One week in Greece.
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It was an early flight so I went up 3 o'clock in the night. My father drove me and Reeta to the airport 4:15. The flight departed three hours later, 7:15. There were 2 + 3 seats in each row onboard the plane. Strangely there was no B-seats so A and C were together. We got a piece of bread without anything on.
We changed plane in Vienna where they had the security check at the gate.
In Athens we had to fetch our luggage and pass the customs. A little bit to the left, to departures, was an escalator up one floor to the check-in desks. You had to check-in yourself using a touch screen and then drop your luggage at one of the Olympic Airways desks.
They just checked our boarding cards before we went in to the so called tax-free shops.
We had to go down one floor to gate 25. The security check was very thorough. My clock made a sound in the metal detector so I had to take it off. They checked my computer and asked questions about my snorkeling weights.
They had WIFI at the airport in Vienna which worked without problem. I couldn't get a connection in Athens.
The Olympic Airways plane from Athens to the island Santorini was delayed 40 minutes. It was a propeller plane and not a jet plane. You got a candy and a sandwich. The air hostesses were very nice and friendly.
George, the owner of the hotel where we should stay two nights, fetched us at the airport with his mini-buss. He expected some more persons but they didn't turn up.
George was very kind and helpful and pointed out all interesting places on a map. He told us how we could travel around by bus, how much it would cost and how long time it takes.
The hotel was really lovely. There was a security box but we didn't use it. Everything worked just fine such as AC and refrigerator. There were however only a few channels on the TV and all of them were Greek. You could however see English speaking programs since they used subtitles.
We went out and walked in the village. George had pointed out a travel agency where he said that we could fetch our tickets. The travel agency directed us however to another travel agency and to a Blue Ferry office. A woman at the Blue Ferry's office told us that we only could fetch the ticket on the island where we were going from. Luckily we managed to get the ferry ticket to the next island, Ios, at the other travel agency. It cost 1 euro extra for each ticket.
We ate very good food, mixed grill, at a restaurant. It cost 23 euro in total and 1/2 liter wine cost 4.50 euro. I cannot remember that we took anything more but I think we paid 40 euro which was a lot of money for tip since we were so satisfied with the food and the service. It was very cold outside in the night so you couldn't just wear a t-shirt.
After dinner we went back to our hotel room and drank some ouzo in our room. We must have been very tired since we both fell asleep sometime during the night with clothes on. I woke up again 5 in the morning and prepared myself for sleeping and went to bed again.
I went out and walked for an hour in the morning and took a lot of nice photos. It came a little rain.
After breakfast, around 11:30, we went to the bus station. You could get a time-schedule from an old man in a little house. A lot of busses departed at the same time but the busses had no destination signs which were really stupid. Luckily we heard when one of the drivers told another couple that he was going to the black beach which was the place we also planned to visit. You just took a seat in the bus and later a conductor came and sold tickets. The ticket to the black beach at Kamari cost 1.40 euro each and the trip took around 20-30 minutes.
There were an awful lot of restaurants at the beach and some shops. Reeta bought a gold ring with a red coral in the middle and white sapphires in a circle around the heart shaped coral. I bought a vase and a candle stake.
We took a bus home and arrived back at the hotel around 5 p.m. George said that he could drive us to the ferry 8 a.m. in the morning the next day. It would just take 10 minutes to the ferry. I tried the WIFI(Internet) but it didn't work.
We fell asleep and woke up 8 in the evening. We had planned to go out but we were too tired.
A long line of donkeys passed us when we waited for George.
George arrived on a motorbike exactly 8 a.m. and drove us to the ferry in his minibus. Some girls went with us but they where going to the airport after George had left us at the port. George told us that the ferry to Ios arrived at gate 4.
You went onboard together with the cars and put your luggage on shelves on the car deck. A man checked your tickets at the staircase up to the passenger deck. The ferry was almost empty.
There was a short stop at another small island before we arrived at Ios. A man fetched us at the ferry in a minibus and drove us to our accommodation. Some younger girls from Canada also went with us. They were, like a lot of other young people, visiting Ios for the nightlife.
I thought there should be a little village at the beach but there were just a few houses beside the place where we stayed. Most people probably went up to the village three kilometers away for the nightlife during the nights.
We had to wait until 12:30 before our room was cleaned so we could check in. I used my computer and got a password for the WIFI connection to Internet. I checked my e-mails at the pool while we waited.
The room was nice, the refrigerator and AC worked but there was something wrong with the TV. Later we found out that it was just the batteries to the TV remote control which were empty.
