Crete!

Its a cross between being lazy and a lack of Internet access that has prevented me from writing about my trip for the last couple days. The hot hot Greece sun takes a lot of of me.



After a lazy day on the beach, we explored the National Archeology Museum in Athens. I pouted about not getting a guide for the museum. James and mom didn't really want one, but as it turned out there weren't any guides available when we arrived at 9:30am. So either groups got there early at 9 when it opened and stole all the guides or the guides all slept in. It was a Friday after all.

A short 3 hour bus took us to the small town of Delphi (pop. less than 3000). Man, we worry about everything all the time. We worry about being late for transport, about where to get off public buses, where to catch a bus, missing ferries or ... Its difficult not to worry and if one person starts we all start and that dominates the conversation. I hate being stressed out but it seems to happen more often that normal.


The adventure in Delphi was to hike from a cave about a 25min taxi away then hike back to the town. Delphi is a town located on the side of a cliff that over looks the olive groves and the Sea. Its is 600m above sea level and is surrounded by taller mountains. We hiked from 4.5hours home along a "so called well marked path"... It became a game looking for the metal red squares that marked the trail. The problem is that the path faded into the nature with no signs in view. We stressfully made our guesses.. one wrong turn took us through a farmer's field near a scary looking sheep herding dog and past used shot gun shells. Lucky after wandering for 20mins... we hit a semi major country vehicle path and magically a red square appeared. Being scared of being lost in the back country of Greece we decided to stay walking on the road, however a car full of European tourist insisted that path in the field was much more scenic and picturesque. We hadn't even noticed the path diverge from the road. Coincidences are important in the journey of traveling! This image is one of many amazing views from the hike that most tourist don't see. The effort and the soreness I feel still was so worth the experience.





Delphi is famous because it was the center of the ancient Greek world. A temple dedicated to Apollo was constructed in ancient times and a famous oracle told the future from inside the temple. This is what still stands about 500meters from our hostel.

















Sanctuary of Athena. We never saw this structure from close up, only from the view points along the hike. If you use your imagination you can picture the beauty of this ancient building!!! Plus if u sit on the steps you can see the sea with a backdrop of mountains. I couldn't imagine a more beautiful place.
The map of Crete. A 5hr ferry ride on a ship fit for the Queen sailed us to the largest island in Greece and the most southern area of the country. We arrived in Iraklio which is the capital city and business center.


The Ferry pulled into the port just after 8. The city of Iraklio isn't as beautiful as some of the cities we will see but it is so different from Canadian cities.

This morning we travelled 20mins to the ancient palace of Knossos which was built twice thousands of years ago. It covers an area greater that 20, 000 squared meters with over 1200 rooms to house the royal family, upper society, and guards. The civilization was around a hundred thousand people. It was rebuilt twice and partially reconstructed in 20th century.















This is an image found in the palace which demonstrates a dangerous activity of bull jumping. People would wait for a bull to charge them in the court yard... grab its horns at the right moment and somersault over the bull. If the person miss judges the time then they often died. Apparently women and men preformed this activity.

This is where men would discuss their problems with the King. This room has completely been reconstructed by a British Archaeologist.

Riot Police out in full force

So the hostel we are staying at is in a district called Omonia and in the central square of the area is where they are holding workers party rally. A couple of days ago there was a communist party rally too. June 7th is the european union elections so there is a lot of things going on. But the problem is that there are lots of police around. Which half makes me feel safe and half scares me. I had to walk by 20 riot police tonight to get to the hostel. Greek ppl J-walk all the time but as a respectful canadian I just couldn't do it in front of the police men, so i waited a ridiculous amount of time for the light to change with no cars in site.

