I arrived back in Greece very early this morning. I had about 1-2 hours of sleep last night so I'm very tired today! I'm in Athens now and have most of the day here till I catch the ferry at 5:30 for Paros.
My trip to Barcelona in a nutshell was: tiring, lol! The city is very large and everything is quite spread out. I did a ton of walking and it didn't help having my foot stepped on by a lady on the metro (by mistake of course but it hurt quite a bit afterwards!) I'm not going to recap day by day like I usually do because it would take toooo long!
I saw most of the attractions that I wanted to, it's easiest to do a list:
Gaudi creations:
- Sagrada Familia Church which was very beautiful from the outside. I paid to see the inside but it wasn't worth it; the lift to the top wasn't working and there was scaffolding everywhere because of the ongoing construction.
- La Pedrera and the Casa Batllo were right down the street from my hostel but I didn't go inside those, just admired the outside.
- Park Güell was really cool and had a great view over all of Barcelona. Gaudi created a bunch of interesting sculptures and architecture all around the park including the longest park bench in the world made of mosaic tiles.
Other sights:
- Picasso Museum which was interesting and in a really beautiful building.
- Montjuïc Hill is a park on a hill overlooking Barcelona which has a few museums on it. I wanted to go to the Miro Museum but when I got there, it had just closed. Near there, at the bottom of the hill is what's called the Magic Fountain and at 9pm, it starts up and the huge fountain turns different colors and shapes in time to music - really cool!
- The water front was a nice area to walk along. The day I wanted to go to the beach though, it ended up being cloudy so I skipped it and went to a spa pool instead...
- Poliesportiu Marítim - Centre de Talassoteràpia was the spa pool I went to. It consisted of 4 salt water pools and a few freshwater pools, waterfalls, bubble jets, steam room, sauna, warm marble area, lap pools.... basically, it was sooo relaxing! I went from pool to pool and just vegged in them till my limbs turned to raisins. A swimming cap was mandatory, so I had to buy one to go in. I also got reamed out (in Spanish) by a lady in the locker room and didn't understand a word she was saying but I think it was because I accidentally took her locker (even though she had nothing in it!) anyways...
- I did a ton of shopping and bought some much needed clothes. I barely ever bought clothes the past year so I thought I deserved a few new things. It'll also nice to bring back European clothing back home because they'll be more unique.
- La Boqueria market was right off of La Rambla and sold tons of fresh produce. You could get a plate of a variety of fresh fruit pieces for less than 2 euro and pure fruit smoothies, mmmmm!
- I walked a lot in the Las Ramblas, Passieg de Gracia, and Barri Gotic areas which are full of shops and cafes.
On my last day, I took a train to the town of Figueres where Salvador Dalí was born. He later converted a theatre into a museum to house his work called Teatre-Museu Dalí. This museum is one of the most visited in Spain and I can see why. I was so surreal! There were weird sculptures, paintings, holograms, visual illusions everywhere. The thing that's so interesting about this place was that Dali created not just the art work inside but also the whole look and feel of the building and rooms which display his art. So the whole museum is an art piece in itself and a very strange one!
I'll post pics in the next couple days when I get back home and sort through them all.
Army Update: Tony has only 2 days left in the Army so you can imagine he and I are sooooo excited! He'll be a free man finally! He won't be told when to get up, what to do, where to go, what to eat, or what to wear anymore; he'll be able to make his own decisions! He's really looking forward to getting back to Canada and returning to college. He's doing Computer Engineering so there are a lot of things he'll have to brush up on and get back into after being away from it for a whole year.
I guess that's all the news for now, I must go and have a bite to eat.
M
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Barcelona
This is my second day in Barcelona and there is soo much to see! I didn't realize it is one of the most visited cities in Europe besides Paris (atleast that's what someone told me).
The last 2 days were a bit of a blur. On Thurs, I caught the ferry to Athens and had half a day to look around before my flight. I mainly did some shopping since I really needed sandals. I completely wore out my favorite pair which I loved. They were so comfy! But these new ones I found will be a good replacement, they feel good.
After the shopping, I went for a walk to the Royal Palace and saw the changing of the guards and then headed to the airport. I had to kill a few hours till my 03:55 flight so in the airport, I read and tried to sleep a bit.
Finally, after the flight, I got to Barcelona and took a train into town and found my hostel. It's very nice!! In a great area: Passeig de Gracia. It's a very nice old building that has been renovated recently and is very clean and secure.
