Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures
Photo By Mikael Damkier
Skiathos, Island Greece
Hundreds of islands are to be found in the Aegean Sea, both large and small. Most of them belong to Greece, but recent decades have seen some disputes with Turkey over the details. Despite a lack of technology, many ancient travelers found it easier to travel over the water than to navigate Greece’s rough land routes
For more information and destinations in Greece check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Greece
Photo By Freesurf69
Amazing view of Balos Bay, Gramvousa, Crete, Greece
Most of Crete’s beaches have been awarded the European Blue Flag, which is given only to beaches that are found clean and fully equipped on a consistent basis. Crete also offers some of the best nightlife in Greece, Crete enjoys over 300 days of sunshine each year and classic Mediterranean weather prevails throughout the island. From March to October one can usually count on pleasant sun-filled days.
For more information and destinations in Greece check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Greece
Photo By Bcbounders
Blue domes and whitewashed walls stand high above the Mediterranean Sea in the town of Oia on the island of Santorini, Greece
Santorini is one of Greece’s most popular islands, and as any visitor can attest, it’s easy to see why. The island has gorgeous beaches, whitewashed houses set against the hillsides, breathtaking views, an active volcano, great nightlife, wineries, and plenty of places to eat, drink, and shop.
For more information and destinations in Greece check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Greece
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
Almost every schoolchild has heard the tale if the lost city of Atlantis. Years ahead of later civilizations, the city was purported to have been filled not just with beautiful buildings, but by architecturally advanced ones. According to the ancient stories, they had heating and cooling in the houses that was made possible by hot and cold air run through the pipes they had placed in the walls. By some accounts they even had hot and cold running water.
It is also said that as a civilization they were years ahead of us in laws and justice. In addition to their architectural wonders they also had art in the form of beautiful frescos. This was a dream society one that could almost not be believed. Of course no one knows for sure if it really was any of those things, because no one knows for sure if it ever existed at all. According to legend, one day Atlantis was there in all its glory, and then suddenly, it was gone. An enormous cataclysm, an earthquake and a volcanic eruption that caused giant waves, were said to have returned Atlantis to the sea.
There are many theories about where Atlantis was located. One of these is a recently discovered set of buildings buried under ash near the town of Akrotiri, Santorini. Of course recently is a relative term. In 1860 while quarrying ash for use in the Suez Canalworkers discovered the remains of an ancient town. Unlike Pompeiithere were no signs of people. The buildings looked as if their occupants had left everything neat, so it is thought that they had warning of the coming disaster and were able to escape before it swallowed the town. Perhaps it was from these people that the stories of the mythical Atlantis came.
The volcanic eruption that buried Akrotiri also caused it to be forgotten. Even though it had been discovered by the workers in 1860, it was over a 100 years later in 1967 before a full scale excavation of the site was begun. This was led by Spyridon Marinatos, who was a professor at the University in Athens. The excavations continued until 2005 when a roof that had been built over the structure collapsed. One visitor was killed and several injured which caused the closure of the site and it remains closed until the roof can be repaired. As Greece is the birthplace of modern government it is not surprising there would be quite a few hoops to jump through before the reopening.
Still, you are not completely robbed of opportunities to see the wonders found at Akrotiri. Most of the frescos and many items had already been removed to the Archeological Museum of Athens before the collapse and you can still view them there. In addition, there are other places on the island where the volcano has left it’s mark. In an ironic twist, it is likely the same eruption that buried Akrotiri is also at least partly responsible for the unique beauty of the island and it’s amazing views.
The wonder of the ancient world is not just seen and felt in the ruins of Akritori. The whole island of Santorini is filled with history both modern and ancient. The past is everywhere on Santorini, it has almost a physical presence. If you listen carefully, you may even hear the voices of the ancient ones in the whispers of the wind.
