Thessaloniki (Salconica) - Greece - 23rd August 2005

Salonica also known as Thessaloniki. There really isn't much here...It is just one busy city like Melbourne with too many cars. I am currently in the an internet cafe and the bloke next to me is scratching his privates.....I know it's disgusting but I had to share that with you all. The internet is cheap here. $2.50 per hr as opposed to $6 per hr on the island.

We visited an old prison this morning that was holding prisoners until 1989. It was so povo....The prisoners in Australia get it really good compared to this thing...concrete and barbed wire...nothing more.

My legs are really killing me from all the walking we have been doing. I left Richard to go for a walk in the afternoon. Once he was gone I took off to the shops. The street our hotel is on has the best cheap clothes shopping in town and the lonely planet book leads me to believe it could be the best in Greece. I didn't buy anything as the clothes were mainly cheap and nasty. The ones I did try on made me look like a Greek tramp! The girls here are all skinny and good looking. As they get older, they get fatter and uglier. There is a god!!!!

Tonight we went out for dinner and bought our next lot of train tickets. Tomorrow we are off to Volos. There is a beach there and Richard can swim, which will make him happy ;-)

Meteora - Greece -22nd August 2005

Meteora - As it turns out, there are buses and taxi's going up to the Monestaries. You are still required to climb about 300 steps per Monestary but that is nothing compared to the trekking Richard was assuming we would have to do.

We took a taxi up. The taxi driver was born in Melbourne (being the third biggest greek capital) and had been back and forward from Greece to Melbourne just like Richard over his life time. He was telling us he lived in Burwood near Kmart. It is a small world.

The monestaries were amazing....how the hell they got all that stuff up those cliffs to build the monestries is beyond me.









Just after 1pm we left Meteora for Salonica. We arrived in Salonica at about 4pm and walked to another Motel recommended by the Lonely Planet book.

After siesta we went for a walk in the evening. Richard was disappointed with Salonica. We walked along the waterside and it is quite polluted. It is also a lot cooler here, which I am pleased with, however Richard likes the warmer weather for swimming. The traffic congestion is also bad in Salonica.

Meteora - Greece - 21st August 2005

Train trip to Meteora. Get on the train and I have to order someone to move out of my allocated seat. I think he was an ex prisoner as he had a code tattooed on his hand. He had a broken foot. I could not have given a sh*t. It's a 4 and 1/2 hour train trip and it was my seat!!!!

Then some women comes to me and it turns out her seat number is the same as mine. Once again, I could not give a sh*t, first in, first served. My seat and I told her that too!!!

Then further down the line we cop a stinky old man and god did he smell...He sat there for about an hour. I had my hand over my nose the whole way!

Meteora wa awesome. Richard read through the lonely planet book, we took one of the hotels that they recommended overlooking the rocks and the monestries. We opened the doors to the balcony of the room and there the rocks were in all their glory! I hope my photos turn out well. I bought 2 books with all the pictures just in case they didn't. VIEW FROM HOTEL SEE PHOTO ATTACHED



Richard took me up a foot path to climb the rocks thinking it was the only way up there and almost killed me. I'm not very fit...It's not walking here, it is more like trekking...Not a hobby I will be taking up I assure you!

Athens & Pireaus - Greece - 19th and 20th of August

19th August - Travelled into Athens for Honey Dumplings that Richard's uncle had recommended we try.....yummy!

20th August - Richard went for a swim while I sat my lazy arse at the beach bar! hehehe! Ordered an ice chocolate and it cost me 4.30 Euros which is like over $7Aust. It is expensive here! Stretched the ice chocolate out for 2 hours. I guess the price covers the use of the seat and umbrella.

Athens - Greece - 16th, 17th & 18th August 2005

16th August 2005 - We leave Poros, ferry back to Pireaus, the port of Athens. went for a walk down the Mikrolimino, more cafes and restaurants than you can imagine.