After getting settled, I headed out and walked around Las Ramblas area and did some shopping. After hours of walking and exploring my feet were so sore and I was tired from having barely any sleep the night before so I had an early night.
Today, I checked out a few museums and sights and I might do a little more shopping. I can't really elaborate right now because others want to use the internet. I'll post pics when I get home.
M
The last 2 days were a bit of a blur. On Thurs, I caught the ferry to Athens and had half a day to look around before my flight. I mainly did some shopping since I really needed sandals. I completely wore out my favorite pair which I loved. They were so comfy! But these new ones I found will be a good replacement, they feel good.
After the shopping, I went for a walk to the Royal Palace and saw the changing of the guards and then headed to the airport. I had to kill a few hours till my 03:55 flight so in the airport, I read and tried to sleep a bit.
Finally, after the flight, I got to Barcelona and took a train into town and found my hostel. It's very nice!! In a great area: Passeig de Gracia. It's a very nice old building that has been renovated recently and is very clean and secure.
After getting settled, I headed out and walked around Las Ramblas area and did some shopping. After hours of walking and exploring my feet were so sore and I was tired from having barely any sleep the night before so I had an early night.
Today, I checked out a few museums and sights and I might do a little more shopping. I can't really elaborate right now because others want to use the internet. I'll post pics when I get home.
M
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Driving Around
It’s been a busy week working mornings and evenings. My boss Yiannis and I have been driving around the island handing out island directories to all the businesses. It’s nice to see towns and inside cafes and shops I haven’t been to before but it’s quite hot so it’s hard work lugging all the books around. We usually stop for a few hours during the day because it’s too hot. Yiannis’ wife Maria sometimes helps and he also has a friend from Athens to help too. Here are a few pics from different areas around the island:
I had a second kiteboarding lesson a few days ago and went for others but it ended up not being windy enough or too busy. I like it though and I hope to take more lessons and actually get on the board one day.
On Monday, I went for a kite lesson but there was no wind, so instead, I ended up going for a swim with a friend. We decided to swim from Paros to the neighboring island of Antiparos! People though we were crazy but it was fun and we did it without drowning. It took about 45mins and is about 2miles. We didn’t want to swim back so we walked from the beach to the port and took the ferry back with the 10 euro bill I had stuck in my bikini top just in case, lol! It was funny walking onto the ferry with bare feet and in our bathing suits; either people figured out that we had swum there and were heading back or they just though we were nut jobs (probably the latter). Here are two pics of the kiteboarding place with Antiparos in the background.
Yesterday was my 26th birthday and didn’t do too much. I didn’t care about it this year at all. I’m looking too forward to my Barcelona trip (leaving tomorrow) and Tony’s homecoming from the Army. It was nice though; we handed out books on Antiparos and stopped to have a nice lunch on the water. Yiannis gave me the evening off so I headed to the beach and relaxed. In the evening, I hung out upstairs for a bit with Linda and Markos and I also rented a movie and bought a Mars bar – can’t beat chocolate, tea, and a movie! It was a good day.
I leave on the 10:45am ferry for Athens tomorrow and catch the plane for Barcelona very late at night so I’ll hang out in Athens for most of the day. This’ll be my last post till I’m in Barcelona. I’m really looking forward to it and the plane ride (I really like them for some reason). Anywho, I’ll most likely post pics after I come back but I’ll try to let everyone know what's going on there in the next week.
I had a second kiteboarding lesson a few days ago and went for others but it ended up not being windy enough or too busy. I like it though and I hope to take more lessons and actually get on the board one day.
On Monday, I went for a kite lesson but there was no wind, so instead, I ended up going for a swim with a friend. We decided to swim from Paros to the neighboring island of Antiparos! People though we were crazy but it was fun and we did it without drowning. It took about 45mins and is about 2miles. We didn’t want to swim back so we walked from the beach to the port and took the ferry back with the 10 euro bill I had stuck in my bikini top just in case, lol! It was funny walking onto the ferry with bare feet and in our bathing suits; either people figured out that we had swum there and were heading back or they just though we were nut jobs (probably the latter). Here are two pics of the kiteboarding place with Antiparos in the background.
Yesterday was my 26th birthday and didn’t do too much. I didn’t care about it this year at all. I’m looking too forward to my Barcelona trip (leaving tomorrow) and Tony’s homecoming from the Army. It was nice though; we handed out books on Antiparos and stopped to have a nice lunch on the water. Yiannis gave me the evening off so I headed to the beach and relaxed. In the evening, I hung out upstairs for a bit with Linda and Markos and I also rented a movie and bought a Mars bar – can’t beat chocolate, tea, and a movie! It was a good day.