So Funny story: I borrowed Bobby's water bottle because I couldn't find mine... The bottle made it to the Frankfurt airport before I thought I lost it. I swear it was in my hand when I went into the duty free stores to put make up on, and perfume... then when i was up stairs at the customs office I realized that I didn't have it anymore. I almost went back to look but I didn't want to risk losing mom and james or anything. So I just accepted that I am awesome at losing things and continued on (bobby I will bring u bad a greek bottle). So we had to go through a security check and my bag got targeted as a "problem bag". Not again. I had my scissors taken away in calgary by security. So I was like WHAT NOW. But the lady pulled on the lost water bottle and dumped it out... So the magic disappearing bottle was returned to me. I still haven't managed to lose anything yet. I have my passport and money and everything else.
I am so proud!!!

Today was a beach day. Took the metro to the center of the city, then the tram for an hour to a free beach on the coast. It wasn't bad... small pebble beach with cheap eats... chill for a couple hours then headed to a beach you have to pay for to enter at the end of the tram line (another 30mins away)... we paid 16.5 euro for 3 ppl to enter a beach at 4pm. Which is ridiculus... and we had to pay for chairs to sit in anothereuro each. Which seems high considering it cost 12 Euro to see all of athens ancient temples and structures. So thing isn't right there.

But we did have dinner for like nothing. Only 17 Euro for three ppl for dinner, wine and appys. The cheapest meal yet!!!! My mom orders sea bas last night which was more than
tonights dinner.

On the topic of money.. our budgets was too high. We haven't spent 100 euro a person per day yet so we lowered it to 75 euro a day.

I am not burnt and james is!!! so tanning before going was a good idea plus using sunscreen its a girlie thing it is smart... heheh James's neck looks like the canadian flag. Water was fairly clear and about 20 degrees. No bath tub warmth but ok for a large body of water.

Other than that.. it was a wicked relaxing day. pictures to come

So James got himself in trouble! James has a thing for hats, so he bought a green hat with the logo of a northern greece soccer team and apparently to today there was an important game between the athens team (yellow) and the northern greek team (green). The green team smashed the athens team 2-0 and the travel agent that we were trying to book our ferry with told james he might get himself stabbed if he was caught with the cap on... so he had to buy a yellow one to support the area! The travel agent guy didn't tell james why he couldn't wear the hat but he figured it out on the train home from the port city... The only english words were THE END and a picture of the yellow team sad and the green team victories! Opps who knew that was going to happen.

Man last night was randomly awesome. We went to bed for a nap at 7pm til 10.. started the evening with a drink at the hostel (2euro for a beer and 1 for an ozoo shot), heading to a tourist area for dinner... i had mousaka (fab).. n when we were finished our meal we wanted the bill and they kept bring us free things like a fruit platter then ozoo on the rock etc... but they finally let us go. So at 1am I insisted having a piece of dessert. we found a restuarant in a different tourist area that had a view of the Acropolis unfortunitely my camera couldn't capture the beauty.

Thats all from me today... We were suppost to go to the beach today but James is still a sleep and its 11am... so its jumping on him time now!!!!

Greece!!!!

Hi from Greece.

I am bad at giving an interesting story so I am sorry now. I made it to Greece with no problems. i have all my bags, made all my connection and there was food on each lag of the journey. We even arrived early to the airport to ensure that we were getting on the plane. No sleep thou on thge journey. I pulled an all nighter on the friday before I left so I would sleep on the plane but no luck. The result was a very very very tired alish when we arrived.

My fav thing: Tzahiki and bread soooo yummy I love it
The weather is warm... not of this snow and cold winds from the rockys
Tried to go to the acropolis early in the day to avoid the strongest rays of the sun but somehow we didn't arrive at the entrance til noon... so not my fault, there is just ppl, stories and metro stations to look at!

We went hard today - lots of walking and lots of sights... at 4 we decided to get a beer and man i was sort of drunk after. The combination of sun, not alot of food and a large beer = tired and unsteady alisha. Pictures to come.

I found the most interesting pottery aty the Ancient Angore... it was a child's training potty. I have seen alot of pottery in many countries but I have never seen a potty made of clay before.

Ps. They serve their feta in a greek salad as a large chunk instead of crumbled in the salad. I love food did I mention that yet!

Ps. Amy there is only one place to meet. I will be with the crowd of taxi drivers holding names!

Ps. I got nothing