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
Guest Post By: Karen Mills
The Peloponnese is a large, beautiful island, or peninsula which is now characterized as a part of the mainland because it is connected by a bridge over the Corinth Canal. This part of Greece is said to have been inhabited since prehistoric times. Patras and Kalamata are two of the larger urban centers, but I spent my time in small villages in the area such as the coastal resort town of Kalogria, Artemesia, Olympia, Sparta, and Mystras.
Flying into Athens, I rented a car for the journey to The Peloponnese. Be sure to get a GPS, because the road signs are in Greek! Go figure! The ones in Athens are also in English, but when you get to the smaller villages, you will need a map of Greece with the proper Greek names of the cities to get around. Set the GPS on fastest route and not shortest. I had it on shortest at first and took a trip through an olive grove, which was a little scary!
The land surrounding Athens is rocky and not so attractive. As you cross the Corinth Canal into the Peloponnese, the land becomes densely mountainous and green with evergreens and olive groves terraced on the hillsides. The coast is magnificent with the clear blue waters of the Ionian and Aegean seas.
Kalogria is a resort town, and when I was here in late September, it was almost deserted. By the end of the month, most of the restaurants and hotels would be closed for the season. The weather was still warm and lovely during the day, great for the beach and cooler in the evenings. Beware of the mosquitoes which make it difficult to enjoy dining outside, although most places have terraces for this.
Kalamata is a more urban area, with a beach that stays open longer. It is a great place to base yourself if you want to take daytrips to some of the archeological ruins such as Olympia, Sparta, Mystras, and Corinth. Olympia is the original home of the Olympic Games and the torch is still lit there every year before making its trip to the Olympic location. There is a museum outlining the history of the games over the centuries. It is a tourist town, so outside of the park there are nice shops for gathering souvenirs such as olives, jewelry, wines, liqueurs, and postcards. There are also some great restaurants.
Mystras is a fortified town built in 1249. It is located on a hill and about half way to the top is a beautiful church with Byzantine frescoes that make climbing the 240 stairs worth it. The views are spectacular.
You won’t be disappointed with the food in Greece. Meals are simple and served family style which makes it easy to order many things and share in order to try all of the wonderful foods and flavors. Greek salads consist of fresh tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives and usually have a large block of feta cheese with oregano and olive oil. It is delicious! Try the tzaziki, which is a yogurt and cucumber based dip for bread…usually heavy on the garlic. Seafood and grilled meats are popular and many restaurants serve a mixed platter of grilled chicken, beef, pork and lamb. Don’t forget to dry the famous liquor ouzo and the Greek coffee!
Guest Post By: Karen Mills
Karen Mills is an American woman who made the decision to leave her corporate life behind to live “la dolce vita” in Florence, Italy, Read more about her experiences at An American In Italy or contact her at anamericaninitaly@gmail.com
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
On the afternoon of my first day in Athens, we visited the Acropolis. Up there above the city, the warm wind whips around you and Athens is laid at your feet like a present from the ancients. On the ruins themselves a park employee sat eating her lunch; staring into space with a bored expression. For a moment I tried to imagine I had her life: one so filled with excitement that sitting on the ruins of the Acropolis bored me, but I couldn’t imagine it.
I had been blown away by Athens since the wild taxi ride that gave me my first glimpse of the city around 4a.m. that morning. Red lights had no meaning to our driver. Red, Yellow, Green, no matter… He would just lay on the horn and the gas simultaneously and keep on going.
This is a different airport experience than someone headed to Athens today would likely have since my first trip to Athens was before the most recent Olympics, so their clean and shiny new airport and simple public transportation system was in the future. Instead our plane arrived on the dark deserted tarmac and had a set of stairs rolled up to us, just like in some movie from the fifties.
When we did enter the airport itself, it was completely empty except for the passengers of our flight. No restaurant was open; no postcard shop. I was definitely starting to get a bit nervous that we may have to stay there until morning when I saw the line of cars painted taxi yellow through the Baggage Claim doors.