I leave on the 10:45am ferry for Athens tomorrow and catch the plane for Barcelona very late at night so I’ll hang out in Athens for most of the day. This’ll be my last post till I’m in Barcelona. I’m really looking forward to it and the plane ride (I really like them for some reason). Anywho, I’ll most likely post pics after I come back but I’ll try to let everyone know what's going on there in the next week.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
July2
I’ve been lazy at posting lately. I haven’t taken many pics either – oops! Here are few that I took: Punda Beach, the waves at Parasporos, and a view toward Parikia.
At work, we are waiting for the island directory books that we made to arrive from the printers in Athens. Once they arrive, my boss Yiannis and I will spend a few days driving around the island and dropping them off in every cafe and company on the island! That’ll be a nice change from sitting at the computer.
I think there is another heat wave going on. It’s soooooo hot!!! The beach is the only place to go after work because it’s too hot to do anything else. There are forest fires all over Greece right now too. I’m actually looking forward to rain and cold in Vic now (and once I’m in the rain and cold I’ll regret ever saying that!)
I’ve been hitting the gym a lot lately. It feels good afterwards. Although today, I’m not going; the air-conditioning isn’t on very high there so it gets very hot and not very fun to workout in.
The family that lives in the suite next to mine found a little kitten in the motor of a tractor and brought it home a little while ago. It was so tiny – about 4 weeks old. Now, it’s an outside kitten and my cat plays with it. There is another strange black cat that visits mine at night and they always fight. Sometimes I wake up to cats screeching so loud that it freaks me out! Pretty soon, I’ll have to start weaning my kitty to be a full-time outside cat because, when I’m gone, he’ll be outside all the time.
I’m looking forward to my Barcelona trip next week! I leave on the ferry on Aug 2 and come back Aug 8. Tony has only 16 more days left on the Army too! I remember us saying earlier in the year “can you imagine when there are only a few week’s left?” We couldn’t imagine it and now the end is almost here and he’ll be free again!
At work, we are waiting for the island directory books that we made to arrive from the printers in Athens. Once they arrive, my boss Yiannis and I will spend a few days driving around the island and dropping them off in every cafe and company on the island! That’ll be a nice change from sitting at the computer.
I think there is another heat wave going on. It’s soooooo hot!!! The beach is the only place to go after work because it’s too hot to do anything else. There are forest fires all over Greece right now too. I’m actually looking forward to rain and cold in Vic now (and once I’m in the rain and cold I’ll regret ever saying that!)
I’ve been hitting the gym a lot lately. It feels good afterwards. Although today, I’m not going; the air-conditioning isn’t on very high there so it gets very hot and not very fun to workout in.
The family that lives in the suite next to mine found a little kitten in the motor of a tractor and brought it home a little while ago. It was so tiny – about 4 weeks old. Now, it’s an outside kitten and my cat plays with it. There is another strange black cat that visits mine at night and they always fight. Sometimes I wake up to cats screeching so loud that it freaks me out! Pretty soon, I’ll have to start weaning my kitty to be a full-time outside cat because, when I’m gone, he’ll be outside all the time.
I’m looking forward to my Barcelona trip next week! I leave on the ferry on Aug 2 and come back Aug 8. Tony has only 16 more days left on the Army too! I remember us saying earlier in the year “can you imagine when there are only a few week’s left?” We couldn’t imagine it and now the end is almost here and he’ll be free again!
M
Monday, July 16, 2007
July
The last week or so has been pretty low key. I’ve been going to the beach a lot after work. I tried a kite boarding lesson last week and it seems like a lot of fun. I just learned how to fly the huge kite without the board so far. My boss’s friend Giorgios gave me a free lesson since I’ve created a bunch of advertising for his company. I joined a gym a few days ago too because karate is over for the year and I wanted some way of getting exercise besides swimming. That keeps me busy in the evenings.
I went to Punda Beach Club yesterday and on the way back, it was so windy that it was difficult to ride my motorbike. The gusts of wind nearly knocked the bike over so I had to ride very slowly and thought about just pulling over till it died down (which would’ve taken hours, so I didn’t). By the way, Punda Beach is a very touristy beach with a complex full of shops, a few bars, cafes, and a pool. I like to go there once in a while for a day to rent a beach chair (4 euro) under an umbrella and just read, swim, have a frappe, and relax. It feels like I’m on vacation at a resort, instead of on the island that I live at.
