Yiannis pulled into the port looking for Goddess Bethena. He search Ios looking for her. I wonder how he gets his motor bike (under white tarp) and his seadoo down? I must ask him the next time I see him.
Some people can't see the pictures and are getting red x's. I have uploaded them again and hope that helps. Please let me know if the problem continues. You might miss my "special" beach pictures and that would be a real shame.
If anybody encounters other pics that don't show up please let me know. I don't know what happened.
Had a great day! Left Ios on a “Wildcat” Ferry. They are not as fast as the high-speed ferries but much easier to board. On the high-speed ferries, I have such a hard time with my suitcase.
As the ferry was leaving the port, I was sitting on the side that was going by the "special beach" Absolutely nothing! I think nude beaches are imaginary!
I have to struggle up three flights of metal boat stairs with pulling 80 pounds and 30 on my back, and let’s not forget my “steel” purse. The last time I just gave up and left my suitcase where they drive the cars. It isn’t so bad, as lots of tourists do that. It is just coming from Canada and the high security… “DO NOT leave your suitcase unattended. If you do it will be blown up” Great! Can you imagine if they tried blowing up my suitcase with the aerosols cans of hair products. They would have an atomic explosion on their hands. So the Greeks are far gentler. You can leave your suitcase anywhere and hopefully nobody takes off with it. If they do they will find some pretty yucky clothes after three weeks and no laundry mat.
Met a lovely older couple from England on their way to Mykonos.
They wonder why kids misbehave when they stay at hotels called "Aphroditi". You think!
Chatted with them and told them all about the blog. It is now well over 3200 hits. Interesting!
Got off in Paros and my driver for the hotel was there. I am not far from the port again and could have walked. Oh well! Nice to have someone show me the way. This is the very first port that I have arrived in where people are actually handing out brochures to their hotels, hostels or guest houses. I thought they did it at every port (or so I was told) but I have not seen one.
It turns out I should have scouted out a few places. I am now in a dive. I can honestly say that I am roughing it. This place is horrid but it will do. My bathroom hadn’t even been cleaned. There was toothpaste all over the sink and taps and the famous “toilet paper” bin hadn’t been emptied.
These are the old folks of the island.
GROSS!!!!! You’ll never guess what, but I didn’t complain. I just wiped the sink myself and filled the garbage with papers. See I am getting tougher. Nobody can call me a “Princess’ anymore. I have redeemed myself as a true vacationer. I think I will start wearing my underwear for two days straight! I’ve turned a new leaf!
Paros looks rather similar to Ios but much bigger and a much different clientele. I can already tell I am going to love this island. It didn’t hurt that I got my whistle wet by the lovely picture of the yacht in the port in Ios. So I booked myself on a yacht cruise for tomorrow. So for now I may be scrapping my plans to go to Naxos for the day. You never know I might want to do that on Tuesday, but then when am I going to tour Paros? So many things to do and not enough days! So now I have to decided which one to do and which one to go without. Oh the many stresses of my life right now.
Here comes the "wildcat" ferry.
My cruise tomorrow is going to be a tough one on my poor skin. I will be out in the sun all day and be swimming in different beaches on two islands. They are small islands on the other side of Naxos. One is called Iraklia (same name as the city in Crete that I stayed at one night) and the other island is called Koufonissi. They feed us on the ship and give us wine and ouzo. What more do I want?
I went to church today. Lit a candle and said a prayer for you. The cathedral was spectacular. I want to go for a tour of it but they were not going on at the time. According to what I could gather, it was built by St. Helen. She prayed that she would find the Holy Cross and she did so she got her son, Constantine the Great to build it.
It reminds me of Jonah and the whale. It looks like the inside of a mouth. See the epiglotis hanging down.
Which he did! And a fine job he did. It is beautiful. I must admit, the Greeks have the most amazing churches I have ever seen. Since this is my first trip to Europe, I am sure there are magnificent ones throughout, especially in Rome. But for me, the Greeks are great architects and decorators.
I have a picture of a restaurant that had the weirdest name. The “Love Café” but low and behold when I was walking back to my room, I saw it has free WiFi. So guess whose going to the Love Café? Me… as soon as I have my shower and put on my same underwear! (Living dangerously)
I had my first “gyros” this afternoon. I am sure we have them in Edmonton but thought I would try one here.
My balcony. Easily assessible from the street. Yippee! If I can't find my key I can climb over.
It was okay, but I can tell why the young people have them. They are the only cheap food and they put everything in it. Even the French Fries! I am not kidding! They put a handful of chips in the gyros. I said “Excuse me, I would like those on the side”. He looks at me with a puzzled look. Guess what? No English. So I take my gyros with the French fries inside and go off and eat it. Now that I am such a Greek traveler , I just might wear my underwear for three days. Yamas! (that means “cheers” in Greek) I don’t know how to spell it but I can say it.
Oh! Very important retraction, from a past blog entry. I put a video in of the very loud crickets. Those are not crickets, they are locusts. I figured that out all on my own. I don’t know the first thing about locusts but remember a huge problem in the Old Testament, well, I think there may be another infestation on its way very soon! You can’t say I didn’t warn everyone.
Looking forward to my yacht trip tomorrow and I will be sure to tell you how it goes. I hope the sea isn’t too rough. I will take my motion sickness pills with me and might just sleep through the entire excursion.
