to rest. About 2 hours later I was woken by a bang on my cabin window. To my surprise, I found a rowboat with two locals on board trying to latch themselves to the ship, and then sell their goods. They would attach themselves then throw their goods onto the top deck and start negotiating a price. Lucky me opened his cabin window, and got a dress thrown in the face. I couldn't help laughing but threw it back. I looked upstream to see about 30 more rowboats about to try the same thing. I went topside to watch and honestly, it has to be one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen. Goods were flying onto the deck, and quickly thrown back, some not making it home, but in the water to cries of "You owe me money!" I think not sunshine!Within half an hour we were at the locks at Esna, and the rowboats tried the next ship coming. It didn't stop there. From the lock, kids would throw onboard film canisters filled with sand and ask for money to be thrown back. Currency of choice is Euros. I decided to be cheeky and put a cigarette butt in the canister instead. Threw back away from the kid, who looked disappointed, but tried again. I don't feel mean, not after getting a dress thrown in my face through my cabin window when the ship is sailing in the middle of the Nile.Finally we are through the locks and we continue to sail onto Edfu where we stay for the night.Dinner is at 8pm then Bingo is at 10pm. Bingo and I haven't played together since I was a boy. Most of our group decided to play, as did many members of the two other groups on board. There are 3 18ct gold pendants as prizes. I got the first line, yelled "BINGO" and won the first pendant that is the Egyptian Symbol for Long Life. Members of our group also won the other two prizes.It's been a long day.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220756760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220756760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220756760/tpod.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:47:00 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Luxor, Egypt

It's an early morning start this morning and I'm picked up at 4:30am from my hotel to be taken to the airport for my flight to Luxor. The flight departs at 6:15am. Even at this time of the morning I can hear the sound of morning prayers echo all around me over loudspeakers from several mosques in the area. I have never experienced such a sound before. It's like the wailing of the Kuia as they welcome you onto a marae, but in Arabic. I find it quite odd and yet I'm surprised the sound hasn't driven me batty. Maybe it is because the sound so familiar to me.Rames met me in the lobby, and gave me a box that contained breads, fruit, yoghurt and orange juice. The hotel prepares these breakfast boxes for its guests that must check out early. The trip to the airport took approx forty minutes, so I consumed the contents of the box along the way.At the airport I'm met by another guide who helps me through check-in process to make sure that it is as smooth process as possible.The flight was, once again, uneventful although this time it was because I was fast asleep. As soon as I settled into my seat I was out like a light. The flight took approx fifty minutes; I slept right through only waking when the tyres hit the tarmac.Another rep met me at Luxor Airport and there, I was joined by four Australians from Adelaide. From there we were taken to the Cruise ship the Nile Admiral. It didn't look like much from the outside, but it was pretty classy and posh within. The cabin was more spacious than I had expected and very comfortable indeed. It was about 9am by this time and we had some spare time before lunch was being served at 1pm, and our first tour of the day to the Temple of Karnak, which was scheduled to depart at 2:30pm. So I went to bed.I woke at noon, freshened up and headed for the upper deck to take a look around only to discover it had a swimming pool and a sun deck with loungers. By chance I found the bar, and the Aussies were already in there. We had a chat, and a beer, before heading to the restaurant for lunch, which was located on one of the lower decks.After lunch, a group of us 36 tourists, including myself, met in the lobby to meet our guide for the next 4 days, Abdallah. From there we boarded a bus and headed to the Temple of Karnak. What a site! A grand temple that covered some 65 acres of land whose entrance is a massive façade that is 47 metres high. Statues of rams, on either side, line the path to the entrance as you walk down towards the façade. Inside, is an area that has 134 incredibly tall and wide columns, statues, obelisks are everywhere. Yet another impressive legacy of ancient Egypt, which we can only admire with awe.Next was the Temple of Luxor, which is about 2 or 3 kms down the road. It is a smaller temple, but nonetheless just as impressive as the Temple of Karnak. Outside the entrance to the Temple of Luxor is an area that is lined along the length of this area, with 60 sphinxes. At the entrance, on the left hand side is an Obelisk. On the right is an empty space where another Obelisk used to be. That Obelisk is now sitting in the centre of Place du Concorde in Paris.The tour concluded there and we headed back to the Cruise ship to relax before tea, and the a Belly Dancer show afterwards. The show was good, but I was disappointed that the belly dancer wore a full-length dress, so no belly. In the end, she was just a dancer. Oh well!! I still enjoyed the show.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220648580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220648580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220648580/tpod.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:14:35 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Cairo, Egypt

