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| Mallorca 2010 |
Besos, Linds
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Mallorca
In between my trips to Greece and my trip home I hopped over to Mallorca for a few days to visit two close friends of mine. They are completing Masters degrees during the summer on the island so I came for the weekend to distract them for a bit! And boy was I a distraction--- the conclusion we've made is that we think I was slipped something at a bar, which resulted in me being sick for the two full days I was there. It was a total bummer because I missed our on visiting the bodegas (up in wine country) and having precious beach time (not that I needed it at that point) but most of all, Ididn't get to really see Mallorca for all it's cracked up to be. The town, Palma, is adorable and the cathedral stunning. But other than that, I didn't get to see much. I hope to go back next summer before moving from Spain to see a bit more and really get a feel for what life is like on a Spanish island.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
24 days, 12 ferries, 9 islands.
I'm a beach girl through and through and traveling through the Greek islands has always been a dream I didn't think I could fulfill (since the ticket to get to Greece costs as much as the trip itself...) Well lucky for me a ticket from Spain is about 1/5 the price as flying from the States, so off I went on a trip of a lifetime. Now I will say this-- I normally try to seek out vacations that I know I won't want to do 10 years from now (i.e. Cambodia, Nicaragua, India, etc.) and while I saw my fair share of honeymooners and lovers walking hand in hand, I'm so glad I took this trip when I did because I think I was really able to see more out of each island than I would have had I been on a honeymoon or quick trip. I've been really missing my life on an island and this gave me the fix I needed to get through another year in the big city!
Greece lived up to all my expectations and in many cases exceeded them. I didn't think it was really possible for a place to look as beautiful as postcards make it out to be but the Greek Isles proved that thinking wrong. Time and time again I thought to myself, "This can't be real. I'm not really in the Greek islands right now, am I?" Since I went to so many places in such a short amount of time (and to prevent you from being bored out of your mind) I'll give a brief synopsis of each place but explain specific details in my photo album at the end of the post.
Naxos: Naxos is one of the most fertile of the Cyclades and has its highest peak, Mt Zeus. The port town, Hora, is divided into two towns: Bourgos, where the Greeks lived and the hilltop Kastro, where the Venetian Catholics lived. On Palatia Islet is Naxos’ most famous landmark, the unfinished Temple of Apollo. The historic village of Halki is full of handsome facades of old villas and houses.
Santorini: Once you venture past the tourist and cruise ship portions, you see an island that is rich in beauty and history and it truly is a living postcard, perfect from many angles but always magnificent no matter where you see it. Lonely Planet said it best when introducing Santorini: “Fantastic, fabulous Santorini deserves all the superlatives. Even the most jaded traveler succumbs to the awesome drama of this surreal landscape.” Santorini was once called Stongili (Round One) until a volcanic eruption in 1650 BC caused the center to sink, leaving a caldera with steep cliffs. Now, the caldera shimmers with white buildings, blue cathedrals, turquoise swimming pools, and hordes of tourists. The main town, Fira, is breathtaking looking out from the edge of the caldera during the day and glistening with lights up and down the cliff at night. Oia is much quieter than Fira... that is, until the sun begins to go down. Then, it is a crazed frenzy to get the best spot for what has to be one of the most soughtafter sunsets in the world. Even better is the hue that the town’s white buildings get when the orange and pink sun is setting against them, it’s magnificent!
Syros: The port town of Ermoupolis grew out of a refugee town that sprang up during the Greek War of Independence. The main square of Plateia Miaouli is lined by palm trees, bars and cafes, and the beautiful town hall. A small village to the north of town, Ano Syros, sits atop a large hill and was originally a medieval settlement. Now, it is an eerie, quiet/deserted maze of homes and restaurants with a church at it's peak.
Tinos: This ultra religious island is home to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, which is said to be the spot where the sacred icon of the Megalochari, the Holy Virgin, was found in 1822. The icon is one of the most famous in Greece and its so-called healing powers lead to mass pilgrimages each year (not really my thing but interesting to see...)
