traveltoestwoSurviving Greece
June 24th 2008 01:08
I have been lucky enough to experience the Greek Islands three times: once with my family, once with a group of girls, and once with a group of boys. All three have been very different experiences.
I went to Santorini with my family when I was fifteen. We stayed in a beautiful luxurious hotel, carved into the cliff face overlooking the everlasting ocean. We hired a car, a little two-door mini that the four of us barely fit into, and drove around for most of the four days, exploring the many faces of the gorgeous island. The downside… I suffer from heat rash. As such, I wasn’t able to step into the sun without umbrella protection.
My second experience of the islands came right in the middle of my eight-month travels. I had just spent six months in one country and was missing the friends I made and the homely atmosphere terribly. Nevertheless, I did manage some time in the sun and some time kicking back with a cocktail (or few) in the many bars that call the islands home. After all, where else but Greece could one go from depressed to ridiculously happy with the setting of the sun?
My third and most recent trip saw me boarding a plane, chasing after my boyfriend and his two friends. Naively, I assumed that travelling with three boys would mean that I wouldn’t have to carry my bag, I wouldn’t have to look after myself and I wouldn’t have to look after anyone else. Boy was I wrong. I didn’t even get my bags carried for me!
After four airports and a forty-five hour flight, I rushed into the waiting arms of my beloved. Even then I had to carry my own bag. Despite my horrific state from travelling, I was forced to down a shot of Ouzo upon arrival at the hotel. After almost throwing up, I was escorted up the five flights of stairs and extremely steep hill to my bed.
In one word, Corfu is exquisite. With so many unexplored alleys and backstreets, it’s possible to get lost anywhere and everywhere. We spent one day boozing it up on a boat, cruising the oceans and jumping off cliff faces (which I was too scared to do). The other days were spent lounging around on the private beach and partying until the sun came up.
As the boys were on a tight budget, it was decided (without my input) to take the overnight bus and ferry back to mainland Greece. This involves an hour drive to Corfu port, a two-hour ferry to the mainland and then a seven-hour drive to Piraeus, the port of Athens. Try doing that with food poisoning.
It was also decided (without my input), to take the overnight ferry to Ios. We were saving money apparently. After securing tickets for the main section of the ferry, it was obvious that none of us were going to get any sleep. One of the boys talked our way into a sleeper cabin, and by far, it was the best sleep I’d had in days. Apparently movement really does put me to sleep.
Ios really is the party island. People don’t surface from hotel rooms until afternoon, nursing hangovers and in desperate need of fried foods. Afternoons are spent lazing in the sun at the communal pool (which by the way is like a resort in itself) or on the beach. It is impossible to get bored in Ios at night with bars and clubs lining every laneway.
Next was Mykonos. TIP: STAY IN TOWN. Although staying near a beach seems like a good idea, the beaches are only a bus ride away from the centre of town – where all the action is. Again, like Ios, Mykonos is a place to party. While there is more to do during the day (the windmills are a sight to see), at night the island turns and out come the strobe lights.
Santorini saw one of the boys depart. This meant one hotel room. Hiring a small one (again, apparently we were saving money) was not our cleverest of ideas. All three single beds were pushed together, leaving me sleeping in the middle. Apparently, boys are scared of sleeping next to each other.
If you’re old enough, hiring a car is the way to go. Things in Santorini are quite spread out. It is beautiful just driving around and getting lost along the many roads. However, choose a small car – the roads are very narrow and Greek drivers, like most in Europe, do not believe in driving to one side.
Greece is a hard place to leave. The lifestyle on the islands is luxurious, with barely a worry. But it’s back to reality. It is called home for a reason.
I went to Santorini with my family when I was fifteen. We stayed in a beautiful luxurious hotel, carved into the cliff face overlooking the everlasting ocean. We hired a car, a little two-door mini that the four of us barely fit into, and drove around for most of the four days, exploring the many faces of the gorgeous island. The downside… I suffer from heat rash. As such, I wasn’t able to step into the sun without umbrella protection.
My second experience of the islands came right in the middle of my eight-month travels. I had just spent six months in one country and was missing the friends I made and the homely atmosphere terribly. Nevertheless, I did manage some time in the sun and some time kicking back with a cocktail (or few) in the many bars that call the islands home. After all, where else but Greece could one go from depressed to ridiculously happy with the setting of the sun?
My third and most recent trip saw me boarding a plane, chasing after my boyfriend and his two friends. Naively, I assumed that travelling with three boys would mean that I wouldn’t have to carry my bag, I wouldn’t have to look after myself and I wouldn’t have to look after anyone else. Boy was I wrong. I didn’t even get my bags carried for me!
After four airports and a forty-five hour flight, I rushed into the waiting arms of my beloved. Even then I had to carry my own bag. Despite my horrific state from travelling, I was forced to down a shot of Ouzo upon arrival at the hotel. After almost throwing up, I was escorted up the five flights of stairs and extremely steep hill to my bed.
In one word, Corfu is exquisite. With so many unexplored alleys and backstreets, it’s possible to get lost anywhere and everywhere. We spent one day boozing it up on a boat, cruising the oceans and jumping off cliff faces (which I was too scared to do). The other days were spent lounging around on the private beach and partying until the sun came up.
As the boys were on a tight budget, it was decided (without my input) to take the overnight bus and ferry back to mainland Greece. This involves an hour drive to Corfu port, a two-hour ferry to the mainland and then a seven-hour drive to Piraeus, the port of Athens. Try doing that with food poisoning.
It was also decided (without my input), to take the overnight ferry to Ios. We were saving money apparently. After securing tickets for the main section of the ferry, it was obvious that none of us were going to get any sleep. One of the boys talked our way into a sleeper cabin, and by far, it was the best sleep I’d had in days. Apparently movement really does put me to sleep.
Ios really is the party island. People don’t surface from hotel rooms until afternoon, nursing hangovers and in desperate need of fried foods. Afternoons are spent lazing in the sun at the communal pool (which by the way is like a resort in itself) or on the beach. It is impossible to get bored in Ios at night with bars and clubs lining every laneway.
Next was Mykonos. TIP: STAY IN TOWN. Although staying near a beach seems like a good idea, the beaches are only a bus ride away from the centre of town – where all the action is. Again, like Ios, Mykonos is a place to party. While there is more to do during the day (the windmills are a sight to see), at night the island turns and out come the strobe lights.
Santorini saw one of the boys depart. This meant one hotel room. Hiring a small one (again, apparently we were saving money) was not our cleverest of ideas. All three single beds were pushed together, leaving me sleeping in the middle. Apparently, boys are scared of sleeping next to each other.
If you’re old enough, hiring a car is the way to go. Things in Santorini are quite spread out. It is beautiful just driving around and getting lost along the many roads. However, choose a small car – the roads are very narrow and Greek drivers, like most in Europe, do not believe in driving to one side.
Greece is a hard place to leave. The lifestyle on the islands is luxurious, with barely a worry. But it’s back to reality. It is called home for a reason.
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