Showing posts with label Santorini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santorini. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

A year ago today: Paros, Greece

0 comments Posted by Katina at 8:00 PM

A year ago today I was at Paros, Greece, settling into a relaxing paradise at my resort.



It had been just over a week since meeting up with the family, and for once I welcomed the opportunity to not do a whole lot and utilised this space pretty well. Paros is the quieter of the Cyclades islands but just as beautiful.



One of only two Virgin Mary paintings worldwide to not feature baby Jesus




***

London, Paris and Santorini:


M&Ms World




Greenwich, standing on the prime meridian line


I met Fifi and Jules before the Wimbledon mens final

You can see a certain champion holding the gold trophy by the wooden doors there















Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, August 15, 2011

Europe 2011: the family chapter

0 comments Posted by Katina at 8:02 PM

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.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Oh so European

0 comments Posted by Katina at 4:33 PM

Ok, so I obviously bought a shiteload of clothes while away. Two months is a long time. Excuse the shoddy photography.

Greece and London Part One: surprised I didn't like much clothes-wise on the islands. But London was the big one...



L-R: Santorini dress, 49P/New Look military jacket, 15P/You for New Look skirt, 5P/Maribou tie-dye dress/H&M black slip, 7.99P/Maribou handkerchief top
*Forgot to include a baggy 3/4 sleeve khaki mesh-type top from Zara I picked up for 7.95P*

Portobello Road proper/Camden hidden gems



L-R: tenki dress, 15P/vintage striped dress, 18P/vintage winter dress, 18P/floral dress, 10P/green pantaloons, 8P

During-tour buys and presents:



L-R: silk scarf from Venice, 25E/Fishbowl t-shirt for New Yorker (Krakow), possibly 54.90Zloty/Episode (Amsterdam) baggy tee, price unknown/Tally Weijl (Greece) dressy tank, price unknown/Murphy's (Santorini) promo T-shirt, priceless ;D

Novelty Tees:



L-R: Topdeck Spirit of Europe tee/Schnaps Museum (Vienna) promo tee, 10E/Topdeck Hoff Berlin tee/Amsterdam tee/Busabout La Tomatina 2010 tee

London Take Two: I just had to go back didn't I?



L-R: Topshop cropped tee, 14P. Camden Markets: vintage dress, 15P/tank top, 4P/skirt, 2P. Episode skirt, 13P

Spain... and er, tights for our Berlin pub crawl:



L-R: Shambala harem pants from Peniscola, 21E/shorts from Barcelona, 19,95E/H&M pink tights from Berlin, 5E

Now keep in mind this is only clothes. Bags, shoes and jewellry to come if anyone's interested.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, July 19, 2010

Eurotrash: Greek Islands

3 comments Posted by Katina at 10:54 PM

Sitting in Santorini on my last afternoon here, swaying slightly from the boat we had to take to the Red Beach to swim today. Haven't gotten seasick from any of the water travel yet so I think I'm okay with travelling. Not so much with the getting ready part - I feel I take longer than normal and my sleeping patterns are faaaaarked. London tomorrow should put things back into a sort of routine for me!

So the rest of Mykonos was eventful. TV Rock blew the roof off, we stayed until 4:30 which was a huge effort considering Jana was sick (yet downed 5 drinks), and I had 7 and Penny 6 drinks (I was the better off lol). 'In The Air' was incredible, and I felt like the Mykonos stay was fulfilled.

Plenty of shopping, plenty of hot bronzed bodies... it was awesome. Actually, it wasn't just guys with the looks, all the girls were some of the most glamorous I think I've ever seen in my life. Slight inadequacy there?... Food was pretty good (pites amazing - I've had one at least every 2nd day even in Santorini), people mostly friendly, but transport is ridiculous. We stayed on the wrong part of the island - two buses to Paradise Beach with the day-club and awesomeness. But at least Santorini is easier... interesting because the island's HUGE!

Went to the Black Beach at Kamari on our first day, and the shopping there was nice. Food not so much. However, I certainly wasn't going in one restaurant after being pretty much hounded by a maitre'd who thought he had the world's greatest pick up line. Obviously thought I didn't know much Greek and therefore didn't understand what 'yiasou' meant... walking past a second time, he starts again... 'I'm the best yiasou. I'll give you the best yiasou you've ever had!' Shouting this down the street mind you. Actual humiliation. Having said that, he was the rotten egg. Greek guys here are so different to those in Australia...

Yesterday we walked on the active volcano just off the coast, and then made it up to Oia to watch one of the world's most beautiful sunsets - and it was stunning. And with all the people watching it, it felt really special. It's a more picturesque town than Fira (town centre where we are), and it finally felt like we were in 'Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants'.

Today was the Red Beach, where we had to get a boat out. It was alright, bit windy. I'm not a fan of pebble beaches, and that's what they've all been. Note to self: buy water shoe thingys. But the water's all so clear.

Clubbing in Santorini's actually really good. District within the town centre is close and all play good music. Jana and I stayed out until 4 or so going between three clubs (including one Greek which was awesome - even if I don't understand all the lyrics, the music's great). Hoping to go to Perissa tonight for Helen and I's final night out. Then London tomorrow - CLOTHES SHOPPING, FINALLY!

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)