“Pirates of the Caribbean 3” is on tonight at the outdoor cinema so I think I’ll see it even though I’ve heard some bad reviews (I just like Captain Jack Sparrow!)
I’m looking forward to hopping on a plane and going to Barcelona in a few weeks and when I get back, Tony will almost be done the Army! I’m also starting to think about returning home and what I’m going to do when I get there. It’s about 2 months away, yikes! I sometimes look up job listings and apartment/suite prices just to get an idea. I hope I find a good job in multimedia and I sometimes stress about not finding one. It’s silly to think that way though; I’ll just have to figure it all out when I get there.
M
I went to Punda Beach Club yesterday and on the way back, it was so windy that it was difficult to ride my motorbike. The gusts of wind nearly knocked the bike over so I had to ride very slowly and thought about just pulling over till it died down (which would’ve taken hours, so I didn’t). By the way, Punda Beach is a very touristy beach with a complex full of shops, a few bars, cafes, and a pool. I like to go there once in a while for a day to rent a beach chair (4 euro) under an umbrella and just read, swim, have a frappe, and relax. It feels like I’m on vacation at a resort, instead of on the island that I live at.
“Pirates of the Caribbean 3” is on tonight at the outdoor cinema so I think I’ll see it even though I’ve heard some bad reviews (I just like Captain Jack Sparrow!)
I’m looking forward to hopping on a plane and going to Barcelona in a few weeks and when I get back, Tony will almost be done the Army! I’m also starting to think about returning home and what I’m going to do when I get there. It’s about 2 months away, yikes! I sometimes look up job listings and apartment/suite prices just to get an idea. I hope I find a good job in multimedia and I sometimes stress about not finding one. It’s silly to think that way though; I’ll just have to figure it all out when I get there.
M
Friday, July 06, 2007
Trips Coming Out of My Ears
First off, Tony left yesterday so I have “missing my Tones shock" syndrome which I suffer from for a few days after he leaves for the Army - everytime. That was the last send off though! Next time I see him, he’ll be done for good! Here are a few silly pics from a visit to Molos beach where you can cover yourself with a full body mudmask. We took it a step further by adding a layer of pebbles and lying on the warm sand. Can’t tell where the sand ends and the person begins.
Now these pics are special. Tony decided to become a hairdresser for a while. What beautiful hair creations he can make! Hee hee…uuh..
OK, now, in other news, I finally figured out and booked flights for my remaining trips, which is nice so I won’t have to worry about doing it later. So this is what I’ll be up to the next few months till I come home in Sept:
- Aug 3-7: Barcelona
- Aug 10: Tony’s finished the Army (whoot!)
- Aug 17 – 20: Santorini with Tony and maybe friends Manolis and Annie
- Sept10: leave my Greek home for Prague
- Sept 15: leave Prague for London
- Sept 20: leave London and arrive back home in good ol’ Vic.
Sounds like a plan to me! I’m excited but time seems to be flying by. I can’t believe it’s July already. I have mixed feelings about going back home; I’ll be happy to see everyone again and be in the same city as Tony and get my own place, a new job, and start a new phase of life but I’ll miss so many things from here like my kitty, Tony’s family, the weather and lifestyle…and lots more… It’ll be an interesting couple of months that’s for sure!
M
Now these pics are special. Tony decided to become a hairdresser for a while. What beautiful hair creations he can make! Hee hee…uuh..
OK, now, in other news, I finally figured out and booked flights for my remaining trips, which is nice so I won’t have to worry about doing it later. So this is what I’ll be up to the next few months till I come home in Sept:
- Aug 3-7: Barcelona
- Aug 10: Tony’s finished the Army (whoot!)
- Aug 17 – 20: Santorini with Tony and maybe friends Manolis and Annie
- Sept10: leave my Greek home for Prague
- Sept 15: leave Prague for London
- Sept 20: leave London and arrive back home in good ol’ Vic.
Sounds like a plan to me! I’m excited but time seems to be flying by. I can’t believe it’s July already. I have mixed feelings about going back home; I’ll be happy to see everyone again and be in the same city as Tony and get my own place, a new job, and start a new phase of life but I’ll miss so many things from here like my kitty, Tony’s family, the weather and lifestyle…and lots more… It’ll be an interesting couple of months that’s for sure!
M
Monday, July 02, 2007
My Greek Anniversary
Today is the one year anniversary of being in Greece. Who knew that last year when I first arrived at Paros that I’d end up staying here this whole year! I’m glad I did.
