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Top 15 Greek Islands, ranked from Best to Worst

Top 15 Greek Islands, ranked from Best to Worst

According to a friend (who speaks Greek) who has visited all 15 of these Greek Islands

  1. Milo — cannot get ferry 13-16 April
  2. Paxos — … cannot find on the ferry website
  3. Cephalonia
  4. Santorini = 7 hrs by ferry. too far
  5. Corfu = far. better to fly. Near Italy
  6. Naxos = 5 hr ferry.
  7. Mykonos = famous, £££, island of winds,
  8. Sifnos = recommended by Lena.
  9. Serifos
  10. Hydra ===== WHERE to go with Lauren for Easter
  11. Amorgos
  12. Tinos
  13. Symi
  14. Crete
  15. Rhodes

Do you agree or disagree with this ranking?

 

 

 

Transport between Athens Airport and Athens Harbour

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Athens-Airport-ATH/Piraeus

£9 / 1hr train ride. Taxi is £60 and takes approx the same time (traffic). Time Table for that train 12211h on April 13,

14:09⇢15:09

15:09⇢16:09

16:09⇢17:09.

 

Island Options

 

Go to Hydra without Lauren 3 nights

Nea maki 2 nights

Hot springs 2 nights

Delphi 2 nights

Athens 2 nights

 

 

PAROS:

Ferry Departure: 17:30 13-Apr-2022- 🕑4h 15min. Arrives 21:45. Cost: 42.50€ (and up)

Back to Athens: 10:4516-Apr-2022 ARRIVAL BACK 15:00, 16-Apr-2022 4 hrs and 15 min. 42.50 €.

 

NAXOS: 17:3013-Apr-2022🕑22:4513-Apr-2022   43.50 € (blue star ferries)

09:3016-Apr-2022🕑5h 30min15:0016-Apr-2022   43.50 €. (blue star ferries)

5h 15min on the ferry = Won’t leave us much time on the island.

 

4 Ways to Book a Ferry in Greece

http://www.openseas.gr/

https://www.ferries.gr/en/

https://www.greekferries.gr/

https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/

 

lena photo was Pilio = way north.

 

monemfacia

philaponese

 

From Rafina: Andros, Eyos, Uefonici, Nicolas (too expensive, gay ) Nexos, Paros (Karim has a friend. need a car there) , santorini (most amazing one), Tinos (most religious one).

 

 

https://www.greecetravel.com/

 

booking 23 europe

hotel hofers orfeas delphl

 

friend of Karim in Paros

 

Peloponnese Peninsula: Corenthine,

Argos and Mykines itself (Lion’s gate)

Wine country Némée (nemea)

Epidavros (archeological site and beautiful bay)

take car drive to

Nauplie (romantic small city, 19th century town)

Get olive oil, wines

 

 

You can go from Hermioni to Hydra

 

 

Other island: methana

Seronic islands.

 

 

12 Top Sites to Visit in Athens – for Delightful Reasons!

12 Top Sites to Visit in Athens – for Delightful Reasons!

Athens is definitely one of the best cities in Greece – with 12 top sites to visit.

12 Top Sites to visit in Athens, Greece.

And most of the main attractions are nicely grouped together.

Panathenaic Stadium

Athens is the home of ancient treasures. Our very first destination was the Panathenaic Stadium. The world’s ancient Olympics were here, as well as the first modern Olympics in 1896! Then, in the 2004 Olympics, the stadium was used for the historic marathon finish and archery contests.

As a stadium, it’s horseshoe shaped, although the track is an oval. The track is pretty narrow and the 400 m is a bitch. Now 2600 after it was built, it’s no longer flat either, but slopy! Today, this theatre would cost a fortune as it was built 100% in marble! Nothing but the best for the goddess Athena, in whose honor the Panathenic Games (first Olympics) were held. Today, you can go for a jog there between 7.30 – 9 am – although do check Covid restrictions before you leave.

You can see it for free from the outside but it’s about a $5 to visit the inside.

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Theater of Dionysus

The Stadium is next to the rocky hill of the Acropolis – the most famous hill in all of Greece with several top sites to visit in Athens. On the south side of the Acropolis lies Theater of Dionysus, classical Greek plays were first presented. It was the first stone theatre ever created. The theatre was build to honor Dionysus, who is the god of fertility. Some fun fact: a large statue of the god had been placed in the front row so that the god himself could watch the plays. According to tradition, in 534 or 535 BC, Thespis astounded audiences by leaping on to the back of a wooden cart and reciting poetry as if he was the characters whose lines he was reading. In doing so he became the world’s first actor, in the Theater of Dionysus.

Parthenon

The building next to it on the Acropolis is the Parthenon — the ultimate top site to visit in Athens, On the list of the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Parthenon is Greece’s most famous temple – and there are many temples in Greece – trust me! The temple is dedicated to the goddess Athena, from which the city derives its name. The temple has 65 imposing giant columns and maintaining / restoring the site seems an ongoing operation. The site dates back to between 447 and 438 B.C. It’s truly ancient. Pro travellers tip: go see the temple at (sunrise or) sunset for the most splendid pictures with literally ‘glowing’ marble. On the North side of the hill, you’ll also find a second temple, Erectheion, another Greek temple, which personally love even more as it features statues of beautiful ladies (Caryatids) rather than columns.

