alex robinson » vacation http://alexr.norova.com Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:34:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 alex robinson http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/7931da9d246bf520f9a63360f4bc07c3?s=48&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536 http://alexr.norova.com Summer in Greece II – Samos http://alexr.norova.com/2008/summer-in-greece-ii-samos/ http://alexr.norova.com/2008/summer-in-greece-ii-samos/#comments Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:39:00 +0000 alex http://alexr.norova.com/?p=265 Our first stop after Athens was Samos, one of the larger Greek islands. It’s located in the Eastern Aegean, actually just 2km from Turkey at one point.

Samos, Greece

Like many of the islands, it is mountainous and home to several beautiful beaches. The food did not disappoint and it was a good choice for our “hub” island. We left Athens at about 6am and arrived 40min later armed with a rental car and some phone numbers for some hotels. We didn’t plan anything else out in advance (note: only recommended if you’ve a handy Greek to succor you). The rental car was pretty crucial though. There was minimal bus service and most interesting things were far apart.

  • Arrival to the tiny airport of Samos

  • Did I mention it was at 7am?

  • Our rental car, waiting for us with the keys inside - no questions asked. Hmm, good business strategy? It was convenient!

  • Our first room at Hotel Dianna.

  • The first swim in the clear waters. That's Turkey in the background.

  • "I'm in f***ing Greece!" :)

  • "Sh**, all these people are in f***ing Greece too!"

  • Looking down on Vathy, the capital city of Samos

  • Sunset from our room

  • Our little trooper, taking up half of the road width by parking.

  • The sweets shop!!

  • Mmm!

  • Driving around the island, just sampling as it were.

  • Driving here was quite an experience... but I kept my cool.

  • A local, going about his obviously important business.

  • Checking out a waterfall

  • It's huge!

  • And refreshing.

  • Yes, I'm clearly refreshed.

  • Scaling the precipice.

  • It's like wonderland!

  • ..even babies can do it! (at least, with their determined Nordic mothers, anyway)

  • Stopping for a swim

  • Our dinner venue. Sea-side, locally recommended fish restaurant.

  • Fontina with her "Xorta", some kind of bitter greens that I don't like - apparently they go well with fish.

  • And the "Xoriatiki", Greek salad, of course.

  • Add in a little sunset.

  • And a wave for good measure.

  • And the plat principal

  • Fresh calamari

  • Semi-devoured fish

  • Shaky camera work due to euphoria

  • Starting the day right with two cafe fredos - cold cappucino with thick milk cream.

  • Today we decided to visit 3 nearby beaches in a row.

  • Beach number 1: Lemonakia

  • Approaching beach 2: Tsamadou

  • Trying to remove this layer of Germany-skin.

  • Floating

  • Beach 3: Tsambou

  • There I am, still in Greece! :)

  • Up in the mountains for lunch

  • Even our trusty car made it up.

  • Lunch for two!

  • Delicious, homemade wine

  • Xoriatiki

  • Dessert: cured grapes in their own syrup.

  • Greek coffee to top it off.

  • :) Perhaps feeling sun- and food-stroke at this point.

  • Returning to Vathy

  • Enjoying some nighttime sweets by the harbor!

  • Ready to get on the ferry!

  • Oh wait, let's get a souvlaki to go, from my very own souvlaki shop!

  • After we hit the beach.

  • Ok, gimme one with everything!

  • Yes.

  • Fontina, the ferry to Patmos and my packhorse luggage (notice: packed to the brim with beachmats and tent attached outside, backpack filled, and thoroughly appreciated. Thanks Cindy and Craig!!!!!!!!!!!)

Next stop: Patmos!

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  • On our way in (a view to the "legs", the 3 peninsulas in the North)

  • Home sweet home!

  • Typical deliciousness.

  • Yummy, a lamb's head. Apparently delicious (though you'll notice I didn't take any pics of the subsequent meal, I didn't stick around!)

  • Visiting a neighboring island to Athens

  • Some fresh figs from grandparent's garden... sooo tasty!

  • Getting a train downtown in Athens

  • A downtown bazaar.

  • Pointing out the obvious (the Acropolis).

  • View to the Acropolis

  • Enjoying the view to the Acropolis

  • Athens (around the Acropolis is mostly land of protected ancient ruins, the city surrounds it)

  • The ancient Roman market

  • Some nice columns... what style are they?

  • I finally found Nikis Street. I'd been looking everywhere!!! (At least, it seemed so as I repeated the phrase from my Pimsleur Language learning guide "Where is Nikis Street?", "Nikis Street is here." Yes, it is.

  • A homeless Irish guy's philosophy...

  • Homeless guy's headquarters. Satire much?

  • Enjoying some cafe 'Fredo', cold coffee with cream, mmmm.

  • Around Athens

  • Standard tourist shot

  • An ancient sewer uncovered during construction of the metro - now on display as you transfer trains.

  • The changing of the guards at the capitol.

  • Then no movement for an hour. What a job!

  • Visiting Foteini in the artsy, hip part of Athens (supposedly the "Prenzlauer Berg" of Athens).

  • A shopping street downtown

  • Getting the gyros ready for the day.

  • Painting identical to one in the halls of a building at the TU Berlin. I wonder which is the original? Note: we visited the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

  • A really cool sword hilt.

  • Checking out ancient Greece.

  • Zeus, minus thunderbolt and eyes...

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