You are a bit off season, Richard. On Santorini - do go for lunch at Lucky's Gyros in Fira - right near the museum on the main drag. Tour the museum for the frescoes (15 minutes tops) & then grab lunch at Lucky's. You can not eat better gyros anywhere. The Akrotiri site is certainly worth an hour of your time.

If you go back to Athens, dinner at Funky Gourmet is highly recommended. Very inventive food. Michelin 2 Star so not cheap but cheaper than the same in Paris or NYC. I don't know if you do museums, but the Archaeological Museum in Athens has some stunning ancient treasures.

Ian

My dessert at Funky Gourmet 1 1/2 years ago . . .

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We thought Athens was a dump. Southern Crete was our favorite part.

Ian

Its all that old ****. Why don't they knock it down and build some towers? -)

Travel broadens the mind. Tabs is proof.

Seconded. I've been taking mental notes for some time. I like the way he travels...

We've sworn to do at least one new country a year from here on out with the kid. Don't want to wait until we're old and too tired/broken/dead to enjoy it. As she's a toddler we're keeping it easy at first but will get more adventurous soon.

Hahahaha!

Lucky's gyros. Thanks Ian!

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View from my room:

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The Funky Gourmet is on my radar. I walked by it the other night. Might venture in and have a closer look when back in Athens day after tomorrow.

Heading to Akrotiri tomorrow. Looks very interesting. Tonight is the sunset in Oia. Supposed to be amazing.

I LOVE being here in the off season. Hate the crowds. Must be a real zoo in the summer! I'll bring the wife to Mykonos next time we're in the area.

Wow! I could use some of that view right now. Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you, Richard. SmileWavy

Its an easy flight from DC or LA, Jim!

Sounds good. Greece is definitely on our list. Off-season travel isn't too bad, is it? My wife and I spend most of February in Spain (Barcelona and Valencia). We really enjoyed it there. The added bonus of better weather than DC made the trip all the more enjoyable.

I'm glad you made it to Lucky's. We went twice it was so good. And yes, Santorini is a major zoo in the summer. We skipped Oia because of the hordes & had a great sunset from the upper terrace of the Kapari Wine Restaurant (excellent restaurant too btw) in Imerovigli - a 20 minute walk from your hotel.

A warning about Akrotiri . . . it is a smallish site that is covered & quite confusing without some reading ahead of your visit. The signage isn't great. There may be registered guides lounging outside who will talk you through it for 20€.

Ian

No kidding. I really enjoy Motions, IM and others sharing their travels.

I was in Spartanburg, SC yesterday. I'll post some pics soon:D

I was in Athens many moons ago. I had some free time waiting for my flight back to Uncle Sugar. The ruins of the Acropolis were amazing...those columns are huge, a picture doesn't do them justice.....but not worth the trip, IMO.

The most interesting thing was while waiting at a bus stop. I spotted a Mini Cooper just like my dads coming when he suddenly locked up all four. That was brought to a halt by some newer blue Ford thingy ( this was 1970). He buried the nose into the drivers side....the best was yet to come.

The Mini driver was an Ausssie, he jumped out as did the Greek in the Ford.....the Greek was running his mouth at a great rate. The Aussie said enough to establish his nationally to me.......the Greek just kept his mouth running.....The Aussie shut him up with a haymaker that put the Greek on his ass.....I subdued a cheer and got on the bus ......great stuff.:rolleyes: It is what I remembered best of my 13 months in the country.

hung out at the bus station in Izmir for an afternoon. waiting. met some awesome youngish folks there.
took a boat ride to Kos. that is where you can interact with the refugees. pretty grim situation. that is a rough sea, around there. i would say that 25% of the passengers (35-40 ft. boat) were puking off the deck. i would not have wanted to be in a leaky rubber dingy, fleeing for my life, that is for sure.
the Canadian refugee count, for this round, is 25000, so far. some great looking families.

My wife and daughter are heading to Greece in September for a wedding on the island of Kos. I will be meeting them in Germany after the wedding for a week of fun.

Me too! I enjoy reading Motion's off the cuff travel threads!

...and I was in Canmore, Alberta just a week ago....I'll post some pics here soon too!..lol!:p

Why do I need to travel halfway across the world to sleep on someone else's lumpy old mattress when I can stay at home and sleep on my own lumpy old mattress.

So what if I don't know that the Acropolis was blown up in 1687 by a Venetian bombardment which ignited a Ottoman ammo dump inside.

Seeing is believing, tabster!

Great thread! Of course these travelogues can't compare with the usual, "what kind of toaster oven/snow tires/nose hair trimmer should I buy?" ones but I like it!

Curious, can you feel the effects of their debt crisis/financial melt-down right now? Is it cheaper or(?)

I also plan on buying a used MC to leave in Europe this summer. I was thinking older BMW airhead but the Africa Twin or Transalp is intriguing. And they're everywhere over there. I may be able to help w/ secure storage either in the Itaian Alps or southern France, we shall talk. Have a great trip! :)

You are welcome to it... provided I get the keys so it doesn't rust from lack of use 😉😉😉