We went out to the 1st car in the line and told him the name of our hotel but not much else and like taxi drivers everywhere he assured us he knew exactly where we were going- then! It wasn’t until we started hurtling down streets like one of us was in labor and the hospital was on the other side of town, that he mentioned he actually hadn’t heard of the place, but at that point wouldn’t stop to let us get the paperwork out of our luggage.
Still in a short time we and way too much luggage showed up at our hotel. After a brief argument with the desk clerk we were able to convince him that we were willing to pay for the whole night even though we arrived at 4:45am. It took a few trips in the tiny elevator to get us and all our bags upstairs to a room that looked nothing like the pictures online had.
I knew I was near a panic. I had been traveling for at 38 hours and I was in a hotel in a country I knew nothing about, as far away from the world I knew as I had ever been. I walked across the room, opened the bamboo doors and stepped out onto the balcony. The view took my breath away. There in front of me lit only by moonlight was the Temple of Zeus. All the panic slid away and I felt a sense of peace, I had arrived. I took a few moments every night to examine that view no matter how late I came in and it always gave me that same sense of wonder. And this was only minor ruins. So how I could I ever be bored by the Acropolis?
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
I spent less than 12 hours on Santorini and yet it still feels as though it is a place burned into my soul. From the moment I stepped off the launch I thought to myself ‘I could live here’. There was some sense of coming home as though it was where I was supposed to be. Of course, that may have had something to do with the fact I didn’t have to take a mule up or walk the 580 steps from the harbor where the ships usually drop visitors. Since I was going to Akrotiri the archeological site some say might be the mythical Atlantis. I was dropped off elsewhere on the island and was whisked onto an air conditioned bus.
Santorini and all the Greek Islands are home to some of the most beautiful architecture I’ve ever seen. The bright blue domes on the white churches and other buildings make them appear at once stark while still exuding a sense of calm. I’ve tried to find out how many churches there are on Santorini, but the closest I can come is that it’s been said there are more churches on Santorini than there are days of the year. I also read somewhere that some of the churches are only opened on the Saint’s feast day.
It’s possible my original desire to visit Santorini was based on nothing more than the Disney movie the Moonspinners and later the book of the same name by Mary Stewart although of course the book came first, just not to me. The stories made Santorini seem like a place of mystery to me. A place where excitement happened and dreams could come true even if, like me, you had no idea what your dream was
Back then and I must admit age hasn’t made me any more realistic; I longed to live on the island. Just to set up a home and to see what life is like there. Maybe that’s just the dreamer talking, but I like and admirer the dreamer in me who believes in what she wants rather than finding a million reasons why it wouldn’t work. Oh to give the dreamer free rein and hold back the worrier for once.
To go back to beautiful Santorini and get a home for six months. Something cheap but hopefully still with a view of the caldera and spend my days traipsing back and forth across the island counting and taking pictures of all those churches. Finding out why and when they were built, what was their history, how could such a small island support so many churches? When did they stop being needed these churches what about the Saint were they named to honor?
I promise myself this one day. I will take that journey. Of course the worrier insists that would be a huge mistake. Still what would life be like if the dreamer ruled and the worrier only handled things like online banking? I think it may be just about time for me to find out.
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
When I arrived on the island of Patmos in October it was quiet. I had missed the biggest part of the tourist season, and we landed rather early in the day but it just seemed to me like a calm and peaceful place. The ship docked in the Greek city of Skala which is known as “the city of Patmos” because it offers the most private and public services of any area on the island. The morning I was there I saw only a small ‘everything’ sort of store where one could buy water or postcards open most everything else was closed. Just a note: buy water there before the hike.
The main thing to see on Patmos from a historical prospective is the Cavern of the Apocalypse where St. John wrote the book of Revelations. Given the importance of John’s work, later citizens of Patmos had built a Byzantine monastery of Saint John above the cavern where John lived while writing the Book of Revelations.
