Greece - stop I: Sithonian peninsula (Neos Marmaras)

June 2008

Job changing point is always an excuse to go for a good holiday break! I took the opportunity flew to Europe for a two weeks
retreat myself! I think I deserve it, like always :-)

Greece is an amazing place, I had much more fun than I thought I would like to go back another time.
The first stop is Neos Marmaras on Sithonian peninsular, where my Greece trip starts...

June 24th, 2008 Tuesday

Flight from Copenhagen to Thessaloniki, Europe is very small, "Augenblink" I am already in warm Thessaloniki, the second largest
city in Greece, quickly the arranging agent picked the group up, bus trip was organized, after around one hour drive, we arrived at
one of the three "fingers" - the middle peninsular at one typical holiday resort... The vacation apartment is clean, neat, cozy and
right on the beach... nothing to complain... the trip starts that smoothly and everything is organized, no hassles...

June 25th, 2008 Wed.

The sun rises very early in the morning in Greece, that day we have visited the market, had great sea food lunch, fish is great, people
are friendly... swimming and reading on the beach in the afternoon, a relaxing day... however I need a bit tourist experience like always,
At one agent, I got a few options and got to know the friendly staffs there... That evening I joined a Greek dinner with Greek music and dances...

June 26th, 2008 Thursday

A car trip day, we rent a car, started to explore the peninsular, ambitious plan from Lingling is to drive around and discover a bit another peninsular
which is of course not allowed by time...

But it is really worthy exploring the peninsular, there is an wine resort, a lot of olive trees... you will always pass by some secret and wonderful
beaches, discover some wonderful beach bars... which you have good or bad music with a lot of umbrellas on the beach...

Stop at one beach to have a swim... the water is warm and clean... very clean...	the beach is empty...

June 27th, 2008 Friday

This is a scooter day, another adventure... We did not read the map well enough, lost in the heat under the sun in the middle of the hills, no paved road...
It looks no end, however we discovered one villae by chance - it is called the "forgotten village" a few cute restaurants, which declares that they speak
Deutsch. I don't know positive or negative business that sign would bring them though...

After the whole day trip, jump into the sea is the only thing I dream about...

\ got lost...	A village!

June 28th, 2008 Saturday

This is a fun boat tour day, today the whole group of people went out with a big boat, driving from beach to beach, I became the Capitan right after
we got onboard! :-) at each stop you are asked to jump out to swim...
Visiting some small old town along the way, that day the boat brought us to the other peninsular - Kassandra Peninsula, it is said to be a more commercialized
peninsular... I did sea kayaking at one stop, which was quite fun...

Visiting a small town on the beach...

June 29th, 2008 Sunday

Scooter day II, since the scooter day I was that great, we decided to do it again... this time we discovered one secret beach, you need to hike down
the hill a bit to reach here, and there is a wild camping couple... they really found the perfect private beach...

Nature... however there are many plants and stones at the sea side, "nature is overrated..." we concluded... later on, we moved back to a more civilized
beach with fresh juice and cocktails...

That evening we drove back to the "forgotten village" enjoying a sun-set dinner... the view was great...

Nature...
A bit more civilized beach... with nice shadows and chairs...	I think I lost some weight after a few days vacations already... it is also hard to not to get tam...
That evening we went back to the "forgotten village" enjoying a sun-set dinner...

June 30th, 2008 Monday

Another boat tour day, this time it is a bit special, one of the three peninsular called - Mont Athos is forbidden for any woman to enter for ever... only
with an application, around 25 male with visa can enter the peninsular, only monks live there... the legend is that Virgin Maria flew there and lives in one
the mountain there... Therefore no other women are allowed to enter... what a privilege, I wish I could get that power :-)

That evening we cooked a healthy dinner and drunk some Greek wine... The next day I am going on to my venture alone to south... No hotel, nor train
booked, but I dont worry too much, things always get sorted eventually... And I am always lucky, people would sense I need help and help me, according
to a friend's saying...

July 1st, 2008 Tuesday

Today is a travel day, I went to Thessaloniki by bus with my two big luggage (I never know why I cannot be more lean...) The problem was the bus
only brings you to one end of the city, not to the train station... However lucky me got a kind offer by the Greek bus ticket boy, his father picked him up
and he dropped me at the train station on his way back home from work... His English is not that fluent, but he is friendly and nice... I had a good
impression of Greek man by this...

At the train station I needed to queue at a 20m long queue to get a ticket, the agent at Neos Marmaras told me no need to have reservation.. however
when it was my turn finally, I was told all train tickets are sold out till 11pm! and it was only 2pm by then....

No way... I need to find a way to go to Athens! I went directly to the car rental, knowing it is a bit risky with my driving skills and a license I got in China...
Still I went straight there, with the heat and two luggage, it is not funny to get stuck at train station...surrounded by people, who do not speak
English, I wish I could speak a bit Greek!!!

Bad luck, the car rental does not allow me to return car in Athens... another international car rental is 20 min by foot away... With the luggage and the heat
I doubt I want to do it... Then I ask the guy at car rental, what shall I do... he said why not check out bus??? it is same fast as train...

Wonderful idea! And the bus station is only 5 min walking away, right across the street according to him... I was thrilled... Pulling my luggage, pissed off
by my "un-lean" packing skills after two years consultant life... In the heat and under a HUGE sun, I walked and walked, got lost, asking people, including police
no one speaking English!!! desperate!!! After turning around and around (since the kind guidance is always contradictory... before I finally felt sun shock,

I finally found the bus ticket selling place, the bus only shows up 5 min before departure and it was that hidden a mini street... And I was lucky, still tickets!

When I finally sit on the bus, I felt so relieved... what a day... 6 hours bus drive in front of me... Booking Hilton in Athens with my points was successful, which
has at least made my day... I am happy again... and excited, now I am totally alone on road! I felt excited...

July 2nd, 2008 Tuesday Athens

Finally I see the Acropolis with my own eyes, which I always wished... It is amazing, though I was again under the HUGE sun, climbing up the hill and
admire the ancient creature in the heat... I was inspired... Finally I made it...

That day I felt so burned in the heat, I decided to visit one island the next day, so I continued the city tour in the heat till late afternoon... The old town,
the temple, Plaka, taking the tram around the town... and all the tourist must-sees... before I jumped into the hotel pool to cool myself down...

Evening was busy too, I met Aira - a Greek girl from small world for a drink, she is really nice and we had a lot of fun and laughter that night, typical
Greek food, then we went to a night club, trendy music, but I am not flying to Europe for a city party, better go to a beach party I thought... :-)

Greek dinner in the old town with Aira

Continue reading... Adventure in Greece