Last Day in Naxos

Tomorrow I leave Naxos for Athens, which means that my holiday is almost over. Naxos is a beautiful island, & I hope to be able to return some day, but it is much nicer to discover a new destination with good company. Although I was able to upload a couple of pictures to my web album recently, I wasn't able to see which pictures they were, because I only had the jpeg numbers, & I see that I need to use Picasa to edit them first, as it doesn't happen otherwise. I have just transferred more pictures to disk, & I'll need to get another disk for the rest. However, don't worry as I won't be boring you all with my holiday pics. The weather here has been fantastic, just as it should be in the Greek Islands. I have taken a couple of trips to smaller villages in the countryside, & it's a great way to get the feel of a place. I saw cows grazing for the first time in Greece. More from Athens in a couple of days.

Last Day in Santorini

Just lost my long post from my email, so this will be short as time is running out. I have checked out of my lovely little room & am filling in time before my transfer to the port, for my ferry trip to Naxos. Will be my first time there, so I'm looking forward to it. Have saved my photos to CD as my photo card is full. Such is life on Santorini. As all the guide books say, you need plenty of film or a mega picture card. I'm hoping to be able to upload some pics to my Picasa web album while at this cafe, which has broadband. Check the Picasa link on the link panel just in case it works. More from Naxos.

Awesome Santorini

Arrived in Santorini at midday today after an early morning start from Chania on Crete - 4.00am. It's been 4 years since I was here last, & the pace of the place has increased so much. However the mind-boggling scenery still stops you in your tracks. Have only 4 more minutes before I'm cut off on this machine, so I'll update you in a couple of days. Have found a reasonably priced place to stay, & the owners are lovely. What more can I ask? Well it would be nice to have family here. Kerry & Janine you will love it. Seeing is believing, the shutters on the windows opposite are painted the exact same shade of brilliant blue as the sky.

Last day in Stalos

Been a while since my last post. Was very lucky to have been able to use Annie's computer while staying with her. Bit trickier when using Internet cafes. We left Orne last Thursday for Stalos, & I was able to buy my ticket to Santorini at Rethymnon, as well as checking out the market there. On the way to Kalives, where we had a lovely lunch by the sea, I was pleased to find the elusive taverna where Antoni took Judith & I in 2003. There was an emotional welcome from Adoni when we finally arrived here, & as usual he overwhelmed Annie & David with his hospitality - coffee & cakes until they were coming out of our ears! My fridge was also full of the usual goodies. This is the contents of just one of the boxes! The flag raising in Chania was almost a washout with the heavy rain, but I did catch up with the British Vets. Antoni has planted a tree for Kath, as Paul wanted him to, & now he's busy designing a plaque for it. Yesterday marked 12 months since Kath died on Crete, & it was an emotional time for both Adoni & I. He arranged for me to go with him to the small monastery nearby for morning mass in memory of Kath. It was a wonderful experience being in the place that Kath had visited in 2003, & hearing the nuns singing the service. It was a healing process for both of us. The pic is of the monastery in 2003. Tomorrow I'm catching the 5-30 am bus to Iraklion, a journey of almost 3 hours, before taking the fast boat to Santorini. More soon.

More Orne Adventures

On Monday I left the hostel for the last time this trip with tears & hugs all round. Annie arrived to take me back to their place in Orne, but as is usually the case with her we got off the beaten track well & truly. First stop was the "Orchid Hillock", which is famous for its orchid & other wild flower display in Spring. Of course the orchids had had it by this stage, but it was a lovely walk, & I was happy that I now know where it is. Another off-road excursion saw us driving through awesome scenery - a la the dramatic Kourtolatiko gorge near Plakias, for those who have been there. But more special, as no tourists know its whereabouts, & as I discovered last night, some locals hadn't heard of it. Whooaa! At the village at the end of this secret road are 2 beautiful churches, one very old, & in which Annie was allowed to perform an offering to the various Ikons. The second was a church belonging to an old Monastery. Later that evening we were enjoying another fab meal from Annie & Dave, when Grigori, the local shepherd joined us for an hilarious night, singing old Cretan songs. Some of you will remember Grigori bringing in his flock past Annie & Dave's house. Tuesday saw us once again heading out to "who knows where?", supplied with nuts, cherries & water. First stop was a very old church at the end of a rutted track. Great mountain biking areas around here by the way folks. The frescoes in the church were in a pretty bad state, but I did manage to get a good pic of one of them. We scrambled around the rocks in the area & discovered walls of an ancient village. Very cool, & once again completely unknown to tourists. We snacked beside another old Venetian Bridge, before heading further into the beautiful Amari Valley. After more derelict monasteries - got some great pics - & gorgeous scenery we ate a great lunch at Amari among the swallows. We called in Gerakari for coffee & to buy some cherries 4euros a kilo. Remember those cherries guys? Back home in Orne & we were off to Maria & Grigori's for a chaotic evening of raki drinking & communicating in the local Cretan dialect. Must have done alright going by their reaction. Hoping for a quiet day to repack for my trip to Chania tomorrow. Tonight we're going to Agia Galini so Dave can watch the final- on TV- of the European Football Champions League between Milan & Liverpool. Will be a late night & an emotional one too.

Adventures with Annie & Dave

After one of Annie's legendary breakfasts Dave, Annie & I set off for a tiki tour of the area east of Orne. We found some good picnic spots along a river near a lovely old Byzantine bridge. Annie decided that she would like to visit Zaros, a small town on side of Psiloritis - the highest mountain on Crete. The scenery around here is awesome, although today there was a bit of cloud hiding the peaks. We came across an amazing fissure in the mountain, with steps leading into it. We just had to stop the car & see where they led to. Pic is of Annie descending into the abyss. Have just learned how to upload pics from Picasa web album, so I hope I can add some more later. Well the pic upload didn't work after all baaahhhhh! Blog to be continued - need another wine right now. Footnote: Pic imported at last.

Lost Sunday Club

So good to get online again. Computers have been down here since I arrived. Also good to see that my blog via email was successful . Last night had a good sleep at last - result of changing rooms, where there are no snorers! Arrived at the bus stop in Plakias to a great welcoming committee. Annie had turned up as well in her new 4 wheel drive. All good. Ate with Annie & Dave last night, & we've agreed that I go to their place in the mountains next Monday, so I'll be here at the hostel until then. Blog title refers to a Plakias Library meeting at Joe's Bar. After red wine at the library there followed beer & 4 raki shots at the bar. Can't wait for the next meeting. Leigh you would love the library. Will get some pics-not sure if I can upload them here though. More later.