This is the base of the place where all the street demonstrations in Athens are going on. Went there in 2010 to spend a few days in Athens and took some time to check out Syntagma Square and get a feel for the place. Interesting now to actually know the real estate we see on TV where the Greeks are in the streets.
Was in Athens with my wife and as we were walking to find a place to eat one evening in the Roman Agora we stumbled on to an outdoor concert under the Acropolis and moon. Greece has it’s issues but this is something they do well.
Walking along the steps in Santorini this is the view you get. Fresh air everywhere.
While in Santorini took a drive in our island car (tiny) over to Red Beach on the South End of the island. It’s a bit of a hike but worth it. No direct access other than climbing over a few decent hills. Water is ice cold and awesome.
I spent the whole summer of 1995 traveling around Europe back and forth mostly from Italy to England. I was working at a guide so every 10 days or so we’d go one direction (Rome to London) then turn around and go the other direction crossing each time major capitals and smaller towns like Firenze, Lucerne, or Nice. One trip however was a bit more custom that had us going to Greece. At this point I had never been to Greece but I was the guide (with 40 pax no less). That Greek trip had us cruising Greek waters and we ended up in Rhodes. This is one of the shots from that journey.
Here’s a nice shot of Fira on Santorini from the Firostefani side looking back. We were out for a ridge line hike and this was just before stopping for an (very) tasty Greek lunch overlooking the caldera. Check out those cliffs which are essentially the edge of the volcano. Santorini is a very barren island with pops of civilization here and there. If you go, don’t stay in Fira but rather stay in Oia (a gem) or Megalohori (less touristed). Click the photo for big view.
Spent a few days on Santorini in 2010. This is a shot of the town of Oia on the North side of the island. It’s the classic Greek island jet set village. The hotels here have ridiculous views of the Mediterranean. Was lucky enough to catch the light just so as the sun went down and the moon came up – the whole world there becomes a deep blue with light reflecting off all the white houses. Make this a place to check out before you die.
Athens is in the news now everyday with the economic chaos going on there, but aside from all that Athens is a good city with tremendous history, incredible food, and a great city to move around in on foot and even by metro. This particular shot was taking early in the evening after climbing up to the base of the Acropolis and is looking back over toward Mount Lycabettus with the heart of Athens right below it. Click on the photo for full image.
Spent a week in the Greek Islands and had a great little hotel on the South end of Santorini looking back into the caldera (the center of the old volcano). From the terrace we could see the main road going from the port down below all the way up to the main road that traces the top of the island with Fira in the distance. Santorini is really an amazing island because while it has it’s share of tourists, you can also skip all that and enjoy the island and the food easily on your own wherever you like.
Athens is a pretty interesting city to spend some time in. The food is ridiculously good in Athens and it’s a nice place to spend two days as a stop over before heading to the islands. There is a particularly interesting quality of sunlight in Athens that sort of bathes the city.
