Three days in Chania, Crete … absolute bliss! …
Crete is the largest island in Greece. With a population of around 630,000 it is blessed with beautiful beaches, towering and rugged mountain ranges, sites of ancient civilisations, fertile valleys, picturesque towns and villages, and an enviable food culture -to single out just a few of its attractions. Cretans, proud of their history and culture are so warm and welcoming. No wonder we were keen … Continue reading Three days in Chania, Crete … absolute bliss! …
Last day in Athens … cramming in the sights…
We started out for The Athenian Agora early this morning – it was going to be another hot day and the area is quite large, especially if you include the huge Stoa. We aimed first for the magnificent and very beautiful Temple of Hephaestus which is considered to be one of the best preserved Doric temples in Greece. There is a wonderful frieze visible in … Continue reading Last day in Athens … cramming in the sights…
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion – and more snapshots of Athens…
As you can maybe appreciate from my previous two posts, there is a lot to see if you are keen to know the history of the ancient city. Today though, we look leave of the busy city to travel down the ‘Athenian Riviera’ to the see The Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Sounion was a sanctuary, sacred to the Gods Athena and Poseidon. The temple, … Continue reading Temple of Poseidon at Sounion – and more snapshots of Athens…
Athens -some highlights….
I’m guessing that most people who come to Athens want to visit the Parthenon on the Acropolis and we are no exception. Having seen the beautifully lit up building from our hotel terrace the night we arrived, it was high on our list – especially as this morning it beckoned us all under bright sunlight… Before I tell you about our great Parthenon tour with … Continue reading Athens -some highlights….
Athens – a city of contrasts… and a day on the Peloponnese Peninsula
We arrived at our hotel in Athens just before midnight last night. The drive into the city forewarned us of what we would see in the daylight hours – and it wasn’t a pretty sight. The inner city of Athens is defaced by graffiti – it is literally everywhere – even in some of the ancient sites (like the Athenian Agora). It is an utter … Continue reading Athens – a city of contrasts… and a day on the Peloponnese Peninsula
Ankara to Istanbul – Day 10…
We left our lovely hotel in Ayvali Village today with some regret – there was quite a lot around the village that we had no time to explore – churches, tombs and walking tracks for example, but it was time to get back on the road and head off to Ankara. Tamer had to get to the airport to catch a flight back to Istanbul, … Continue reading Ankara to Istanbul – Day 10…
The Ilhara Valley – more from Cappadocia, Day 9
When we arrived back at the hotel after our exciting balloon flight, we ate quite a hearty breakfast so we were ready to tackle the Ilhara Valley walk with Tamer. The topography of the region was formed by the eruptions of Mount Hasan, and the Melendiz River gouging out the river valley, which is up to 120m deep in places. There are 384 steps to … Continue reading The Ilhara Valley – more from Cappadocia, Day 9
Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia – a magical morning, Day 9
Yesterday our balloon flight was cancelled due to weather, but today it was all on! Phil and I were up very early – 3.55am to be precise, as the ballooning company were picking us up at 4.15am. There was another group of about 8 women from the hotel joining us and we all travelled together in a minivan. It was with some trepidation that we … Continue reading Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia – a magical morning, Day 9
Cappadocia – The Goreme Open Air Museum and much more, Day 8
We set off early today in order to beat the heat and the crowds at The Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We had not been on the road for very long, before we were stopping at a viewpoint for a photo opportunity. The dust storm that occurred the night we were in Pamukkale, which originated in Syria, was still causing quite … Continue reading Cappadocia – The Goreme Open Air Museum and much more, Day 8
Whatever takes my fancy ... 