Mykonos: What do I say about this island? I think I had the highest expectations for Mykonos just because I'd heard so much about its party scene. And while I caught a brief glimpse, the "partying" was nothing I was looking to take part in. While we stayed at Paradise Beach (along with thousands of other 18-year-olds), most nights we ventured into Hora, the small, seaside village dotted with restaurants, bars and boutiques. The Little Venice area was an absolute maze and I'm sure I walked in a circle at least 10 times before I found my way. So while I liked the island for nothing more than it's craziness, I would never go back and found it to be far to expensive and hyped for what I got from it.
Delos: Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and the most important in the Cyclades. With no permanent population, you really feel as if you are there thousands of years ago. Delos was the birthplace of the twins Apollo and Artemis and was first inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. Delos reached the height of its power in Hellenistic times, becoming one of the three most important religious centers in Greece. In 167 BC the Romans made Delos a free port, with up to 10,000 slaves sold per day. But by the 3rd century AD there was only a small settlement on the island and in the following centuries it was looted, which is how it remains today.
Ios: Probably my second favorite island (although not much different than Mykonos--- not sure why I had such a different experience) I had the most fun here simply because of where we stayed. Our hotel (Francesco's, recommened to ANYONE who visits this island) was on a hill overlooking the sea and surrounding villages. The same view could be had from the pool, bar, and patio. Each night everyone got together for drinks and then ventured into the city for what has to be one of the coolest bar scenes I've ever witnessed. On one street alone there had to be over 100 consecutive bars, one after the other, all full and all fun! One night when we went home at 2:30 people looked at us like we were crazy, most places were just opening then! The beaches on Ios were also incredible and the party feel spread across all parts of the island. People go there to have a good time and it's hard not to! The only disappointing thing about the island was the 3 hour 4-wheeler ride (on our POS) out to Plato's grave, which ended up being nothing more than a pile of rocks. All in all, I felt I had the most well-rounded experience on Ios because it captured all you think about when you think of the Islands: sun, beach, party, beauty.
And Athens, there's far to much to explain about Athens. The history is so rich there you could spend days in their museums looking at rocks and pottery and still not see everything. Just walking around town and riding the metros feels like you are walking back in time. The city is incredible and vibrant and full of energy and life. The locals are so proud of their culture and their history and willing to share it with anyone that will listen. I loved every minute I had in Athens and don't even feel like I scratched the surface of what there is to see and do. Much more detail about Athens and what I saw will be described in the following photos.
So, as you can see, in typical Lindsay style, I crammed as much as possible into my 3.5 weeks and loved every minute of it. I look forward to going back with someone special in the future to have a completely difference experience!
Greece lived up to all my expectations and in many cases exceeded them. I didn't think it was really possible for a place to look as beautiful as postcards make it out to be but the Greek Isles proved that thinking wrong. Time and time again I thought to myself, "This can't be real. I'm not really in the Greek islands right now, am I?" Since I went to so many places in such a short amount of time (and to prevent you from being bored out of your mind) I'll give a brief synopsis of each place but explain specific details in my photo album at the end of the post.
Naxos: Naxos is one of the most fertile of the Cyclades and has its highest peak, Mt Zeus. The port town, Hora, is divided into two towns: Bourgos, where the Greeks lived and the hilltop Kastro, where the Venetian Catholics lived. On Palatia Islet is Naxos’ most famous landmark, the unfinished Temple of Apollo. The historic village of Halki is full of handsome facades of old villas and houses.
Santorini: Once you venture past the tourist and cruise ship portions, you see an island that is rich in beauty and history and it truly is a living postcard, perfect from many angles but always magnificent no matter where you see it. Lonely Planet said it best when introducing Santorini: “Fantastic, fabulous Santorini deserves all the superlatives. Even the most jaded traveler succumbs to the awesome drama of this surreal landscape.” Santorini was once called Stongili (Round One) until a volcanic eruption in 1650 BC caused the center to sink, leaving a caldera with steep cliffs. Now, the caldera shimmers with white buildings, blue cathedrals, turquoise swimming pools, and hordes of tourists. The main town, Fira, is breathtaking looking out from the edge of the caldera during the day and glistening with lights up and down the cliff at night. Oia is much quieter than Fira... that is, until the sun begins to go down. Then, it is a crazed frenzy to get the best spot for what has to be one of the most soughtafter sunsets in the world. Even better is the hue that the town’s white buildings get when the orange and pink sun is setting against them, it’s magnificent!
