Santorini and Crete

Town of Oia, Santorini

View of the Town of Thira, Santorini

I have already been to Santorini once before, but I was convinced to go again with two beautiful Australians, and I'm so glad I did. Santorini was the highlight of my European travels two years ago, but I only had one day there which was obviously not enough time to see everything. This time, I managed to relax a lot more and see things I didn't even know existed on the island.

Red Sand Beach, Santorini

We rented ATVs one day and drove around orienting ourselves about the island. Another day, we went into the capital, Thira, and walked around the shops, had coffee, took photos and ate free samples of wine and olives. We visited both the red sand and the black sand beaches, and sailed around the smaller surrounding islands, climbed the Caldera and watched the sunset.

View of Sunset from Oia, Santorini

Coffee Shop in Thira, Santorini

Ever since I went to Santorini two years ago, I've been obsessed with the idea of going back to Greece and seeing the island of Crete. Luckily, I managed to convince both of my friends to join me there, and we caught the 4am ferry to Heraklion.

Crete is a very different island from the rest of the Cyclades not only because of it's size (it is much bigger) but because of it's history. The Minoan civilization is the oldest known civilization in Europe, and they resided on Crete. The interesting thing about them is that their destruction was the creation of the island of Santorini... when the volcano erupted creating the island, the Minoans were wiped out.

One Rock Beach, Near Plakias, Crete

I really enjoyed staying on Crete, but I feel like I didn't quite see everything I wanted to see. It is a big island and it is difficult getting around, especially on public transport because their road systems are awful. It is also a very mountainous island, and the roads weave in and about them.

We stayed on the south side of the island for 5 days on Plakias beach, and then myself and one of the two girls I had been travelling with headed North to stay in Rethimno for another 5 days. The Aussie friend we left behind had met a nice boy and wanted to stay in Plakias with him for a few extra days.

River Walk, Plakias, Crete

Plakias was beautiful, but other than going to the beach and climbing up the river bed, there wasn't that much to actually do there. So when we got to Rethimno we were eager to begin seeing everything Crete had to offer.

Samarian Gorge, Crete

Minoan Ruins, Crete

Matala Beach, Crete

Matala Beach was one of my favourite places. There were neolithic caves carved out of the sandstone on this beautiful beach, and in the 1960s they were inhabited by hippies. Stevie Nicks even lived there at one point and wrote a song about it!

Our adventures continue to the island of Rhodes, where we needed to wait for two nights in order to catch a ferry across to Fethiye, Turkey.

Corfu

Croatia was amazing, but getting from there to Greece was one of the most complicated things I’ve ever had to do. If you look at the two countries on the map, they are quite close, and originally I thought I wouldn’t have a problem getting to Corfu from Split. It’s just down the Adriatic after all.

I was wrong. No buses, trains or ferries go there.

After a lot of research I discovered that the cheapest way (and easiest, if you’ll believe it) was to take an overnight ferry to Italy, and then another overnight ferry to Igoumenitsa in Greece, and then another ferry from there to the island of Corfu. Two days later when I finally arrived I was (needless to say) exceptionally grumpy and tired as hell, and to boot I had no place to stay. The first thing I did was sit and have a coffee. Once I could feel the caffeine pulsing through my veins I managed to locate an internet café so I could find a hostel to stay at and how to get there. Luckily, I chose well, and Spiros, the owner of the hostel, came and picked my up in his beat-up old van at the dock and took me home.

My first impression of the hostel was not good, I admit. I had only seen couples around the place so far, and as a single traveller having a hostel full of couples basically means you’ll be doing everything alone and going to bed early. Granted, I’ve met some really cool couples who socialize and party with everyone, but the general rule is that they keep to themselves. On top of the couple thing, midway through my shower I noticed I was not alone. There was a massive, 4-inch long grasshopper in there with me. I got out of there pretty fast, and if anyone was around they would have witnessed quite the scene: Me, naked and soapy, running for my life out of the stall. After that, I decided a siesta was in order.