Once we arrived at the monastery, (Quite a hike up a very tall hill) I understood that one of the reasons the town was so quiet was because most of the citizens where there celebrating conveyance of St Thomas’ relics which is celebrated at the Monastery in the Cavern of the Apocalypse (http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/patmos-cave-of-apocalypse)on October 6.
Seeing the views from the Monastery up on the hill where beauty seemed to flow evenly in each direction. I couldn’t help but feel confused by the choice of place. Patmos is a beautiful and very peaceful Island. When we were there, the weather
was nice with just a touch of a breeze. Patmos seemed like perfect place to retire and run a B& B or move into a light airy building with lots of light and perhaps paint or try your hand at writing poetry of a lighter sort.
John the Apostle did none of these things. Instead when John landed on this peaceful quiet island located in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, he found himself a quiet cave and wrote the Book of Revelations. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he had been exiled here for his beliefs and even a beautiful prison is still a prison. Or maybe it was just that God wasn’t finished with him yet and so he sat in his dark cave a most fitting setting and wrote what he had foreseen.
Still it’s almost hard to comprehend how there in his cave on this peaceful island with its bright sunshine and casual breezes. John sat down and wrote couplets about the end of days:
“The seals are opened and God’s judgments begin falling on the earth. Jesus Christ rides out at the head of the armies of heaven to do battle with the earth. Trumpet after trumpet will sound, vial after vial will be poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth.
A large earthquake demolishes many of the world’s cities and a great hailstorm wreaks additional havoc.”
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly
I would probably have never seen Gladiator; it just wasn’t my kind of movie. But there I sat, with an occasional glance up at the Acropolis, watching a movie about the ancient Roman Empire. I heard a dog bark in the background and then a few neighbors in the surrounding buildings squabbled with each other over what sounded to be longstanding grievances.
Other tenants leaned out of the windows in said buildings, for a chance to see the latest movie for free. Assuming they could speak English or read subtitles at 35 feet. I found myself planning my new life as a tenant of one of the buildings and a waitress at Cine Paris. Then the lights of the night Acropolis distracted me and yet another major life change based on a travel whim was forgotten.
The evening air was warm, but not hot. The sweltering heat of earlier in the day had given way to the temperature of a well heated swimming pool. Holding a sweater I didn’t need, since that’s what I do, I sat next to my friends on the un-movie theater like seats of Cine Paris. Every few feet there was a table for the refreshments they served along with the movie. Having just eaten way more than I should have I didn’t even glance at the refreshment offerings.
It is a little known fact, or at least was little known to me, that in Greece a movie shown in a theater will likely be shown in it’s native language with Greek subtitles instead of translated into Greek. This is also done on TV which was a Godsend to me when I arrived at 4am after 28 hours of travel feeling hungry and unbelievably homesick. Let me tell you, nothing fixes that right up like back to back episodes of Cheers.
As I settled back into my seat to watch the movie, I took a moment to let it all sink in. I was in Athens, in Greece! About to watch Gladiator, which was a story about something that had taken place for real, not that far from where I was. I wanted to make a memory, so I closed my eyes, felt the warm air and listed to the voices around me. Mostly though, I just though about how amazing it all was and how incredible it felt to just be there.
There are truly lots of things to do in Athens, even at night. There are restaurants and shopping and of course the bar or club scene. Still I’m of the opinion that a bar or a club tends to be mostly the same everywhere; loud music, people on the prowl. So when I had the opportunity to visit Cine Paris in the Plaka neighborhood of Athens I jumped at it. After all isn’t the whole point of travel to have a new experience you couldn’t have anywhere else. And the best part of all was that this was only the beginning.
If you want to find out more about Cine Paris, which was built in the early 20’s by a Greek hairdresser who had spent some time in Paris, thus the name. You can visit their website at http://www.cineparis.gr/cine_uk.php.
This is located in the Plaka shopping area and you can find info on that area here http://wikitravel.org/en/Plaka