17th August 2005 - In morning Richard took me shopping for clothes to make me look more like a greek girl and less like a tourist. I feel like a bit of a clown in the new clothes but I notice that other women are wearing similar outfits.



We climbed the acropolis. Richard did not enjoy it. It cost us 12 euro each ($20 Aust). It is not as spectacular as the pictures make it out to be. All the pictures on the postcards do not show the metal bars holding the stones up. Makes you wonder how many more years the poor old thing can stand. The marble and stone steps were very slippery and not surprisingly I had a fall. I'm carrying a bit of extra padding at the moment so it didn't really hurt! ha! At the foot of the acropolis we tried to buy a can of drink. The bloke wanted 2 euro for a can with a suggested selling price of 0.65 cents. So I gave him the f-bomb and said - "that's f#$%ed" and kept walking. They really do try to rip off tourists. Can't take me anywhere! ha!

After Siesta in the afternoon we went to an outdoor cinema on top of one of the buildings and saw Hitch. The outdoor cinemas are much better than ours in Australia.

18th August 2005 - Richard swam at Votsalakia beach in Pireaus (near home) while I sat at the beach bar sipping my peach iced tea. Ahhh this is the life!

Tonight we going via bus to the trendy seaside suburb of Glyfada. Bye for now

Poros Island - Greece -13th, 14th, 15th August 2005

Nothing interesting...just a bit of swimming, more food and sleeping.

Tonight being the 15th is Richard's Mums names day so we are going to have a big celebration tonight with even more food. We have eaten very little today in preparation

RICHARD'S MUM


We are heading back to athens tomorrow (16th)

We are aware that there has been a big plane crash in Athens....I was hoping nobody would see it on the news...therefore my mum wouldn't worry...but my sister has already sent me a message to make sure we are alright. Please don't worry mum!!!!!

12th August 2005

Today we went to the local beach. Richard in particular likes this because there is a bit of nude sun baking going on. He has suggested on occasions that I join in - I have so far declined.



For the first time in two weeks that I have been in Greece I have got a bit too much sun on one arm. One arm only sun burnt looks rather strange. I don't know how I am managed it. Prior to today Richard likened me to one of his butt cheeks! While his bottom is white the rest of him is a beautiful dark tan.

Gotta go, Richard is getting impatient!

11 August 2005

Today we went over to the main land by boat for a meal at Richard's mums husband's relatives.

10th August 2005

Today we went to Spetses, another island, by flying dolphin (fast boat). I have now seen all islands in the Saronic Gulf.



ME, ACCIDENT PRONE, NEVER!

My left foot has been really unlucky in 2005. First it was fractured. Today, I got my toe stuck underneath the ramp getting onto on the boat. Richard told me specifically to watch my step. Poor Richard is trying really hard to look after me. However, I AM MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

I took the skin off the top of my toe. The captain bandaged my toe. I was really impressed by the first class service.

Poros Island - Greece - 8th & 9th August 2005

8th August
Richard's Dad came to the island and we went out to dinner. We went to a restaurant that both Richard and I have been to and did not enjoy. I could cook better food! Anyway, we ordered watermelon for dessert. We had been sitting there for some time waiting, waiting. Suddenly a motor bike turns up at the restaurant with a water melon on the back. 5 minutes lated we get served our water melon.

Now imagine if I had have ordered LAMB instead

9th August
Swimming at Askeli Beach. On the 6th (saturday) we came to a Tavern here with Richard's brother. They played the very worst 80's music...some of it I had never heard before it was that bad! The beer and the company however were good. We also got free promotional T-shirts.

Poros Island - Greece - 6th & 7th August 2005

More Poros

Today we hired a Motor Bike. Normally I would be quite weary riding on the back of one but Richard has a Motor Cycle Licence in Australia and I trust him. The Motor Bike is the best form of air conditioning!





On the 6th we went to Russian Bay to swim. The Lonely Planet book claims this is the best beach on the island. It's a good beach but it is not the best.