Things greatly improved when I awoke and met a girl named Lisa, from Melbourne. She assured me that the hostel was wonderful and that most people were, in fact, single travellers who loved to party. She was right, and as it happens, that hostel in Corfu became by far the best hostel I’ve ever stayed at. Magdalena cooked everyone in the hostel two authentic, organic Greek meals a day for free. Everyone ate together which meant we all got to know each other very well, and dinner was always followed by several drinks. The hostel itself is situated in the side of a rock-face, overlooking a perfect beach. This beach was virtually unknown by tourists, so it was quiet and clean. This also meant that there was still quite a bit of greenery and natural growth on the island so it felt very lush. On our daily hikes, we would pluck wild figs from the trees and eat them along with peaches and almonds and pomegranates and grapes. There was wild Thyme, rosemary and bay leaves growing everywhere, and some of the olive trees have been growing on the island for hundreds of years. There was also a nude beach near by, that was had clay-mud layered underneath the sand and we would make trips down to it and rube the clay all over ourselves and make our skin lovely and soft. I was lucky to have stayed there and I really felt that the hostel enabled me to experience the real Corfu and what it had to offer.

The day after I got there I met another lovely girl named Emma, and her, Lisa and I got on quite well and decided to continue travelling together after Corfu. They were both planning on going to Santorini, and I had already been, but they convinced me to go along and continue our adventures together!

Sail Croatia Adventures

Here is another installment peeps, but I am too tired to recount all the stories from the craziness which was my Croatian sailing tour, so I'm going to make a photographic blog. Here are some highlights with some brief commentary thrown in for good measure.

Omis

Spent our first night here. We were meant to stay in Makarska, which is supposed to be a big party city, but it was really windy that day so the Captain altered our route. It was a very pretty town, quite small and very few tourists. Went into town for dinner and drinks that night.

Mljet

Another sleepy town with a gorgeous National Park. We had dinner on the boat this night and plenty of drinks, after which I escorted a few people from our boat onto my friends boat. I had met this French guy in Split a few days before, and he was doing the same tour but on the super deluxe boat. So we had some drinks there, talked to some people, almost got kicked off a few times. Also, I had a marriage proposal from an Aussie named Andy.

Dubrovnik

One of the prettiest cities I've ever seen, although very crowded with tourists. This city was almost destroyed in the war not too long ago, but has been built back up to the point where you would almost never know. This was a hot day and I decided to take off on my own rather than stick with the group and I had a nice walk through the old town, stopping for some gelato. Lots of Italian influence in food in Croatia, as Italy is right across the Adriatic and they get a lot of Italian tourists. Later we had a fancy dinner by the ocean and drank too much wine.

Hvar

Posh, posh, posh. Yachts as far as the eye can see, and the most expensive island of them all. Gorgeous sunset, went out for dinner then went to a club that night in a old church. A few of us hooked up with some people from other boats and went to another place for cocktails. We didn't make it home until 5am, and the boat left at 6am so not very much sleep that night! However, we all napped on the top deck which helped our hang over and our tan.

Brac

This beach is one of the coolest I've seen. These small pebbles jut out into a peninsula shaped beach with turquoise waters. We had to swim out here from the boat as we were anchored just off the shore (you can see one of the other tour boats in the distance.) Laying out on these soft stones in the sun was like having a hot stone massage, and didn't hurt your feet to walk on. Just before this, we swam to a small island that you could only get to by water taxi. On it, we stumbled upon a gorgeous restaurant and bar with lounge couches and white, airy curtains just off the beach. Totally unexpected, it was amazing.

After the tour, we docked in Split and the next day I was on a night ferry to Ancona and then Igoumenitsa in Greece! Next installment: Corfu.

Yes, OK, I have had a fair few angry notes from people because I haven't updated this thing in a while. To be fair, I didn't even realize anyone actually read it. So here I am in Corfu, Greece staring at a computer screen rather than staring at the gorgeous sunset... but I'm sure none of you care that much about pulling me away from fun vacation time. However, you should.

