In September 2008, I did a long awaited solo trip to Greece and the Greek Islands. I started out by flying to Athens, where I spent 2 days visiting, with the Acropolis and the Greek Museum of Natural History being the highlights of my 2 days in Athens.
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| The back of the Acropolis high above downtown Athens from entry trail side |
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| A close up view of the Parthenon and reconstruction underway |
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| Looking over downtown Athens from the Acropolis with Lycabettus Hill in back center |
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| Athens busy downtown fish market |
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| View of main square and looking up towards Acropolis |
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| beautifully preserved 5th Cent. BC Temple of Thesseion in the Agora |
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| Herod Atticus Theatre on backside of Acropolis, still used |
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| well preserved Caryatids near Parthenon on Acropolis |
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| Preserved Entry portion of Herod Atticus Theatre |
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| busy sidewalk cafes setting up for lunch near base of Acropolis |
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| Grounds and main entry to world famous National Archeology Museum of Greece |
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| Zeus or Poseidon, one of the most famous works from about 460 BC |
Then I flew out to the famous island of Mykonos for 3 days. Mykonos was more charming and picturesque than I had even imagined. Its white buildings with the striking blue roofs and winding, narrow passageways were a true delight. The Mykonos mascots, the huge pelicans, were wonderful to view and could be seen wandering right in the passageways in the town. If I went just a short distance back from the scenic, lovely beach front and port, it was hard to figure out where one was in the winding maze of narrow passageways. The "Little Venice" waterfront is Mykonos most famous entertainment and dining location, with its concentration of bars, restaurants and clubs. The famous and much photographed windmills are grouped just above the Little Venice area. I also took a day trip out to the famous Paradise beach, where I had lunch and enjoyed the sun and lovely beach. Paradise is Mykonos most famous beach and is its best known nude beach also. Even though Paradise Beach is a world famous beach, because of the mid September time, it was not crowded, as it always is in summer season.
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| Mykonos harbor and waterfront as seen from tour boat pier |
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| a typical narrow passageway winding thru Mykonos village |
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| view of waterfront from one of the many seaside cafes on the harbor |
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| another view looking towards famous Mykonos windmills above "Little Venice" area |
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| Sidewalk cafes on the far side or actually the "Little Venice" restaurant/bar/entertainment area |
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| Zorbas and windmills above Mykonos village and waterfront |
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| another typical view of the wonderful narrow passageways of Mykonos village |
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| boy approaching one of the huge, famous, cream colored pelicans, Mykonos mascots |
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| Two more of the giant pelicans |
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| a scenic windmill above Mykonos village near the hotel I stayed in 3 nights |
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| fish and produce market on waterfront |
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| another narrow passageway in village near waterfront |
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| wonderful sidewalk cafes and taverna near village center |
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| another wonderful, colorful sidewalk cafe near village center |
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| widely photographed church on point at end of village with tour boat anchored in background |
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| Amazing ! a boy was practicing with a soccer ball going up steep passageway in Mykonos village |
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| Mykonos most famous beach on the island, the Paradise Beach, a nude beach |
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| Another view of famous Paradise Beach, a few km out of town |
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| lovely, nearly deserted smaller beach not far from downtown Mykonos |
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| Fisherman "tenderizing" octopus on concrete pier |
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| Scenic waterfront cafes Mykonos is so famous for |
While on Mykonos, I took a full day trip by boat out to the nearby island of Delos, which was so interesting with its ancient history and earlier importance. I took an extensive walking tour of the ruins of the ancient city with its many statues and building remains. Then I spent some time in the very interesting museum, where many statues and items had been moved to protect them from the weather. Finally, I took the boat back to Mykonos after a very interesting and highly worthwhile day.
