When the Cheshire emerges...

What a crazy six weeks I had with my family. There were arguments, often stemming from the troubles of close confinement etc., but while I drew heavily on that during my time abroad now that I'm home I can reflect more positively on the places we visited and the amazing things we saw.

London sightseeing was nothing new for me personally - until I made a few come with me to Greenwich. I stood on the official timeline at the Prime Meridian of the World! And the next day I watched the Wimbledon Mens Final on the grounds. Gosh, the process to get in there is crazy. Not even a spot on the hill left :(

Note to those going to Paris: don't go to the Louvre on a Tuesday. Apparently it's never open then. Besides that saw a new side to the city of luuuurrrrve and can't wait to go back one day and explore more. So much happening! And like the Riviera they have Tim Tams in Monoprix! Meeting up with lovely Hannah (2010 Topdeck represent, again) was a highlight.

Then onto Greece. Ahhhh the homeland. So fraught with trouble at the moment. But you wouldn't know it on the islands. Santorini delivered again on great pork gyros, Oia's sunset and friendliness. Paros was more relaxed and the towns full of windy cobbled alleys... our resort (yes, resort!!!) was largely home for three days. Why leave the place when they serve great food and have the best outdoor area/pool ever?

Athens is where the trouble started for us as travellers. Taxi strikes that were initially for two days continued and we paid friends of a relative to get us to the bus station. That theme rolled on over the next few places, from family to strangers with a ute (that was Corfu). But didn't stop us from chasing our history. Stayed in my great-grandparents' house in Pyrgos (Ilias) and visited their grave for the first time. In what was strangely the most beautiful cemetery... bright white marble gravestones everywhere, all well kept.

Arta was next, meeting more of Mum's cousins and visiting my grandfather's village. On the edge of a mountain, a small clutter of 10-15 houses is called Paliochori and behind some trees remains what rubble is left of the house my other great-grandparents built with their own hands. Central mainland Greece has some of the most stunning scenery I've seen in my life. Endless mountains and valleys. Up there with Switzerland, the Scottish Highlands and Ireland's sheer greenery. Even my brother questioned me on that. Not swarmed by tourists but deserves to be seen.

Kerkyra (Corfu) was a Little Italy that I wasn't expecting. Caught in taxi demonstrations as we went to leave Achilleon Palace (interesting location for a Habsburg property) - a rant from mother dearest could be a YouTube hit if put up I'm sure... they finally ended during our stay in Thessaloniki. Three weeks later. What losers, jeopardising their country's tourism when they need it most. A-ny-way, T'niki was quite a cool place. People liken it to Melbourne; there's certainly a cultural feel about it. I'd go back. Not far from there, the Halkidiki Peninsula's leg of Mount Athos (Agion Oros) are stunning. One of, if not the, best beaches I've ever swum at was there, off the town Nea Roda. Pity the bar's name though, Wet Dreams isn't exactly inviting - after funny photo ops of course.

Last few days dragged, was glad to touch down. I'm coping better being back than last year... perhaps my family time let me ease into it. I won't lie, I had some down days here and my patience was sorely tested. But remembering what I saw and now truly appreciate makes up for all the struggle. I just give those thinking of doing the same thing one piece of advice: SPACE. And never do it after travelling alone. The change is too hard to handle.