Acropolis Museum

Athens houses some of the world’s greatest museum collections. And of course, let’s start with the Acropolis Museum (which sits at the foot of the Acropolis, and which first gallery exhibits ‘The Finds of the Acropolis Slopes’ , flowing on to galleries of the various ages of the Acoropolis. Then, on the 3rd floor is the Parthenon gallery, and this is where you’ll find all the statues that used to be in the Parthenon. The museum is as vast as the Parthenon was large with: thousands of marble and stone busts and statues!

Plaka Neighborhood

After all this sightseeing, it’s time for some relaxation and/or shopping therapy?!* Below the Acropolis, is the restored historical Plaka neighborhood. Here you can shop for olive oil soaps, worry beads, handmade leather sandals, evil eye talismans and handmade Greek pottery, or simply sip a drink or have some lunch at a local bar and do some people watching. (BTW Plaka is a great neighborhood to stay if you’re a first time visitor to Athens.)

Monastiraki Flea Market

Worthy of its own mentioning, it is the colorful and large Monastiraki Flea market, also ‘right there’. Think of this as a ‘flea market’-neighborhood! In this maze of alleys and pedestrian streets, you can shop for some authentic relics, antiques and jewelry, or some indigenous flavors, besides artisanal soaps, handmade sandals and souvenir T-shirts. This lively area also hosts some well-known iconic landmarks, like the ruins of Hadrian’s Library, the Ancient Agora and the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos. The remains of both the Greek and Roman agoras remind us that in ancient times, this also was an area to shop.  The streets surrounding the market areas are filled with traditional tavernas and restaurants, many with splendid Acropolis views.

Rooftop Bar Sunset

Talking about sunsets, we recommend visiting one of Athens’ rooftop bars that overlook the Acropolis. There’s https://aforathens.com/bar-restaurant/, https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g189400-d866612-Reviews-Galaxy_Restaurant_Bar-Athens_Attica.html or try the Tudor Hall restaurant (https://www.tudorhall.gr/) on the 7th floor of the https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/athgl-king-george-a-luxury-collection-hotel-athens/overview/ .

National Archaeological Museum

When restored, time for more sight seeing?! How about the National Archaeological Museum? This is really a MUST-DO, even if you’re not so ‘into museums’. Amongst its 11,000 Greek arti-facts and treasures, the highlights to look out for:

  • The Antikythera mechanism – hand tool used to calculate the dates of religious holidays.
  • the Santorini frescoes.
  • the gilded funeral mask of King Agamemnon of Mycenae (15th century B.C).
  • a life-size bronze statue of a boy riding a horse, named ‘Jockey of Artemision’.
  • delicate golden hairnets adorned with small busts of Aphrodite or Artemis.

Syntagma Square

Not sure when you’ll be travelling to visit Athens, but on Sunday 11:00 am** you can witness the changing of the guards (in traditional uniforms) before the Hellenic Parliament Building at Syntagma Square. Quite a spectacle! Syntagma Square is considered the centre of Athens. Besides the changing of the guards, the square also ‘hosts’ major events like political demonstrations and celebrations. This is located on the NE corner of the National Garden (i.e. which is diagonally opposite of the park to where the “Olympic” Panathenaic stadium is situated.) ** A mini version of it all is on the top of the hour, every hour, every day.

Akadimia Platonos or… Lycabettus Hill

Athens is also the birthplace of Plato ( 428-348 BCE), where he founded the world’s first university, The Academy, in the 380s BCE. Remnants of the buildings where he used to teach remain in park ‘Akadimia Platonos‘ on the outskirts of Athens.

Whether you are aware of it or not, Plato is still very much alive today in modern America. His most famous work is the Republic, which details a wise society run by a philosopher.  His famous dialogues showcase his metaphysical theory of forms. OK. It’s not that this park is so ‘amazing’ to look at. And it’s out of the way too. More important perhaps is that you become aware of the many amazing roots our western society has in ancient Athens, Greece.

So, if this park is a tat too far to your itiniary, consider taking a stroll in the Lycabettus Hill, which is a popular park for locals to go. There is a little cable car that takes you to the top of the hill in 10 minutes and gives you a spectacular panoramic view of the city. Lycabettus Hill is located a bit north of the other sites mentioned here, and again, is particularly popular at sunset.

Philopappos Hill

An alternative park is Philopappos hills. You can climb up on it and gain some amazing views.

Agora of Athens

This ancient landmark is the most famous agora of Greece. Today, you can visit the ruins of what once was a gathering place & a museum with arti-facts. It’s near the Acropolis and the Monastiraki square. Sort of inbetween.

Gateway to the Greek islands

Athens is also the gateway to the Greek islands and other places to visit in Greece, such as Delphi. Most airlines fly into Athens for any greek destination.

