Greece...heavenly

What can I say about Greece...hmm...I seem to be running out of things to say...maybe this should be my last blog or maybe I just need a beer. What do you think? No...after all the great comments from the last blog...you guys certainly deserve more.

There is so much more to Greece than Athens. I particularly didn´t like Athens that much at all. However, I must admit...the Greeks went out of their way to help me starting from the taxi driver who drove me to my hostel. Very friendly people. Now, I´m sure the Acropolis...one of the key sights in Athens would be amazing to see...but all I saw for the most part was scaffolding and cranes. The old streets of Athens and the outdoor tavernas (cafes/restaurants) were pretty cool. However, on the grand scheme of things...very disappointing...on to bigger and better.

Now when I remember Greece...I think of Santorini. I´ve heard all the Greek isles are breathtaking, but I can´t believe they can all be as beautiful as Santorini. My only recommendation...travel with your partner as some of Santorini was lost on me travelling alone. Check out the next five pictures and let me know what you think. Stunning!

I love Greek food and had a fair bit of souvlaki while I was there. And the coolest thing...I could get a filling meal with a 500ml beer for less than 5 Cdn dollars. Who doesn´t like the sounds of that? And for those of you who aren´t beer drinkers...don´t cry...you could get a filling meal and 1.5 litres of red wine for less than 8 Cdn dollars. I never realized how much wine is actually in 1.5 litres. Not bad at all. Have fun with it. I did!

Ferries are a big way of life in Greece and I had my fair share of stories on them. On the ferry ride over to Santorini island, I met up with a couple Aussies and a guy from Quebec city. I started the trend buying the first beer...and then everyone started buying beers...and after about 3.5 litres of beer...everyone seems to get a lot friendlier!

The only thing I don´t like is that in Greece...you can smoke almost anywhere...ferries included. I don´t think they cared that they were killing me as well. Maybe it was just lost in the translation. But I guess I should just consider myself lucky for making it onto the ferry. It seems after 8 months of travel...I still don´t get the time changes. Who knew Greece was 1 hr ahead of Switzerland. The funny thing was that I almost laughed out loud when some of my dormmates got up early and heard one of them say it was 5:30am and they had to get moving. I looked at my watch at it was only 4:30am. Losers!! It turns out I was the loser and make the ferry with very little time to spare.

My next ferry adventure was a little more sobering. After sleeping on the deck...because all the cabins were full...I found out that the 32 hr ferry ride was now going to be 34 hrs due to the fact that someone fell overboard during the night and was lost...the ferry searched for 3 hours. And yes...I can add. The ferry made up an hour. I guess sleeping on the deck isn´t all that bad after all.

Now before that last ferry ride from Patras Greece to Venice Italy, I found myself on an adventure in the Greek Peloponnese. Nafplio to be exact. Compared to the rest of Europe, Greece doesn´t have the greatest train system...and I found out the train system was non-existent in the Peloponnese. So when you don´t have a train at your disposal...you take a bus...right? Sounds easy enough...let me tell you different!

In case you´ve forgotten...the Greek alphabet is very different than ours. Theirs look more like symbols in my eyes. And if you don´t already know...when you get outside of Athens...they drastically speak less English. And let me also tell you that when they do write or speak in English...it´s not always the same spelling or pronunciation as our English. Are you getting the picture here?

I hopped on a train not sure where to get off and had a transfer at Kiato. Trust me...there is no Kiato in the Lonely Planet guide book I have. They did mention Corinth so I decided to get off at Corinth...however...there is no such place in Greece...it´s actually Korinthos. But I´m almost a smart guy and was able to get off the train as the doors were closing. Out to find the bus station, but none of the taxi drivers could speak English. Finally someone helped me out. Whew!

Was able to get my bus ticket...which was all in Greek. But how do you know which bus to get on...they come every 5-10 mintues and some don´t have any signs. I was fortunate enough to match up the symbols. Whew! Now where the hell do I get off. I started to talk out loud to myself (I wonder if this is the Nafplio stop) hoping someone would take pity on me. No...no one appeared to speak English. It is a strange feeling when you have no idea where you´re going or even how to get there. Finally the only passenger who was sleeping woke up and she spoke English. Whew!

Nafplio ended up being worth the trip. However, I suggest if you want to climb the stairs to the castle (999) of them...don´t walk around for 4 hours first. And talking of stairs...in Santorini...the beautiful town of AI has 277 stairs from the port to the city. I tried to get someone off the boat before me so he was the lead horse, but he didn´t take the bait and I had to lead. As you know...I might be a little competitive and told myself no one could pass me. That was all and good until each step was so large that you had to take three steps in between steps. I still curse that guy for not leading, but no one passed me. Hey...I´m Canadian eh!!

And just a parting note. Yes, I know this wasn´t my most interesting posting, but I did give you a bonus posting.

OK...that´s not the parting note. This is...

I recommend HIGHLY that you don´t ever leave Nafplio in the early morning to catch a bus, taxi and train to Patras...then take a 32 hour ferry ride to Venice...than try to find the train station with the damn canals in your way...to take an 8 hour train ride from Venice...to Milano...to Zurich.

Why do I do these stupid trips? Someone...other than Natigo or Bo...please tell me why I do this to myself. I was just getting over the crazy trip back home. I´m not right!!

Oh yeah...Happy Birthday to me tomorrow! I´ll be in Prague...and yes...I´m on another stupid trip. Did I mention...I´m not right!!