Paros: Paros has the reputation of being a friendly island and it did not disappoint. The main port of Parikia is not much to look at but once you venture out of the port you are pleasantly surprised. On the northern part of the island the little town of Naousa is said to quickly be stealing the glitz and glamour of Mykonos. It has a great waterfront area, wonderful restaurants, and an eclectic bar scene. There was even a fish and wine festival going on while we were there, full of dancing, drinking and new friends. Behind the waterfront is a maze of whitewashed streets filled with magenta bougainvilleaand small boutiques. This was, by far, my favorite island because I felt it had the most charm and down-home feel. I'd return in a heartbeat!
Sifnos: An island I wish I had gotten to spend more time in but due to ferry schedules we could only spend one night. With high barren hills, it was easily navigated in one day on a moto. The “capital” Apollonia isn't much to look at but the Kastro, a walled cliff-top village was incredible, with a small church perched on the tip of a long, rocky point.
Syros: The port town of Ermoupolis grew out of a refugee town that sprang up during the Greek War of Independence. The main square of Plateia Miaouli is lined by palm trees, bars and cafes, and the beautiful town hall. A small village to the north of town, Ano Syros, sits atop a large hill and was originally a medieval settlement. Now, it is an eerie, quiet/deserted maze of homes and restaurants with a church at it's peak.
Tinos: This ultra religious island is home to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, which is said to be the spot where the sacred icon of the Megalochari, the Holy Virgin, was found in 1822. The icon is one of the most famous in Greece and its so-called healing powers lead to mass pilgrimages each year (not really my thing but interesting to see...)
Mykonos: What do I say about this island? I think I had the highest expectations for Mykonos just because I'd heard so much about its party scene. And while I caught a brief glimpse, the "partying" was nothing I was looking to take part in. While we stayed at Paradise Beach (along with thousands of other 18-year-olds), most nights we ventured into Hora, the small, seaside village dotted with restaurants, bars and boutiques. The Little Venice area was an absolute maze and I'm sure I walked in a circle at least 10 times before I found my way. So while I liked the island for nothing more than it's craziness, I would never go back and found it to be far to expensive and hyped for what I got from it.
Delos: Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and the most important in the Cyclades. With no permanent population, you really feel as if you are there thousands of years ago. Delos was the birthplace of the twins Apollo and Artemis and was first inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. Delos reached the height of its power in Hellenistic times, becoming one of the three most important religious centers in Greece. In 167 BC the Romans made Delos a free port, with up to 10,000 slaves sold per day. But by the 3rd century AD there was only a small settlement on the island and in the following centuries it was looted, which is how it remains today.
Ios: Probably my second favorite island (although not much different than Mykonos--- not sure why I had such a different experience) I had the most fun here simply because of where we stayed. Our hotel (Francesco's, recommened to ANYONE who visits this island) was on a hill overlooking the sea and surrounding villages. The same view could be had from the pool, bar, and patio. Each night everyone got together for drinks and then ventured into the city for what has to be one of the coolest bar scenes I've ever witnessed. On one street alone there had to be over 100 consecutive bars, one after the other, all full and all fun! One night when we went home at 2:30 people looked at us like we were crazy, most places were just opening then! The beaches on Ios were also incredible and the party feel spread across all parts of the island. People go there to have a good time and it's hard not to! The only disappointing thing about the island was the 3 hour 4-wheeler ride (on our POS) out to Plato's grave, which ended up being nothing more than a pile of rocks. All in all, I felt I had the most well-rounded experience on Ios because it captured all you think about when you think of the Islands: sun, beach, party, beauty.
And Athens, there's far to much to explain about Athens. The history is so rich there you could spend days in their museums looking at rocks and pottery and still not see everything. Just walking around town and riding the metros feels like you are walking back in time. The city is incredible and vibrant and full of energy and life. The locals are so proud of their culture and their history and willing to share it with anyone that will listen. I loved every minute I had in Athens and don't even feel like I scratched the surface of what there is to see and do. Much more detail about Athens and what I saw will be described in the following photos.
So, as you can see, in typical Lindsay style, I crammed as much as possible into my 3.5 weeks and loved every minute of it. I look forward to going back with someone special in the future to have a completely difference experience!
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| Greek Isles 2010 |
Until then, yassas!
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