The heat wave is finally over; Yesterday was the first time it actually felt refreshing outside because there was a nice cool breeze.
I had the whole weekend off and we did a lot. On Friday night Tony and I went out dancing with Manolis and Annie in Naoussa and had a good time till almost 5am. On Saturday, we went to a baptism (one of Markos’ work friends). On Sunday, we went to Parosporos (a beach known for its big waves when the wind picks up – so fun!) and then to Tony’s grandparent’s for dinner.
Tony leaves on Wed and his sister Sofia arrives from Canada on Tues or Wed for the summer. Linda has been in London the past week with some of her students and she comes home on Tues too.
Here are a few pics of Tony and I having coffee after the baptism and Markos and Tony checking out a homemade wind generator which Markos wants to make.
M
The heat wave is finally over; Yesterday was the first time it actually felt refreshing outside because there was a nice cool breeze.
I had the whole weekend off and we did a lot. On Friday night Tony and I went out dancing with Manolis and Annie in Naoussa and had a good time till almost 5am. On Saturday, we went to a baptism (one of Markos’ work friends). On Sunday, we went to Parosporos (a beach known for its big waves when the wind picks up – so fun!) and then to Tony’s grandparent’s for dinner.
Tony leaves on Wed and his sister Sofia arrives from Canada on Tues or Wed for the summer. Linda has been in London the past week with some of her students and she comes home on Tues too.
Here are a few pics of Tony and I having coffee after the baptism and Markos and Tony checking out a homemade wind generator which Markos wants to make.
M
Thursday, June 28, 2007
It’s Still Hot
Here are a few observations on the heat lately. It’s ridiculously hot but I’d rather have it like this than rainy or cold so I can’t complain (too much!)
-Right now I’m at work and my back and butt are sticking to my chair
-I have a piece of cardboard on my desk to use as a fan
-I burn my butt every time I sit on my black motorbike seat
-riding the motorbike is like riding into a blowtorch flame
-you break into a sweat even when standing in the shade
-inside the house is about 35 degrees
-outside, it’s reached into the 40’s
-people have died in Athens because of the heat
-you can’t do anything to feel cool or refreshed besides swimming
- cold showers are a must (or at least lukewarm because I have no cold water)
-can’t sleep with anything on top, sheets are too hot
-I have to keep my hair up all the time because it’ll just stick to my neck (nice)
What else? I’ve been working from 8-2 and then about 6-9 so it’s been pretty busy. In-between the 2 shifts, Tones and I head to the beaches. Too bad I have to work double shifts while Tony is here. He leaves on Wed and I think next week my work will be back to normal hours
….oh I just found out I only have to work till 2 today and that’s it! My bosses are the best! More “Tony time” for me, lol!
M
Monday, June 25, 2007
Heat Wave
We are experiencing a heat wave right now and I’m soooo not used to it! Yesterday, Tony and I went to the island of Antiparos for the day and it was one of the hottest days so far; it was about 38-40 degrees and on the bike it seriously felt like being in front of a huge blow dryer! It was a fun trip though. We went to a huge cave on the island which was so cool! You go down these little steep stairs all through it and there are mineral formations and the odd graffiti from others who’ve visited it including a former King of Greece. Christmas Mass was held there in 1673. It’s a pretty well know cave and I can see why. It was refreshing too, a lot cooler than outside. After the cave we headed to a beach and later, had coffee at a cafe in the harbour then headed home.
Last week I worked my butt off and had to come into work in the evenings and for a while on Saturday. I hope this week won’t be as busy, we’ll see.
Oh and here are some pics of when we went to Hohlaka for a swim on Saturday. There is a small water cave there which is kinda cool. We also went “hunting” for “chinese hats” (I don’t know their real name!) 
Last week I worked my butt off and had to come into work in the evenings and for a while on Saturday. I hope this week won’t be as busy, we’ll see.
Oh and here are some pics of when we went to Hohlaka for a swim on Saturday. There is a small water cave there which is kinda cool. We also went “hunting” for “chinese hats” (I don’t know their real name!)
M
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Summer is Definitely Here
I’ll try to make this quick because I’m so busy at work right now. This week is the deadline for an island business directory that our company makes every year, so I’m busy working on a ton of ads for it.
I haven’t seen Tony in almost 2 months since around Easter (well there was that one short visit on Samos for a few hours but that doesn’t count – too short). Well, last night, I was talking to Tony on the phone and told him I was going to bed soon and he said “What? You’re not picking me up in 2 hours?” It took a moment to register but yes, was on his way over!!! I didn’t think I’d see him till sometime in July! So I picked him up at around 1am last night.
