Chapter 25: The Glory that is Greece

Postcard from Athens

At the end of our time in Greece - and we had a lovely blend of chilling out and history.
We took the ferry from Kucadasi in Turkey to the island of Samos in Greece. And it is a little ferry! We were fortunate to meet some friends we had toured with the previous day, so the ride went incredibly fast. The water is so clear, can see down for feet! And a blue, the color of sapphires - havent seen that yet on our travels!
We had intended to take a sameday ferry to Paros, but the first rule of ferry travel in Greece .. dont believe the guidebooks or travel agents, the schedules change each day! We took an enforced night out in Samos, checked out the town, shopped! We stayed at the Pythagoras Hotel, so Ian had the added benefit of learning the Theorum!
The next day, a 8 hr ferry to the Island of Paros which we will recommend to everyone - enough sophistication to keep you busy on a cold or cloudy day, but still rural enough that the beaches are relatively empty (in this off season). A very pretty island, with fab caves and history (all the marble for the Greecian temples and statues came from here). Water was a little too cold to swim, but the boys bravely snorkelled in such clear blue water! It was the perfect antidote to all the rushing of the previous weeks, just chillin'. And what a way to do it! You can skim rocks for metres on these still waters. And the views: the sunsets, the moon over the bay, the windmills. Memories. Peaceful memories.

After too short a break, we came to Athens and have visited the Parthenon, the Acropolis, the Olympic Stadium (where we watched an archer train) and a must see, the Archealogical musuem where the kids amused all the other people while they drew their favorite statues! Athens is very doable in 1-2 days, though you will rue not having left more time to enjoy this lovely city. It has been spruced up to celebrate the Olympics and the trams and subways were a joy to travel on.
And today we are off to London for the last segment of our worldwide trip. Cannot believe that it is almost done!