I had a really good sleep last night. I woke at 7am and got ready for my sightseeing tour today. I took me awhile to find where breakfast was being held. This hotel is spread out as apposed to being a high rise. Breakfast had been moved to the first floor of the main reception as apposed to the building at the other end of the resort. Nevertheless I eventually found it and made sure I was well fed.My guide for today is Randa. A lovely egytian women who is married with two children of her own. She is also observing Ramaddan and said she finds it hard to fast when she is working, but just does it. It's her way of life. First, it's off to the Pyramids in Giza. Like I said before, I saw them last night under the veil of the light show, but now I get to see them with my own eyes and when I finally do I am not disappointed. Beautiful, grand, ancient structures, thousands of years old and still here for all to see. All have been damaged by the winds of time, but still show an awe of majesty that is timeless. Since I can remember I've marvelled at their splendour and have been amazed by the cleverness of the the ancient egyptians, to have the ability to build these structures. Randa said that each Pyramid took approx 25 years to build, working only during the rainy season, which was 3 months of the year. No slaves were employed, all those that worked there were paid.I even went inside one of the pyramids, it was the second tallest one. Don't ask me what it was called, I'm having a information brain overload. You can go inside to the burial tomb. Beware! The corridors down to the tomb are low and you have to bend down to walk. It's also a fair distance from the entrance, and very hot inside. Take water with you. You can dehydrate very easily. Once in the tomb the ceiling is high and there is plenty of room to stand. All the artifacts that were inside had been removed, but the stone tomb was still there. I've been inside a Pyramid and I am absolutely amazed at how it was built. Just incredible. I spent about ten minutes before I had to leave because of the heat. By the time I returned to the surface, I was drenched in sweat, and had completely drunk all of my water. For 25 egyptian pounds (about $8 NZD), I thought is was worth it.I didn't see Randa at the entrance so I went for a wonder to find her. Eventually I returned to the van, after having a good look around, and the driver said she wasn't there. So I went to the entrance to find her there looking very worried. She was relieved to see me safe and thought that something had happened to me in the tomb. She had sent some men down to look for me and when they returned they said I wasn't there. She was very puzzled. I told her what had happened and she laughed. I must have come out when she was distracted by a phone call she got.We then went up to the Upper plateau and from there you can get a great view of the 3 pyramids. Great photo opportunity. It is there that she got a camel ride for me and now I have pictures of me on a camel with the pyramids in the background, all just for you Crystal and everyone else who told me I should do it.Next it was down to the Sphinx. I had always imagined it being really huge. At 57 metres in length and 20 metres high, it is huge. I just though it was bigger. I'm not disappointed that it wasn't as big as I thought, I'm just not that surprised that the Pictures etc that I have seen have distorted my view of it. Randa said it was made of one big limestone rock and is completely solid.Next were off to Memphis to see the open air museum with many artifacts of Ramesus II. It's not as big and grand as the Natural Museum of History in London, but it does boast a huge statue of Ramesus II and several other smaller ones. There is also the Sphinx of Memphis there. It is a very small version of the one in Giza carved from Alabster stone or Egyptian Marble. It still has it's nose.Finally we went to Sakkara to see the First Pyramid ever built in about 3200bc ( I think that's right??) It's a step pyramid, or in other words it was built in stages and resembles six steps that lead to heaven. It's an incredible sight and from a certain advantage point you can see, in the south, more pyramids, and in the north some more too including those in Giza. It's amazing that these monuments were built so long ago and they still survive to this day.All in all, I had a wonderful day visiting the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, a ride on a ship of the desert, and being in presence of incredible history.Tonight, I'm off to a Dinner and Cruise, and then off to Luxor tomorow.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220585040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220585040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220585040/tpod.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:31:47 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Cairo, Egypt

Surprisingly, I wasn't hung over this morning. I woke up with enough time to get myself together, have breakfast, and still get back to the airport by noon to check in for my flight to Cairo. Athens hasn't changed, which is not surprise considering it's the second time I'd been there in a week.The flight was uneventful; it only took one hour and forty minutes. Once in the terminal, a rep from the Travel agency meets me. He helps me through immigration and has my visa all sorted and paid for already. That took five minutes. It was another forty minutes before I got my bags. I have no idea why it took so long. Even the rep was saying it's ridiculous. Finally, I'm taken outside to meet my guide in Cairo, Rames. I think that's how you spell his name. As we head to the hotel, he gives me a run down of my itinerary, and a heads up about Ramadan, some local customs, and of course tipping. Some noteworthy information I learned. Cairo has 20 million inhabitants. They like their nightlife, and so it's going 24x7. Most of the housing in Cairo looks incomplete. To do so would mean paying a building tax, so they are never completed on the outside, just on the inside. There are a lot of donkeys, horses, and people changing tyres on the road.It takes about an hour to get to the hotel from the airport. The hotel is situated at Giza where the Sphinx and the pyramids are. They look very impressive indeed. After I settle in, I'm picked up to go and watch the light and sound show at the Pyramids, which is a night show. The English version started at 9:30pm and lasts about fifty minutes. It was a great history lesson, and is narrated by Omar Shariff. I must admit that my close up first sight of the last of the ancient seven wonders was awe-inspiring, especially when it is lit up with colours. For me, this show was a must. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220498280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220498280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220498280/tpod.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:23:32 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Athens, Greece

