Better than ok in Greece (Island of Paros)

Sorry for the lack of recent updates (Mom)....we were in the midst of a lot of trains and busy traveling...we made sure to get on today for some quality typing : ) Let's see....last blog was in Meteora, Greece....but, just a "we're ok".

Meteora is in the heart of mainland Greece. It's main draw are a set of monasteries that perch atop these large rock formations that jut seemingly straight up from the ground into the sky, home to hermits since the 11th century. There are 6 monasteries still in operation up among the peaks. We stayed in a campsite a short distance from the bottom of the mountains for cheap....Greece has finally lived up to camping-price expectations...a site is around 7 dollars. You just set up your tent anywhere in the camping area...and can have use of the showers and bathroom facilities also. Camping Vrachos (the one at Meteora) even had a fridge for common use along with a restaurant and a pool. Upon return from the bathroom on night 1, we were invited to breakfast by our neighbors (a German couple, early 20's, traveling Greece on holiday....Felix and Leah). They were incredibly hospitable.....made us breakfast in the morning, and we had drinks the next night with them before heading to bed. Such nice folks.......Leah mentioned coming to the States sometime for travel....I put in a good word for a quick stop in the midwest, but we'll see. We visited one of the monasteries, and after a little further hiking, enjoyed one of the greatest views of my life. We basked in the beauty of our surroundings and the sun for an hour and a half..... It's one of those many views we've been spoiled with where you question the ability of your eyes to take it in......views that the human eye almost gives up.....it admits its inadequacy and says....you gotta feel this....you can't just see it....amazing stuff. I took some good pics...but.....they won't do it justice.

I was on one of the rocks sprawled out shirtless (probably looked passed out from drinking....even though it wasn't the case), when a Japanese camera crew approached me. They kindly asked for some shots without the sprawled out shirtless American....and I obliged. The host of the show sat all diva-like on a rock while the camera crew hovered around getting different angles and the such......a pretty funny site. We talked with the host for a bit....it was a Japanese travel show highlighting the railways of Greece. We have found that the Japanese love to travel Europe....many Japanese tourists about everywhere we go. That was siting number one of the host (who might be fairly well-known in Japan...who knows). Siting number two would be on the train to Athens in the morning........siting three at the Acropolis. We had a good laugh together on the third run-in and got a photo together. He had a great personality....very fun......if we see him again...I may suspect stalking.

On our second morning in Meteora, we actually woke up before noon....no, nothing wrong.....just had to catch an early train to Athens. We woke up at 7:30......and caught the 8:50 train (we were a little early, because we thought the train was 8:30). The next 6 hours were spent on a dirty, crowded train.....on the floor in between cars, because all of the seats were taken (were weren't alone though...many folks were on the floor throughout the train). The train we took was the cheaper...nastier one. There was another that was quicker and nicer...but it cost twice as much.

So.....into Athens in mid-afternoon......with some quick trips on the Athens metro (which is absolutely fabulous...very new...only covers small area so far...but....really clean and nice)....we were at the Acropolis. For all of those ignorant of the area as we were...the Acropolis is an area that includes the ruins of the Parthenon and a few other buildings.....the Parthenon being the most famous. The Acropolis sits on a hill looking over the city....the view exposes how huge Athens is.....enormous. The city seems to not to go up as much as others....but out much much more....as far as you can see in every direction. I am glad to have had the opportunity to see the Acropolis.....including the Parthenon and Temple of Goddess Nike....theatre of Dionysius (old and new).......and it feels wrong to badmouth it at all...but.....I dunno. It is under construction (which it may have been and will be for quite some time according to signs describing the process posted around the site), and in its current condition, it takes a good imagination to envision the area in its former glory. With that said, I have seen the birthplace of modern western civilization....neat stuff....but....a big city...so.....we had to be back out quickly......for cheap backpackers....I would recommend this highly......get into the city.....see the big sites that interest you....get the heck back out. I really enjoyed doing Bucharest and Athens that way. We hope to do Rome in a similar manner.

So....in and out of Athens....and on a ferry to the island of Paros. There are many islands....we chose based on recommendations from different Greek folks we ran into along the way....but still a fairly random choice. The ferry was from 10pm-3:30am.....we napped on the deck, although it became a little chilly after awhile. Arriving at 3:30am in a new city is never advisable....but it worked out. First, we were offered pensions for around 15 euros.....the city obviously knows and works the ferry schedule (despite its extremely odd late-night disembarkation). So...that was an option, but we went cheaper. We found camping for 6 euro....set up shop and slept from 4am 'til around 10. We just got done walking the strip and arranging a dune buggy rental for the day. This portion of the trip would definitely fall under the splurge category. Our ferry was around 30 dollars.......(30 to get back also)......dune buggy for the day was like 25 dollars each. But......the splurge is worth it. Our camping is cheap and there are plenty of markets for cheap eats.....and authentic gyros...which in Greece are around 2.50USD....makes a great quick meal....mmmmmmm. Here's our quandry. We are planning a week in Taize, France at a monastery (I've probably mentioned that at some point). The typical stay is from Sunday to Sunday. We either.....A) stay on the island today and tomorrow and hurry off to Taize....we would then have a week to pass on our way back to Dublin for our flight. B) enjoy the island for a few more days....hit Taize our last week, but have to leave one day early to scoot back to Dublin for our flight. The island is so nice...and so cheap (now that we're here)......it may also mean that we miss the Cliffs of Mohr.....unless we could work it out to see that on our way back to Dublin. We're thinking it through right now......we have booked our pre-flight hostel in Dublin...close to the airport.....so...that is a good start in the "back to the US" part of our trip.

I'm sorry for the straightforward nature of this e-mail......we've been traveling a lot....without much that is too entertaining. This is not entertaining necessarily...but, I just remembered I wanted to blog about it. When we reserved our dune buggy, the worker was suprised we were American when we gave him our driver's licenses! He said, "you're well tanned and such...I didn't think you were Americans". That was worth a quick chuckle...since that is the only time I've heard that with exception of being thought Australian once. Now...to work some more on that tan. We have been in the port section of the island thus far....must hit the fab beaches before the good sun is gone!