Today, I worked till 2 then had a few hours off to go with Tones to Martzelo Beach and bake in the sun and swim. Now I’m back at work for who knows how long.
The weather has been amazing the last 2 weeks! Summer is definitely here (high 20’s/low 30’s). On the weekend, I lazed around the whole time at the beaches at Monastiraki Beach Club and Punda Beach Club; both fun places to people watch.
I’ve gotta go, too much to do! Oh and Tony is here for a record 17 days so I’ll be seeing lots of him even though work is really busy. This is the last time off he gets till he’s out but once this visit is over, he only has about a month left. Not bad at all!
M
I haven’t seen Tony in almost 2 months since around Easter (well there was that one short visit on Samos for a few hours but that doesn’t count – too short). Well, last night, I was talking to Tony on the phone and told him I was going to bed soon and he said “What? You’re not picking me up in 2 hours?” It took a moment to register but yes, was on his way over!!! I didn’t think I’d see him till sometime in July! So I picked him up at around 1am last night.
Today, I worked till 2 then had a few hours off to go with Tones to Martzelo Beach and bake in the sun and swim. Now I’m back at work for who knows how long.
The weather has been amazing the last 2 weeks! Summer is definitely here (high 20’s/low 30’s). On the weekend, I lazed around the whole time at the beaches at Monastiraki Beach Club and Punda Beach Club; both fun places to people watch.
I’ve gotta go, too much to do! Oh and Tony is here for a record 17 days so I’ll be seeing lots of him even though work is really busy. This is the last time off he gets till he’s out but once this visit is over, he only has about a month left. Not bad at all!
M
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Everyone's Wearing Helmets
Pretty recently, there have been new laws passed about helmet usage here. Now, if you get caught without a helmet, you get a fine of over 300euro and the second time it happens, you get your license suspended; yikes! This past week, I have never seen so many people wearing helmets as they are now; which is a good thing especially since it’s getting busier. I mainly wore my helmet to keep me warm in winter but now I wear it most of the time. I’m not looking forward to when it gets ridiculously hot out though and having to bring it to the beach and carry it around; annoying! Oh well, I’d rather do that, than get a hefty fine I guess.
M
Monday, June 11, 2007
Work and Beach
Paul left last week on Wednesday. He went to Santorini for two nights and loved it. He should be in London now. My parents are in San Remo right now and are heading to their England part of the trip soon. I’ve cleaned-up my place and it’s back to normal here again. It seemed like their visit just flew by! I’ll see them again in a few months though when I come home.
Lately it’s been very busy at work; I have a ton of jobs to do! I didn’t get a full weekend, I worked most of Sat. But yesterday was a great day full of relaxation, sun, and sea.
My boss Michalis invited me to come on his boat with his wife, daughter, and sister (visiting from Athens). I met them around noon at a port in town and we hopped on their little boat and headed to a beach called Krios. A new cafe was built their which just opened and they know the owner, so they wanted to see it. It was very nice! There were tables and chairs on the little concrete dock and it was covered in a straw roof.
We lazed around on the beach chairs and went swimming – soooo refreshing! We played some volleyball in the water and I got a nice tan! After a few hours of the beach, we had lunch at the cafe. It was really good food; it just took awhile because it was only the second day the kitchen was open.
When we were about to leave, a huge sail boat came into the harbour, so we did a circle around it to see it up close and headed back. Below: one of my bosses (Michalis) with his sister on the left and wife Natasha on the right, me and their daughter checking out the sailboat.
I really want to see Tony. It’s been over a month and a half since he’s been here and it may be another month till he can come! :( Today, he has exactly 2 months left, though, not too bad! He’s still based on Samos and last week he was transferred to a different town to work in an Army restaurant. Everyone wants to work there because it’s slack and you get good food, your own room, and lots of time off. He likes it better than the base but it gets boring. It’ll be soooooo great when he’s done and finished with it!
Oh, one last little thing. I took a pic of my fridge because I thought it was kinda funny. Markos has given me a bunch of fresh produce from the garden and a ton of eggs! (there is also a bucket of potatoes not pictured). So I'm eating really healthy right now and notice that I have a bunch of energy too! I'm going to keep eating a ton of veggies, energy is good.
M
Lately it’s been very busy at work; I have a ton of jobs to do! I didn’t get a full weekend, I worked most of Sat. But yesterday was a great day full of relaxation, sun, and sea.