We missed the 14:15 bus up to the village. We waited for the next one which should come 15:30 but it never turned up. Around 4 p.m. a bus came so we could go up to the village.
The whole village was more or less closed. There were a lot of bars and a few restaurants which wasn't so nice. Almost all shops were closed.
We went uphill as far up as possible and took some photos of the surroundings. It started to rain so we took the 17:35 bus back to the place where we stayed.
We ate red colored chicken with rice at the pool. It was called Bangkok so we hoped that it would be spicy and taste like Thai food. It was unfortunately not spicy at all and didn't taste much. It cost 8 euro, a soft drink cost 2 euro and a beer cost 3 euro.
We watched a movie at the pool which started 20:30 and after that we went to bed.
It was not sunny and the wind was blowing but at least it was not raining. I went out and snorkeled around 9 a.m. I took some photos of an octopus which was living in a pipe at the bottom. It was just outside the fish restaurant at the left side of the beach.
I went home and rested a little more since I was tired. At around noon we went up and had a late breakfast. We planned to take the 14:15 bus to the port where we could fetch our ferry tickets. The man who drove us from the port when we arrived was luckily on his way there so we could go with him for free. We got all the remaining ferry tickets which we had booked and paid for in advance on Internet.
We walked a little at the port and took some photos of the surroundings. The man was there and waited for another ferry and he could drive us back at around 4 p.m.
We checked the fish restaurant at the left side of the beach. Fresh fish cost 60 euro per kilo which we thought was much too expensive. You could also eat shark or swordfish, from the freezer, but I didn't like that since I think you should avoid eating fishes which are almost exterminated. We ate chicken at a restaurant not far from our cabin. It cost 8-9 euro. Afterwards we went to the other side of the beach where we found a restaurant with bar where there were a lot of people in our age.
The weather had become better and better and the sky was blue most of the day.
They called us from the reception and checked if it was correct that we should leave the next day. I informed them that our ferry was going 14:05 and they arranged so we could depart at 13:00 by minibus for free.
We took some drinks and went into the village at 9:30 p.m. The disco was closed and most of the bars where empty or just half full. The only place where you could find some nightlife was Fun Sport Club close to the bus stop.
Ios is obviously for people in the age of 20-25 who like bars. If you like dancing you should go somewhere else. You should also go when it is high season in July and August.
We took the 22:30 bus home. The last bus went 23:00.
We ordered Tequila Sunrise at Harmony which was the place where it earlier had been people in our age. Now it was mostly younger people. Not the best troubadour was playing guitar and sang. We drank up our drinks and went home.
We went up around 8 a.m., packed our things and ate breakfast. We had time for a walk in the neighborhood before we had to check out at 12.
They drove us to the port in a minibus at 1 p.m. The driver was from Sweden. I read in the guide book that many people who worked on Ios were from other countries.
The weather was beautiful and the ferry to Naxos departed 14:05. The ferry was much older than the last one and you could sit both inside and outside.
The people who had hotel rooms waited at one place which they also had done on Ios. The Police checked so that they didn't go to the people who arrived with the ferry. It is very good since they don't disturb you. If you want a hotel room you have to go to them.
I saw an elderly man with a sign of our hotel. I first thought that it was George who I had been in contact with by e-mail but we were informed that George couldn't come. I think they said that he had gone to Athens since his daughter, who was studying, had some problems. He should turn up the next day. Anyway, the old man who probably was George father couldn't speak English. Luckily another man turned up in a rented car and drove us to the family owned hotel. I first thought that it was strange that he had a rented car but we soon found out that he worked, or maybe owned, a place where you could rent cars. It might be George brother. An elderly woman met us at the hotel. She was George mother. All of them were incredible kind and tried to help us as much as possible. You almost got the impression that we where there first visitors in years. She tried to show us things on a map but it was a little difficult since she could only speak a few words in English.
The first impression of our room was that it was worn because the blue color of the wardrobe was missing on some spots and the electric cooking plate looked very old and used. Everything else was otherwise nice and there was nothing to complain about.
We went down to the port and ate a small kebab for 3-4 euro including a Coca-cola. We met a lot of Swedish tourists and an Apollo guide. Apollo probably had charter tours to the island from Sweden.
On our way back we passed the beach. It was very shallow and the water was probably warm. It was a perfect place for families with young children.
