Emails from Greece

9th April 2001 - Samos

Left Turkey this morning, sorry to leave so soon but looking forward to
Greece. We are in Samos today and off to Paros tonight. Not much to report
yet though as I've only been here an hour.

Since my last email I have spent 4 days on a 60 foot Gulet Ketch, sailing
from Olympos to Fetihye on the Mediterean. 4 days of laying in the sun,
swimming snorkeling and total relaxation. Most of the time was smooth
sailing apart from one night when we encountered a storm. Most of the
passengers (there were 12 in total + 3 crew) spent this whole time sick,
but Sue and I managed to sleep though most of it!

Went on a tour of Epheses yesterday which was pretty cool, the ruins are
really well preserved and some of the buildings, especially the massive
theatre are awesome.

Sue and I finished off our Turkish experience with a Turkish bath. A very
odd experience to say the least but well worth it. You strip down and wrap
yourself in a linen cloth and then go lay on this hot communal (boys and
girls) marble slab. Then this Turkish man points at you and beckons you
over for a scrub down. It is amazing how much skin comes off! You are
pretty much bear all at this point girls! Then they massage you with soap,
wash you hair and then your done. The massage is really rough and the foot
massage had me in hysterics.

15th May 2001 - Santorini

This email comes to you from the island of Santorini. This place is
absolutly amazing, the place is built on top of massive cliffs that rise
from the sea on one side then gently reach down to the other side of the
island. The views are spectacular and well worth the millions of steps I
must have stepped up today to see them!

Today we trekked up to the still active volcano on one of the small
islands off Santorini. After this we went for a swim in the hot springs
and then caught a donkey up to the top of another island for some more
spectacular views. We finished off the day watching the sunset from the
town of oia. I am way over my film quota as everywhere you turn there is a
cool church or whitewashed house, very picturesque.

We have also been to the islands of Naxos and Paros which were not quite
as spectacular but still nice (it rained on Naxos - which is not meant to
happen in the Greek Islands) We celebrated Sues birthday in style on Paros
with a yummy classy dinner and then drinking at a jazz club called
Pirates. The owner beckoned us to sit with the locals at the bar and we
enjoyed many free drinks once he found out it was Sues birthday. We think
we might have birthdays more often!

Naxos was also a nice place, until it rained anyway! The unfinished temple
of Appollo rises up on the far horizon looking really spectacular. We went
to a Greek cultural night on Naxos with Lute and Fiddle music and dancing
as well as local liquors. We even got to dance at the end.

A couple more days on Santorini to go, then maybe another island. We are
thinking we might skip mainland greece and see if we can afford a trip to
Egypt! Not sure yet though, I guess that is what I like about this travel
thing.

Probably should go check out the nightlife now, but am too buggered!
Perhaps tomorrow night...