My boss Michalis invited me to come on his boat with his wife, daughter, and sister (visiting from Athens). I met them around noon at a port in town and we hopped on their little boat and headed to a beach called Krios. A new cafe was built their which just opened and they know the owner, so they wanted to see it. It was very nice! There were tables and chairs on the little concrete dock and it was covered in a straw roof.
We lazed around on the beach chairs and went swimming – soooo refreshing! We played some volleyball in the water and I got a nice tan! After a few hours of the beach, we had lunch at the cafe. It was really good food; it just took awhile because it was only the second day the kitchen was open.
When we were about to leave, a huge sail boat came into the harbour, so we did a circle around it to see it up close and headed back. Below: one of my bosses (Michalis) with his sister on the left and wife Natasha on the right, me and their daughter checking out the sailboat.
I really want to see Tony. It’s been over a month and a half since he’s been here and it may be another month till he can come! :( Today, he has exactly 2 months left, though, not too bad! He’s still based on Samos and last week he was transferred to a different town to work in an Army restaurant. Everyone wants to work there because it’s slack and you get good food, your own room, and lots of time off. He likes it better than the base but it gets boring. It’ll be soooooo great when he’s done and finished with it!
Oh, one last little thing. I took a pic of my fridge because I thought it was kinda funny. Markos has given me a bunch of fresh produce from the garden and a ton of eggs! (there is also a bucket of potatoes not pictured). So I'm eating really healthy right now and notice that I have a bunch of energy too! I'm going to keep eating a ton of veggies, energy is good.
M
Monday, June 04, 2007
Mykonos Weekend
Our weekend trip to Mykonos seemed longer than just one night and it was fun! When we arrived at Paradise Beach Hotel, we checked in and were shown to our little wooden beach hut or shack. The area is like a big commune with huts, tents, rooms, camping space, cafes, bars, and a market. It was a perfect cheap place to stay for a night. Our hut was very small with two little beds and a night stand in-between. There was a communal bathroom with showers a short walk away.
As soon as we dropped our stuff off, we walked the 100m to the beach. Soooooo, nice! We spent the day just sun tanning, swimming, people watching, and we ordered frappes and gyros. Along the beach are a few cafes, bars, and a beach shop. Part of the beach seemed to be dedicated to naked people who happened to all be over 60, so we tried to not look in that direction! There were jet skis and things like that to rent but they were expensive; about €30 for 15 mins, no thanks!
Later in the day, we took a bus into Mykonos Town and looked around the market streets and stopped in a little cafe for a drink and some yummy crepes.
In the evening we wanted to go out and see what the night life was like so we had a nap, woke up at 1ish and walked 10mins to a nearby club right on a cliff overlooking the water. When we got there, it was pretty dead. We stayed till about 3:30am and there were more people but no one was dancing so we left. When I woke up, I could still hear the music pumping till about 8am! We talked to some others and apparently, it did get busy but the peak time was at about 6am, not exactly what we’re used to! We’ll know better for next time!
Oh also, at night when I was trying to sleep, I could hear the buzzing of mosquitoes around my head so I had to pull the sheet completely over my head. There was a space between the door and the floor so that's probably how they got in.
On Sunday, we had our free breakfast at one of the beachfront cafes and relaxed on the beach till we had to catch the bus back into town and to the port. We met a bunch of Canadians on the way back who were on the same ferry as us. Some were even from Naniamo and Vancouver (usually the Canadians I meet are from the east side of Canada).
And that was that! Short but sweet. Mykonos is definitely a nice island and a lot of fun. I’m back at work now and Paul just left for Santorini this morning. He’ll be back probably Wednesday sometime. I can hardly wait to go home today and CLEAN! It’s so messy in there! My place isn’t made for more than one person, it’s just too small and there isn’t much storage space. Also, Markos gave me a whole bag-full of veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini), a bucket of potatoes, and a ton of eggs all from the property so I’m going to make some good eats. I’ve eaten like a pig the past week because Paul buys chips and things that I don’t usually have around and we’ve gone out for crepes and souvlaki - no more, now I'll try to finish the bag of veggies before they go bad.
I guess that’s it for now. I haven’t heard from my parents about their trip; they won’t email till they get home. I think they are probably near San Remo?