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| Delos boat for day trip out to Delos Island |
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| approaching world famous ruins on Delos |
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| another view as boat approaches pier to tie up |
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| looking out over main plaza of ruined ancient city |
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| view back towards boat after walking part way up thru ruined city |
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| an example of preserved portion of old building |
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| an example of the mosaic scenes that were so popular back at that time |
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| another example of a partially restored home with wonderful patterned mosaic flooring |
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| another view showing the huge extent of ancient city ruins |
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| one of the impressive water storage cisterns or underground storage areas |
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| another impressive home with its elaborate flooring |
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| another of the finer examples of the elaborate ceramic flooring |
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| row of large stone lions sculptures guarding the edge of the city |
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| The largest nearly intact stone sculpture outdoors in the ruins |
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| A view within the large museum at the edge of the ruins that preserves many items found |
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| another museum view with some of the statues preserved inside to protect from further weathering |
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| one of the more complete pieces displayed within museum |
Then I boarded one of the big Greek ferry boats to spend a day and 2 overnights on the large nearby island of Paros. I stayed 2 nights in Parikia, the port. Before heading to Paros, the ferry boat headed west for a stop on Syros at it main port, Ermoupoli. I had a couple hours to wander the waterfront of the very large town that ran from the harbor most of the way up the mountain above the town. On my one full day on Paros, I took a bus out to Naoussa on Plastira Bay. There I had a pleasant lunch and Greek beer while sitting in a wonderful seaside cafe looking out over the harbor. Again , the hiking and wandering around the charming island and its ocean shore was a wonderful experience.
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| Syros, a mountainous island and its main port of Ermoupoli |
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| Paros and its main port of Paroikia |
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| a street scene up from the port in Paroikia near my hotel for 2 nights |
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| the view from my hotel on Paros |
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| The harbor front and sidewalk cafe for lunch on my day over to Naoussa |
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| The lovely waterfront and sidewalk cafes on the harbor at Naoussa |
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| another view along the waterfront at Naoussa |
Finally, I again boarded another of the large Greek Island ferry boats, and steamed south to Santorini, the most amazing and wonderful of all the islands. I had a little hotel south of Fira up on its cliff, high above the ocean and the vast caldera of the long ago exploded volcano. Hiking and walking along the rim and visiting the delightful and colorful shops and restaurants in the villages perched right on the rim was unforgettable. I went out to Oia on the north end of the island, also high above the caldera. Then I went to the far south end of the island to Akrotiri, where there was an ancient volcanic eruption about 18 BC that long ago buried the town in ash, much like Pompei in Italy. On the way to visit the Akrotiri ruins, my tour bus took us up to the highest point on Santorini, and we were able to visit the Prophet Elias Monastery up there. I truly did hate to see my Greek Island trip that I had dreamed of for so long finally end. I then flew back to Athens and finally back on the long trip back to Anchorage.
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| The stunning near sunset view from my little hotel on the rim of Santorini's cliffs above the vast caldera |
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| similar view from the hotel restaurant |
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| the view again right at sunset |
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| yet another view of unforgettable Santorini at sunset |
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| just after sunset in the west |
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| a view just after dawn with one of the large tour boats arriving |
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| a view of the main square in the center of Fira just back from the rim |
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| sunset glow on the lovely buildings perched on the rim |
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| street scene along trail just off rim |
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| one of Fira's narrow shopping passageways |
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| central square area of Fira |
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| view up cliffs from newer dock area where all the ferry boats and day tour boats dock |
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| view up steep roadway from dock to island rim. Big trucks and busses must make this climb |
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| view up to rim near where my little hotel was situated |
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| typical picturesque Greek church along rim walkway |
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| another rim walkway scene of Santorini beauty |
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| street scene in village back from rim walkway |
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| stunning view of how things are literally perched right on the caldera rim |
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| another street scene in Fira |
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| scene showing colorful little shops |
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| view looking out towards far north end of island and village of Oia, also high above water |
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| a typical breath taking view from one of the cliff side restaurants |
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| view looking south to island high point and far shore where the beaches are and no cliffs |
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| view looking south to extreme end of island and Akrotiri,ruins buried in ash about 18BC |