On the 7th we went to the Monestary on the top of one of the mountains on Poros.


The mountains are covered with Pine Trees, I'm not sure if Pine trees are native to Greece or not. Then we went swimming at the beach at Hotel Serene. This is my favourite beach on the island. It is a private beach (maybe it belongs to the hotel?). I'm not sure we are suppposed to be on it. You have to go through the Hotel Foyer, down the elevator, through a tunnel on the cliff side to get to it. It is Heaven!

Hyrda - Greece - 5th August 2005

THE DONKEYS AT HYDRA, JENNY IS THE NAME FOR A FEMALE DONKEY

Went to Hydra, another Greek Island by Ferry. Went for a swim and had yummy banana juice.

Hydra is where the movie the boy on a dolpin starring Sophia Loren was filmed.



Richard would like me to make special mention of the telephone that never stops ringing in Poros.

THE GREEKS ARE CRAZY!

They have an old fashion telephone with old fashion ring at the taxi rank here in Poros. If there are no taxi drivers there to pick it up it rings and rings. It is people wanting a taxi.

I want to run over there a pick it up and slam it back down but Richard won't let me.

How often do you think we have actually seen a taxi at the rank? Close to never

4th August 2005

Swimming at Love Bay. Average beach, quite dirty but Richard's Mum loves it.

Slept through afternoon and evening as my cold gets worse. I have not had a cold this bad in years.

Cannot taste anything except beer...so that is what we drank! Normally I hate beer

3rd August 2005

Visited Poros Hotel - we had to use an elevator within the cliffside to get down to the beach. Water is the cleanest I have ever seen......The beach is pebbles not sand.

We got a chance to watch a bit of TV. I hear on the news that Greece is having a heat wave
They request us not to use airconditioning - ha - I can tell them where to stick that!

2nd August 2005

Tuesday - quiet day as I have recovered from Heat Stroke but now have a chest cold

Sorry about all the spelling mistakes but if you knew how much I was paying to type this in an internet cafe you would fall over

1st August 2005

Ferry to Island Poros.



We have our own apartment with airconditioning.....AIR CONDITIONING!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!!! I am very happy about that!

Went swimming a local beach to cool down...it is bliss!

31 July 2005

Visited Richard's second cousin today. Wife cooked the best meal I have had so far in Greece.
Passed a sign on the way home that said it was 43c at 2.30pm. The hottest part of the day is at about 4pm....It's sooo hot!

30 July 2005

Explored Athens today. Drank at a cafe with the view of Acropolis. Did not climb it for a better look as it was too hot. We will do this at the end of August, start of September when the weather cools down.

Saw changing of guards at Parliament.

Went to Monastiraki Flea market and saw a lot of expensive junk for tourists.

I was sick in the evening with the onset of heat stroke.

No airconditioning or fan at house in Piraeus (port of athens where Richard's mum lives in winter) only made my suffering worse.

Went to dinner in evening with relatives. Richard's Dad coped the expensive bill. The women of the family chose an expensive restaurant! Unfortunately I did not enjoy as much as I should have as I was sick...I have never suffered heat stroke before.....It's horrible

29 July 2005

Stop over at Vienna. I got frisked at customs because I set off the metal detectors. I got a bit excited about the whole experience. hehehe!!!

The public transport is a lot like Melbourne's trams and trains. Went from Airport into Vienna for quick look.

The famous anker clock is closed for renovations. agggrrrr!

Industrial sites on outskirts of town that I could see from the train trip into Vienna look a lot more high tech and modern that in Australia

2.5 hour flight to Athens - no meal! They bought around food you had to pay for. At this point Richard tells me we are not flying Austrian Airlines again

28 July 2005

Flight was long. Did not sleep. We were lucky that the seats next to us were vacant so we could stretch out.

The Airline food was good, however it kept making us pass wind

I cannot believe the humitity at Singapore. The moisure in the air hit the plane windows and it looked like rain