M
As soon as we dropped our stuff off, we walked the 100m to the beach. Soooooo, nice! We spent the day just sun tanning, swimming, people watching, and we ordered frappes and gyros. Along the beach are a few cafes, bars, and a beach shop. Part of the beach seemed to be dedicated to naked people who happened to all be over 60, so we tried to not look in that direction! There were jet skis and things like that to rent but they were expensive; about €30 for 15 mins, no thanks!
Later in the day, we took a bus into Mykonos Town and looked around the market streets and stopped in a little cafe for a drink and some yummy crepes.
In the evening we wanted to go out and see what the night life was like so we had a nap, woke up at 1ish and walked 10mins to a nearby club right on a cliff overlooking the water. When we got there, it was pretty dead. We stayed till about 3:30am and there were more people but no one was dancing so we left. When I woke up, I could still hear the music pumping till about 8am! We talked to some others and apparently, it did get busy but the peak time was at about 6am, not exactly what we’re used to! We’ll know better for next time!
Oh also, at night when I was trying to sleep, I could hear the buzzing of mosquitoes around my head so I had to pull the sheet completely over my head. There was a space between the door and the floor so that's probably how they got in.
On Sunday, we had our free breakfast at one of the beachfront cafes and relaxed on the beach till we had to catch the bus back into town and to the port. We met a bunch of Canadians on the way back who were on the same ferry as us. Some were even from Naniamo and Vancouver (usually the Canadians I meet are from the east side of Canada).
And that was that! Short but sweet. Mykonos is definitely a nice island and a lot of fun. I’m back at work now and Paul just left for Santorini this morning. He’ll be back probably Wednesday sometime. I can hardly wait to go home today and CLEAN! It’s so messy in there! My place isn’t made for more than one person, it’s just too small and there isn’t much storage space. Also, Markos gave me a whole bag-full of veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini), a bucket of potatoes, and a ton of eggs all from the property so I’m going to make some good eats. I’ve eaten like a pig the past week because Paul buys chips and things that I don’t usually have around and we’ve gone out for crepes and souvlaki - no more, now I'll try to finish the bag of veggies before they go bad.
I guess that’s it for now. I haven’t heard from my parents about their trip; they won’t email till they get home. I think they are probably near San Remo?
M
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Week with my Bro and Next Trip
This week flew by! Today (Sat), I’m at work because it’s crazy busy but Paul and I are leaving on the 12 noon ferry for Mykonos, so I’ll just work for a few hours then leave.
Paul has been hitting up the beaches all week and I'm not sure if he knows what sunscreen is because he’s ridiculously dark! After I’m finished work, we usually meet up and either go out for coffee, to another beach, watch a movie, and I took him to the Marathi Caves and we went all through them with one of Markos’ lanterns.
Next week, Paul plans to go to Santorini on Monday and maybe from there, he’ll go to Ios and then back. He’ll have to leave for Athens on Thurs to catch his flight to London.
Yesterday, I booked my next flight and it was a very spur of the moment decision. I was planning on going to Poland but decided on Barcelona, Spain instead! I didn’t want to go at first because it’ll be in Aug and really hot, but I’m sure it’ll be cooler than here and there are beaches nearby just in case. It was also one of the cheapest flights I could get for high season (€ 160.00) without going to cities I’ve already been to. I’ve also booked accommodation at a cool new hostel right in the Passeig de Gracia area. So, I’m looking forward to that (Aug 3 -7)!
Paul and I will stay the night in Mykonos tonight right near Paradise Beach in wooden beach huts, so it should be interesting!
M
Paul has been hitting up the beaches all week and I'm not sure if he knows what sunscreen is because he’s ridiculously dark! After I’m finished work, we usually meet up and either go out for coffee, to another beach, watch a movie, and I took him to the Marathi Caves and we went all through them with one of Markos’ lanterns.
Next week, Paul plans to go to Santorini on Monday and maybe from there, he’ll go to Ios and then back. He’ll have to leave for Athens on Thurs to catch his flight to London.
Yesterday, I booked my next flight and it was a very spur of the moment decision. I was planning on going to Poland but decided on Barcelona, Spain instead! I didn’t want to go at first because it’ll be in Aug and really hot, but I’m sure it’ll be cooler than here and there are beaches nearby just in case. It was also one of the cheapest flights I could get for high season (€ 160.00) without going to cities I’ve already been to. I’ve also booked accommodation at a cool new hostel right in the Passeig de Gracia area. So, I’m looking forward to that (Aug 3 -7)!
Paul and I will stay the night in Mykonos tonight right near Paradise Beach in wooden beach huts, so it should be interesting!
M
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