Anyways, what have I been up to?August 10th was my first official day travelling alone. Mel and Amber left me alone at the airport hotel in London and I woke up in a slight panic at my situation. However, I took several deep breaths and thought about what I had to do one step at a time. 1) Shower. 2) Brush teeth. 3) Pack bag. 4) Find a hostel for two nites in London. 5) Figure out how to get to the tube.

So I found a nice, cheap hostel in Shepard's Bush and managed to get there unscathed. In my first five minutes I met a nice Aussie girl who invited me to the pub, so I left my bags and went out. Turns out Shepard's Bush is a sub-culture of Aussies and Kiwi's, and all that night I met tonnes of amazing travellers living at the hostel and working in London.

After that first night, I felt confident about travelling alone. The backpacker culture is amazing when it comes to meeting new people and doing interesting things together. People are usually in the same boat as you, or were at some point in their travels, and are quick to adopt you into their group.On the morning of the 12th, I left at 4am in order to catch my flight to Pula. Everything was fine, until I got to Pula town and tried to find my hostel... turns out one of the street names in the directions to get there didn’t exist, and I ended up wandering around in a town where no one spoke English. I managed to find the creepiest person in Pula to ask for directions. He didn’t know where the hostel was, or the street name but he still offered to drive me there in his car. I was a bit concerned about getting kidnapped at that point... he was very insistent about driving me there, so I just pretended I was meeting my boyfriend and ran off (with a heavy backpack in 35 degrees, mind you.) An hour later, I managed to find the hostel, sweating like I have never sweat before and relieved as all hell. Until I realized that no one was there, and all the lights were turned off. A little weird for for 2 0`clock in the afternoon at a youth hostel, yes?

I waited for an hour and no one showed up, so I made an executive decision to take the night train to Split that night instead of the next. I picked myself up out of my puddle of sweat and carried on right back to the bus station, where I started. Had to wait five hours for the bus. Arrived in Split at 6am with no arrangements for accommodation and no idea what to do with myself.

Luckily I found a place and it was niiiiiice! Air conditioned, plasma screen TV, free internet. Met some more amazing people and we went out the next three nights before I was due to leave on my sail Croatia tour.

Ok, Ive been sitting here for way too long, I will leave the rest of my stories for later. Heading to watch the Corfu sunset...

Wish you were here.

Can You Tell I'm Excited?

Goodbye Scotland

Jenna and I both woke up with homesickness this morning. I dreamt last night I was sleeping in my bed at home, and when I heard foot steps outside my door I could have sworn they were my mothers.

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't at home of course, and I had an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. This feeling will pass, as I've learned that my homesickness comes and goes. This time, it's probably the result of knowing I'll be leaving Edinburgh soon, and I'll have to say goodbye to Jenna who's the only real family I've had here. I've finally settled into this place and gotten to know the people, and now I'm leaving it behind me. I was surprised at how I've grown to love this city. It was a slow growing affection that has blossomed into true love. Many people I know love this city too, but not like I do. I will miss my beautiful flat, my friends and even the shit weather. I'll miss having to duck every time a double-decker drives past my window while I'm changing. I'll miss having to hide food from the mice. I'll even miss my shit job (but I'm sure I'll get over that quickly enough.) I haven't been a backpacker for the first leg of my trip which is how I planned it, but it was a very different experience from what I expected. I thought I'd make so many friends, meet handsome and exotic men, party all the time, jet set on the weekends to Spain or Portugal or where ever the wind blew me. Instead I've learned that I don't need any of that. It may sound silly, but this trip so far as mostly taught me that as long as I take it all in, what ever it may be, I'll be fine. The bad and the good; it's all part of the journey. I've been lonely and tired and bored and rejected, but it was all worth it. The bad bits make the good bits that much better.

So I'm taking off in a few weeks on the next leg of my journey, alone. I'm scared of course, mostly that I'll be lonely. But I've decided to revel in the solitude. I get to do whatever I want, all the time. If I want to take a ferry to this or that island, I can. If I want to park myself in Istanbul or Crete or Dubrovnik for a few weeks, there's nothing holding me back. I'm going to see and do things most people will never ever get to see and do. And when I get lonely and tired, which I will, I'll still take it in and live it. Just live through the pain. It wouldn't be the same experience without it.

