A Greek Adventure

Welcome to Greece!

After leaving Em at the gate we boarding the plan toward Athens, Greece! So excited :) Once we landed we were off to Santorini...little did we know the only way to get there is a boat that takes 12 hours or a plane that was leaving in 20 minutes. After talking with the travel agent we booked a flight to the island at 5pm that night. So what can you do for 4 hours in an airport. Well we got our nails done, got something to eat and tried our first Greek beer. We finally boarded a tiny propeller plane that would take us to the island. It was a quick ride and the view was beautiful!

Alpha, my first Greek beer 

The plane that would take us to Santorini  

The view from the plane 

After landing we were taken to our apartment that we were renting for the weekend. AMAZING. Since we weren't going to be on the island very long we headed straight to our first place to visit, Ioa. It is at the northern part of the island and is known for a spectacular view of the sunset. After the sunset everyone watching clapped, guess it's a pretty big deal there. We ate dinner at a traditional restaurant that over looked the water and the white houses on the hill.  On our way home we finally found bacon for breakfast!! It's been a long 4 months without it. 

Our home for the weekend :) 

Living in a dream

Sunset at Ioa 

Actually saw a donkey!

First Greek Restaurant 

I could eat this stuff all the time

The next day we got up early so we could enjoy the whole day traveling the island. We rented a four-wheeler to get around, which turned out to be the best way to see the island. We went to the black sand beach at Kamari, the prehistoric city Akorotini and the red sand beach near Akrotiri. 

Mojitos on the beach 

black sand beach 

So happy to be on the four-wheeler 

lunch at Dolphins

red sand beach 

Favorite thing to see on trips

After a long day on the four wheeler we decided to go to Firo for a night out. Happy hour specials were just what we needed. We enjoyed a Irish pub, Scottish bar, learned a few bar tricks and realized how great rugby is.

Happy hour

The Irish pub, my favorite

We lived in a post card for these two day unfortunately we had to leave but we were headed to Athens!! Once we got to Athens quite a few plans fell through but we made it and found a cheap place to stay (the name Easy Access had to be a dead give away). We threw down our bags and headed to the sights!

First stop was the Acropolis. At the top you could see the Parthanon, Athena's temple, a panoramic view of the city and Socratics' jail in the distance. Currently both sites are under restoration so there was quite a bit of construction but they were still amazing! Be careful when taking pictures of the Parthenon because the guards are pretty particular about the ones you take. (they'll actually come up and have you delete them!)

Going into the Acropolis 

Holding up the Parthenon

Looking down on the Herodes Atticus Theatre

We then walked around the city exploring. As we walked towards the first Olympic Stadium we had a little follower. A local dog ended up walking us all the way to the Stadium, even through the traffic. The Stadium was huge! It is the only one built completely out of white marble and is the oldest in the world. It can hold 80,000 people and has 50 rows (that's a lot of steep steps) but we climbed all the way to the top for a spectacular view of the entire stadium. We were able to walk down the victor's tunnel as well and experience what it would be like to come out of it before a race. I did a little reenactment and of course I got first. I was pretty beat after my race so we got a bite to eat (another meal involving my favorite thing Tzatziki).

Our tour guide 

King and Queen at the Olympics 

View from the top!

Warming up.. 

Here I go..

First place! 

Tzatziki, I could eat this everyday 

That night we just walked around the city and ended up around the parliament building. Most government building were covered with graffiti but not this one. Guard in tradition uniforms guard the entrance. WE got lucky and as we were passing they were changing guards. (it involves a lot of marching, stomping and kicking). We were shocked by the nightlife that appeared once the sun went down. Every street was filled with music and people enjoying dinner and drinks. We sat down for some appetizers at a restaurant where we could see the Acropolis lit up at night.

Graffiti everywhere 

He was just a little scary 

Changing of the guards

The view

The next morning we had to get up early to see one last thing before we left. We made it to the oldest theater and first built of marble, Theatre of Dionysus on the southwest side of the Acropolis. In the theater play writes, such as Sophocles had their plays performed here and it was the birthplace of the 'Greek Tragedy'. The seat go all the way up the side of the hill to the Acropolis allowing it to hold 17,000 spectators. We did some last minute gift shopping on our way to the airport and then it was back to Istanbul.

This week we're leaving for Marmaris and once I get back I only have a couple of weeks left here I can't believe it!! It's gone too fast!