Today I fly back from Mykonos to Athens, where I will spend the night. From there I fly to Egypt. My flight out of Mykonos is not until 7:30 tonight, so I've still got a full day here. Guess where I'm going, back to the beach!I pretty much spent the whole day there, and will need another book soon. I've almost finished the one I'm reading. Just for your information, I'm reading the Da Vinci Code. I've seen the movie, but I've been told the book is better. I agree, the book is better and since I've have been to London and Paris, I am able to follow the story when they move through the streets. It's quite cool that I can picture their movements because I am reasonably familiar with street names and how to get there.At 6:30pm I'm picked up from the hotel, and taken to Mykonos Airport. The plane leaves on time, and forty minutes later it arrives at Athens. I was going to catch a cab back to my hotel, until I bumped into a Kiwi couple that was catching a bus into town and then cabbing from there to their hotel. The bus was 3.20 euros so quite cheap, and in the end it saved me about 25 euros.That's it. That was my day. Did I mention the six bottles of beer I drank at the beach, plus two bottles of Smirnoff ice I had at the airport. I was a little tipsy when I got to my hotel. I slept like a baby.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220407800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220407800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supalen/1/1220407800/tpod.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:25:42 -0400 London to Dubai in 39 days

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Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos TownToday has started off rather cloudy. I was just going to go down to the beach, but I've changed my mind, and decided to take the bus into Mykonos Town, about 4kms away north from my hotel in Plati Gialos. I thought I was in Psarou, but that is another bay near my hotel. I glad I found that out. It could have been embarrassing on the way back.Mykonos Town is the Main Port. It is full of shops, restaurants, cafes, and had been famous for it's windmills since the 16th Century. Of course, it more famous for beaches now, and for 7 months of the year tourists flock to them.The bus trip takes about 20mins as it picks up passengers along its route. I got on at the beginning of the route so got a seat on the 42-seat bus. It was packed right from the start. When the bus arrived at Fabrica Square on the outskirts of Mykonos Town, it was like grand central station. The square is not very big, and buses from other bays also arrive and depart from here, in addition to the continuous stream of small three wheeled trucks, motor cycles, quad bikes, and foot traffic, it looks like a recipe for disaster. Nevertheless, it seems to all run smoothly, until a tourist on their hired bike, makes a wrong turn, and everything grinds to a halt. Damn tourists!From the square, there are three streets leading down to the waterfront, and as you walk down the streets you notice how narrow they are, and are curved, not straight, with many short (and also curved) streets leading off them. Later on, a local told me that piracy was a big problem in the area centuries ago, so when the town was built, it was designed to confuse the pirates as they came ashore to loot. In effect they would get lost and eventually left when they found their way out empty handed. I could imagine that this planned didn't work out every time, but it's interesting to note that the design of the street is still there.Like I said, the streets are very narrow. I could jump from one side of the street to the other without touching the road. When a vehicle came down the street, everyone just found room to get out of the way of the vehicle. Obviously, not all the streets are like this, but in the old port, they definite are.I wandered around for a bit, looked at various shops, even bought a Pork Gyros, that was quite delicious with big pieces of pork in it. The Gyros, is basically, meat, tomatoes, and anything else you want, with a mayonnaise sauce wrapped in a pita wrap. For 1.50 euros I wasn't complaining so I asked for everything. The beer I had to wash it down actually cost more.Bit more looking around and I found the five of the last remaining Windmills overlooking the port, and in the bay below was the area known as little Venice. Why? Because, the houses were built right up to the water with the balconies hanging out over the water below.A bit more a look around and I've notice the clouds have cleared, and it's about 1:30pm, so I head back to Fabrica Square to catch the correct bus back to my hotel, and from there I head down to the beach for some more sun, and reading. Don't get the wrong idea here. I was reading. ;oP. Well, at about 7pm, it had cooled down, and I headed back to the hotel to change and headed back to one of the restaurants on the beach, where I've been told, and given a 10% discount from the manager, that it cooks the best fish in Mykonos. I had the shrimp cocktail, which was truly delicious, and the Perch, grilled with lemon and rice. He was right that the fish was delicious. As for his claim about the best fish? I have no idea, but it was good.
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