Things

1) My mom and brother are coming to visit me in only three weeks! And, we're going to see Radiohead in concert together in Glasgow: I don't think it's possible for me to be more excited about this.

2) Remind me never to give out my number while I'm working. Ever.

3) Jenna is in good ol' Ontario for the next couple of weeks for a wedding, so if you're around make sure you harass her. And I have a new roomie while she is gone, named Mickaela. This girl is way cooler than me: Very English Mod type of style, a dancer and she likes to party. I don't think I could have asked for a better person to take Jenna's place! (Although, of course no one can really take her place.)

4) Amber and Melissa have booked their flights to come see me!! It's really happening! Croatia wont know whats coming...

5) I like my new job, but unfortunately it has caused me to loose all hope in the human race. I'm about to rant, so brace yourself... When I'm on the other side of that bar, suddenly people treat me like the floor they walk upon. You'd think as the provider of the alcohol they so desperately want to consume they'd be a tad more grateful, friendly and considerate, but no. Somehow they are a higher calibre of person than me, and treat me as such. Just a note to any of you who've never been a server, be gracious and tip well. Its a hard job and we're not slaves to your every want and need. Don't be a prick... OK, I'm finished now, phew!!

6) That is all. Love you.

SIIIIICK, but still a Work Horse

I've been a good girl and haven't spent any money for the past month except on rent, food and coffee (and not even that much on coffee because I get it free from work, yay!) So hopefully my savings will flourish and I'll be able to travel for longer before I have to start working again. I'm only taking time off at the end of this month when my parents come to visit, then I'm working straight until Amber and Melissa arrive in August and we go to Croatia. So I will be there and also in Turkey and Greece for August/September and maybe October (depends on the Sterling situation) and I will be doing most of this leg of the trip alone (ahhhhhhhh!!) I'm quite nervous, but also very very excited to be going at it by myself. However, if anyone so desires to join me on my adventures, just ask! I would love some company, even if it's just for a week or two. I'm already meeting up with a few people along the way, but I'd be ecstatic to see your beautiful, shining Canadian faces!

Wetherspoons Woman

I am a work horse.

So yes I'm alive, just working alllllll the time so I don't have time to talk to you people I am very very busy. This week I'm working 60 hours. I haven't worked this much since I was a slave to JUMP. Remember JUMP? Ohhh, I'm old.

They even tried to get me in there today, on my day off, they called twice offering two different shifts I could do, as if giving me options would make working seem more appealing. "Ooo, you'd give me a 11am-7pm OR a 6pm-2am? Thank you, I'm so excited about choosing when to work on my weekend" Also, a glass exploded in my hand yesterday and I bled profusely while my friend looked for bandages for so long, and the poor girl almost fainted at the sight of so much blood. I'm usually OK with that sort of stuff, but I felt light-headed afterwards, I think I just lost more blood than I thought. And I continued to work with a giant bandage on my thumb that is actually an eye patch because they never did find any gauze. The good thing was that customers took pity on me and I made about $10 in tips in 45 minutes, when I usually make no tips.

Jenna is in Barcelona. I hate Jenna. Although, I am going to Croatia, Turkey and Greece for August and September without her, so she can feel free to hate me then.

Hello Sunshine

I am employed!!

The funny thing is, I was never technically unemployed because I never technically quit. I just haven't shown up for the past few days, and no one is ever in the office so my calls have gone unanswered. And no one has bothered to call me back. That place was awesome.

But I am now working at a way better place for more pay, more and better hours and it's right down the street from my apartment. I am stupidly happy today. And it's another sunny one, so everyone watch out I'm perky.

Here are some pictures from my trip to Bristol, Woodbury and Cornwall...