Your Tour to See the Top Sites in Athens

The suggested tour around Athens: Acropolis + Acropolis Museum, the ancient Agora of Athens. Then walk to Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, Stadium and Botanical Gardens.

Best Daytrip out of Athens: the Athens Riviera!

Take a tour to Cape Sounion and be sure to see the Temple of Poseidon (God of the Sea) along the way.

Check out Aimanakia. Athenian Riviera

Or Monastery of Kaisariani, only 8 km out of Athens…

Or Marathon

Lake Marathon is eight kilometers west of the Marathon village, on the road to the Church of Ayios Stéfanos. Marathon was celebrated in antiquity as the place where Theseus killed the bull of Marathon and the scene of the first great battle between the Greeks and Persians in 490 BC.

Pro-Travellers Tip

As there is obviously a lot of walking involved, it makes sense to wear comfortable shoes. Furthermore, some sites actually prohibit high heel shoes as they may damage the property!

Buy the combined ticket for the Acropolis and surrounding attactions.

Some food recommendations in Athens:

  • Mam – Cheese pie
  • Kostas Soulvaki – pork souvlaki
  • Souvlaki Lefteris o Politis – kebab spicy souvlaki
  • Diporto – old style Athens food
  • Taverna Agrinio – amazing grilled meat
  • Taverna Moschos – seafood
  • Taverna To Trigono – grilled meat, incredible lamb

Handy Travel Links for Visitors

Paris ‘Je Suis Charlie’ Peace Rally, January 11, 2015

Millions of people made the trip to Paris to participate in this afternoon’s peace rally.  Officials from many European countries participated in the rally, as well as many local Parisians.

 

The rally was an act of solidarity.

The rally was organized in response to this week’s terrorist attacks in Paris,  which literally shocked the world.    The major attack was on the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo, a French weekly cartoon publication.  But there were others.

 

‘Je suis Charlie’ became the slogan for solidarity with the victims of the attacks; it was written all over Paris.

je suis charlie - peace rally paris january 2015


Rally participants still chanting on top of the ‘Statue of the Republic’ hours after the demonstration.

 

Today’s focus was on peace (no hate), freedom of speech, and the French’s love for the satirical, humorist writers, besides the world’s sadness and shock of this week’s events.


jesuischarlie4

 

 

Cartoonists around the world responded.

jesuischarlie8


jesuischarlie3

Today the slogan of the French revolution is once again relevant:  liberte’ egalite’ and fraternite’.


je suis charlie

Rally participants on the column on the Bastille, symbol of the French Revolution.

 

‘It is better to die standing, than to live kneeling.’ ~ Charl.

 


Je suis charlie

Altar for ‘Je Suis Charlie’ at Place de la Republique, Paris.

 

The rally was also in honor and mourning of additional terrorists killings this week, incl. of municipal police woman in training in a Paris suburb, Clarisse, who as doing a two month internship from Guadelupe.


jesuisclarisse

Visiting Puerto Vallarta – part 2

… continuation from part 1 of this article by Caitlin_Moore:

After nourishing your creative side, get your adrenaline pumping by taking advantage of one of the many sport-tastic opportunities. The northern shore of Puerto Vallarta is perfect for a number of heart-pounding activities like surfboarding and windsurfing and there are several popular scuba diving and snorkeling spots, including Los Arcos and Isla Marietas. Kayaks can be rented at most area beaches, and the experience of floating above the fray for a bird’s eye view can be achieved by taking a parasailing adventure. The seaside cabanas and shops will take care of all equipment and instructional needs, so get ready to have a blast.

Cuisine-inclined folk, a.k.a. food lovers, be aware that Puerto Vallarta claims to have the best food in Mexico. Sushi is a specialty and chefs from all over the world call this home, so expect to be wowed on more than one occasion. Casual to classy, cheap to luxurious, the culinary atmosphere can best be summed by one phrase: lot’s of choices.

Golf, shopping, nightlife, festivals and art galleries will help to finish out your itinerary; don’t forget to save some time for lounging, swimming, floating and reading as well. This is your time to catch up on sleep, reconnect with your significant other, and forget about your responsibilities. Do this by whatever means necessary; in Puerto Vallarta, it won’t be a challenge.

One more aspect of the trip that will lend itself to the successful execution of your great escape will be your lodging decision. To take things to the limit, consider renting a vacation home rather than staying in a hotel. Puerto Vallarta Vacation Rentals have a way of making you feel like you’re in your own world, one where you decide what your schedule is and who to spend your time with. Pick a romantic beach house for two equipped with all that you’ll need to remain secluded for a while, or choose a spacious villa with enough bedrooms to let the whole beautiful family breathe and coexist peacefully.

Checking out all the properties online is fun way to spend a little time, and may reveal the future site of many pleasant memories. At the very least, it’ll get you in the mood to visit Puerto Vallarta (as if that’s a difficult thing to get excited about) so start exploring your options today.

Visit HomeAway.com to peruse an extensive array of vacation rentals in locations all over the world.