We bought food at the supermarket called 'One stop' close to our hotel. I don't know if the woman at the cash-desk flirted with me or just was good in getting new customers. Anyway, she was very nice. An elderly woman who might be the owner of the shop gave us chocolate candy.
We rested for a little while before we decided to go out and find something to eat. We planned to go down to the port where you could find an awful lot of restaurants but luckily we ended up at a restaurant called Grill Corner, or something like that, on the left side of the road leading up to the village square. It cost 15 euro for two persons including half a liter of whine. The man who served us was very simpatico. We could choose between red, rose and white whine. We got a lot of bread together with something which looked like a mix between cheese and yoghurt. He gave us more bread when we had finished the four slices. We got a big plate with salad, tomatoes, cucumber, a little onion and some olives. We got a plate with half a chicken and French fried potatoes and another with what we in Sweden call Kebab meat, French fried potatoes and bread you could put the meat on. It was so much so we couldn't eat everything. He gave us more wine for free when we had finished our wine. We also got a good desert and ouzo. We were really satisfied with everything so we gave him 5 euro extra.
We checked how much it would cost to rent an ATV, four wheel motorbike, for a day. It cost 15-18 euro and 5 euro extra for insurance. The deductible was 200 euro. The ATVs were automatic and the bigger ones had also reverse gear. The brakes were maneuvered with your hands, one hand for the back wheels and the other hand for the front wheels. It was recommended to brake with both hands. The bigger models had also foot brakes. You gased with your right thumb.
We were really tired when we came home in the night after having gone for a long walk after all the food.
We walked the narrow paths in the old town and visited the small shops.
We bought ice-cream at the sea where they had different tastes. At first it seemed to be very expensive since one scoop cost 1.60 euro but they were big so it was enough with just one together with a wafer.
We went back to our hotel and fetched our bathing and snorkeling equipment before we went down to the beach. Reeta tried to swim in knee deep water and she also tried to snorkel a few seconds. She had problems with the snorkel since there came in water.
Afterwards I followed Reeta home and went down on my own and snorkeled. I took some photos on an octopus and on a scorpion-fish. The octopus was very difficult to see. I saw it because it had two white spots over its eyes.
We planned to save some money by just eating a baguette for dinner but the bakery, which had the baguettes, was closed. We walked around and looked for a place where we could eat but ended up at the nice place where we ate yesterday. We got a similar menu for two persons as yesterday but with mixed meat and we took half a liter of white whine instead. It cost 16 euro for two persons and we gave him 20 euros since it was good again.
We walked for a while in the city before we went to bed.
We packed our things and ate sandwiches for breakfast. We paid the room and I used the free WIFI connection at the reception during half an our before George drove us and another couple down to the port at 8:45. The ferry just came when we arrived around 9 o'clock. We could go onboard directly together with a lot of other people. The trip from Naxos to Paros took just 45 minutes.
We walked to the pension which was 300 meters to the left behind some ruins.
A lovely woman presented herself as Rena. We got a big room with a double bed and two other single beds. Other guests seemed to have smaller rooms.
We went out for a walk. The road along the coast was full of restaurants and some shops. There were plenty of small shops along the narrow paths in the village close to the sea.
We bought sausages with bread for 1.3 euro and we ate baguette and cakes for dinner.
Later in the evening we also went out and walk. We couldn't find any night life activities. They had no bars, which they had a lot of on Naxos, and absolutely no discos as far as we could see.
I went down to the sea at around 8:30. I went to the left and passed the place where the ferries arrive. I snorkeled all the way to the little beach and back again. I didn't see anything special. There was mostly sea grass. I took however a photo of a little scorpion fish.
We ate breakfast before we went out to take some photos and look at some more shops. A shop had a very beautiful fur jacket.
We were very tired when we came home and rested until 8 p.m. We went out and bought bread and a lot of cakes in a bakery. We bought some statues from a very nice shop owner.
We ate fish at a restaurant before we went back home. Grilled mackerel cost 7.50 euro and red snapper cost 11 euro. The fishes were normally served with salad but you could take rice or potatoes instead. It was a pity that you didn't get any sauce. We got four apricots extra but no ouzo which you almost expected.
We went to bed around midnight.
We ate breakfast, packed our things and went down to the ferry 9:45 a.m. The ferry departed 10:45 without any stops on the way to Athens.
First we planned to take the metro but changed our minds and took a taxi. The driver told us that it would cost around 20-25 euro to Acropolis where our hostel was situated. He informed us that he of course should use the meter. We talked a little and I forgot to check if he had put on the meter. He had not put it on. He said that it was cheaper to go without the meter since there was a lot of traffic. I looked out and there was no traffic at all. He got 20 euro. I later asked at the hotel how much it would cost to go by taxi between the hotel and the port. I was informed that it normally would cost around 12 euro.