Updates:

1) I'm quitting the nightclub job. Actually, I've pretty much already quit because I didn't show up for work the other day. They are the most disorganized people I've ever worked for, and they treat me and their customers like chopped liver. I already have two job interviews lined up this week, so I'm sure I'll recover from this loss... I wore my success dress yesterday when I was handing out resumes. I attribute my luck to that. Good things always happen to me in the success dress.

2) I just returned from a lovely mini-holiday down in the South of England. I stayed with my second cousins, and my first cousins from Canada also happened to be visiting. It was so nice to be around family for awhile and to see familiar faces. Why doesn't anyone else come to visit me? You jerks.

3) The weather has been improving and it seems like it's happened very suddenly. The sun is shining, there are no clouds today and the days keep getting longer and longer. The only downside is that Scottish men like to walk around on the streets with their shirts tucked into their back pockets, as if taking off their shirt is no biggy. They are skinny and very white, and it's not a pretty sight... It's not that warm, guys.

Who knew that working until 5am four nights a week would kill your social life and your immune system?

Jenna's big bro is here! This means we get to be tourists again. Living here we tend to feel too much like we live here and we don't actually get out and see the sights. We took a tour of the underground city that's been built over, we've seen the castle (again), we're hiking Aurthur's seat and doing the Camera Obscura tomorrow and Calton hill today. We're also going to tour around St. Andrew's on Sunday; Steve wants to see the golf course and I might go visit my cousin who goes to school there. Busy busy busy.

Happy Twenty-Fourth Jenna!

Jenna had a Scottish birthday on Thursday, Happy Birthday Jenna!!

We went to a Jazz bar and listened to live music and drank too much, it was wonderful. We had about a dozen people crammed into our apartment and we ate and drank and sang and drank. Did I mention we got drunk?

An update on the mouse front: We killed one in a trap the other day, and Jenna proceeded to almost cry because we were now murderers. I, however, am ecstatic about the death of the dirty little mongrel. I thought the whole escapade was over, but that same night I saw another little mousy-face peek it's head out from a little hole in the wall and look at me like, "Hey, what's up? You live here? ME TOO!" I screamed and jumped on my bed like a little girl, because that's what I do, and now I can't sleep at night. And when I do sleep, mice haunt my dreams.

Anyways, everything is still well. I am looking forward to seeing my cousins soon and for the weather to get warmer. I hope you're all well, and I'll soon be sending out postcards to those of you whose addresses I have. Miss you all!

This Blog Was Written for Emily L.

Look! I'm writing a blog, WEEEEE!!

The reason, Miss. Emily L., that I don't write every day is because I save up all the good stuff to tell everyone at the same time so my life seems more interesting. Now that I've blown my cover, here are the not very exciting updates since yesterday;

1) At work last night, I was at the swanky upstairs bar of the club opposed to the main bar, which is medium-exciting. It's called the White Room and, shockingly, everything is decorated in white. It looks pretty cool when the lights are dimmed, actually, but it's a bitch to clean after all the drunk people leave. The owner of the club was there that night to party too, so we (and by "we" I mean "not me") gave him the VIP treatment including champagne for his daughters 23rd birthday. There were also at least 3 fights right in front of the bar, and one girl peed on my manager. Also, one guy stopped by to order a drink as he had two bouncers pulling him out of the club for punching a girl in the face. Have I mentioned how classy drunk people are, lately? I LOVE YOU DRUNK PEOPLE!!

2) I'm booking a flight to see my family in Exeter at the end of the month, thank the good lord. I need a vacation from my vacation.

3) I haven't seen much of Jenna lately... ask her why.

4) Em, what I mean by "cheating" is that, if I came home, what would be the point of having left in the first place? I'd just have to leave all over again, and it was hard enough the first time. Although, the alternative is seeing your gorgeous face again... My life is so hard.

Still alive. Working a lot. Missing you.

Would you go home to visit if someone offered to pay your way? I don't think I want to. As much as I miss everyone, it would be too hard to leave again. And I would feel like I was cheating. What do you think?

Emily: Bartender Extraordinare!

Mmmm. Jenna and I are at a lovely new Internet place, very busy with delicious coffee.