We didn't get the room in the main building which should have a roof bar with a beautiful view over Acropolis. Instead we had to go some hundred meters a couple of streets away. I wanted to show Reeta how nice it could be to stay at a hostel and meet interesting people. What a disappointment it was to find the room in a real mess. The four guys who also stayed in our room had spread out their things on the floor. It was the worse mess I have seen in a hostel, even worse than in Peru where a woman stayed in my room.
We visited Acropolis in the hot weather. It was probably over 30 degrees Celsius and it had been 37 degrees some days ago according to the taxi driver. Acropolis was really nice to visit. We also visited the nearby museum which cost 5 euro per person. It wasn't much to look at, just pieces of broken statues.
In the evening we changed clothes and went out and looked for a restaurant. It was probably expensive to eat at all the restaurants near Acropolis so we tried to find a nice place some distance away. We found one after some time. It was more like school food, already warm and prepared. It was probably cheaper, 15 euro for both, but not so nice. Reeta was very disappointed but I thought it was okay as long as I got enough to eat. I don't like expensive and fancy restaurants where you just get a tiny piece of food in the middle of your plate arranged in some stupid way.
On our way back to Acropolis a dog followed us. The dog stopped when we stopped. We tried to hide behind a building when the dog walked before us. The dog went back and found us behind the building. It is not easy to hide from a dog. It could probably smell where we where. Luckily the dog left us when we turned into a smaller street in the direction to Acropolis.
We walked towards Acropolis and found a lot of nice restaurants and shops at the foot of the Acropolis hill. It would have been much nicer to eat there.
We had seen posters with information about the roof bar at the hostel where we lived. It should according to the posters be open from 6 p.m. until midnight. The view of Acropolis should be magnificent. We arrived a quarter to eleven and was informed the bar was closed since there hadn't been any people. The woman told us that it otherwise normally closed 11:15 p.m.! I wondered what they meant by midnight?
The hostel where we stayed was very clean, with the exception of all the stuff the other guys had spread out, and looked as if it was new built. One bad thing was that they didn't have any lockers. Another odd thing was that they had plastic under the sheets. It was of course very hygienic and felt okay but every time you turned in your bed it made and awful lot of sound. It was difficult to fall asleep due to this since I like to turn around in the bed but now I was afraid of moving since it might wake up the other people in the room.
Everybody was asleep when we arrived at half past eleven which was not common. I had expected that they would still be out. We were not prepared for this since we hadn't previously taken out the things you need when you go to bed. It is easy when you have your own room and can turn on the light but it isn't easy if there are a lot of people sleeping in the room and you cannot turn on the light and you should be as quit as possible when you search for your toothbrush etc in the dark.
We ate breakfast at the nearby sports bar at around 9 a.m. The breakfast consisted of roasted bread with marmalade or soft cheese together with tea or coffee. They also had boiled eggs and you could eat as much as you wanted. The breakfast was included in the hostel cost.
We had to check out before 10:30 which was early compared to other hotels and hostels.
We visited a historical ruin and a nice park. It was a pity that we hadn't booked another night in Athens since there are so many interesting places to visit.
The guy in the reception ordered a taxi for us at around 11:30. The meter started at 2.89 euro! The driver had obviously turned it on when he drove to our hostel. It couldn't be a mistake. I told him to reset it which he did. It cost 23,5 euro to the airport. There was an extra 3.40 euro for driving to the airport and 0.35 extra for each luggage over 10 kg. That is 27.6 euro in total. I think you also have to pay a little extra when you order the taxi by phone. The driver wanted 30 euros. I had no intention to give him any extra since he tried to cheat on us the first thing he did. I asked him if he could explain why we had to pay 30 euros. He couldn't explain that but tried to get extra money from us since there was a little dirt on the backseat where we had placed a hand luggage. He got 28 euro and nothing more. I really hate dishonest taxi drivers which seem to be the majority of them.
We changed plane at Vienna airport where we had to wait some hours for the next plane to Gothenburg. My father should fetch as at Landvetter airport in Gothneburg. He wasn't there so I called home. He had forgotten about it which had never happened before. He was instead home and watched the World Cup in soccer. He said that he should come as soon as possible and he arrived half an hour later.
... and some photos of myself taken by Reeta.