I had my first shift on Saturday at the nightclub and I really didn't get any training at all. I was basically thrown to the wolves on the busiest bar night of the week. The club is huge; two floors with two bars and about ten bartenders serving at all times. There are also a number of floor staff who do bottle service and that sort of thing. So after not being trained, within fifteen minutes of my arrival customers started pouring in, asking me for drinks from left, right and centre. I was put on a busted till, and didn't know where to find anything to boot.

But I actually started to get into a steady flow of serving drinks, rejecting numbers from drunken eighteen-year-olds, taking money, giving change. It was quite fun, actually, and I enjoyed working under pressure. I think the main thing is that everyone who goes out to a club wants to have fun, so I didn't have too many problems with belligerent customers. What I did have a problem with was understanding what on earth people were asking me for. The Scottish accent is not an easy one to understand on a good day, let alone in a noisy bar with a drunken slur attached to it.

I must say, my first bartending shift ever went fairly well! Except for one little slip-up, by taking a shot bought for me right in front of the head bartender. No one told me I'm not allowed to drink on the job! (Next time I'll be sure no one's looking.) (Kidding.)

Woot.

I have a job, wooot!

I have a bank account, wooooot!

I’m going to see my favourite band in concert in Glasgow, woooooooot!

It’s a gorgeous day, everything is coming together and I am happy. Even the construction workers cursing outside my window at 9am can’t bring me down. I just shout back in my sleep (though they can’t hear me over the hammering.) We’ve met so many nice people lately, we’ve gone salsa dancing with them and we’ve gone walking with them. I love that Jenna has all this time off so we can hang out, do stuff, eat hummus and pretzels. And we laugh, oh man. I couldn’t have done this trip with anyone else.

Are black currants hallucinogenic?

Outrageous.

Life is goooood.

Our New Roomate

I’m sorry we haven’t written in awhile, but are very busy and important people. I’ll give you the updates:

1) My foot is still being a jerk and still hurts. I called my insurance company to see what’s covered in my travel plan and they said x-rays and visits to the GP are cool, so that’s what I’m gonna do I think. Go to a clinic and get a referral of some sort. I owe this advice to my brilliant cousin Rowenna.

2) Jenna’s working hard at her job, which she hates. But her boss loves her because she is perfect and gorgeous and is pretty much allowing her to choose her own schedule. Anyone else have a hint of jealous rage? …Just me then?

3) I’m still unemployed, but I want a job because money is somehow being siphoned out of my account… who’s doing that?!?! I’m sending out tonnes of CVs every day and have had a few interviews, but no luck thus far.

4) Funny story of the day: Last night while trying to sleep, I hear a rustling in the corner of my room. Sitting straight up in bed, I squint in the dark and what do I see? A mouse. Yes, an arrogant little shit who causes me to scream, and my scream causes him to run straight under my bed. I freeze in terror, unsure of what to do… do I leave my room? What if the moment my foot hits the carpet he decided to run out at me? So I call out at Jenna to come in and save me. I call again, nothing. “Jenna you had better get in here RIGHT NOW! HELP ME!!!!” She’s clearly in a coma, so I call her cell phone three times, all the while frozen in the dark, petrified of the stow away under my bed. Finally, after no reply, I leap to the floor and run for the door, leaving my bedroom light on, hoping that will keep mousey from exiting from his hiding spot. I jump under the covers with Jenna, who is surprisingly calm after hearing we have a new roommate and we try to fall asleep with the intention of setting up mousetraps in the morning. Just as we’re starting to doze off, we hear more rustling. The bold little guy is now in Jenna’s room, and proceeds to run under her bed at the sound of our screams. Jenna leaves and returns with a Tupperware container, confident that she will catch him. Her attempts fail, and we relocate back to my room around 2:30am and finally get to sleep. We still haven’t caught him, but once I set up the 1000000 mousetraps I’m buying, I’m sure he will be no more.

5) That is all I can think of for now. I miss you all! Don't forget to update me on your lives too, I feel like this is a very onesided relationship ;)