2 May 2003 Paros - Greek Islands

This morning we jumped on a ferry from Naxos and here we are in Paros - happily ensconced in a studio apartment with sea glimpses for only 20 Euro a night!

Yesterday, on Naxos, we hired a motorscooter and took off around the island. I steered and Melon clung on for dear life! Actually it wasn't that bad. There were a few moments, heading down what I think was actually a goat track where I wasn't sure if we were going to run off the edge of a cliff or whether the brakes would save us! The brakes won the day.

Winding roads wending their way throught mountains, looking down into green valleys with spots of white visible in the distance. Gotta love Greek colour schemes. Fields covered in red poppies or brilliant yellow. We paused in Filoti then headed back down the hills towards the beach.

In the evening we grabbed a bottle of red, some cheese and biscuits and headed to the ruined Temple of Artemis - just next to the port. From this high spot we sat and watched the sun setting firey red over a golden ocean, Greek Island silhouetted in the distance.

I think Melon is headed to the beach this afternoon... I have sunburnt hands from too long on the motorscooter so I am heading back to the apartment for a nap, a read and later maybe a jog.

Tomorrow we think we'll catch a bus around the Island and see the sites.

30 April 2003 Naxos - Greek Island

When God created the Greek Islands he only handed out two colours of house paint - white and blue.

Naxos is great we are staying in Hora in a studio apartment in a pension that is down a narrow winding lane. We are a few streets from the waterfront and the main town's beach.

Last night we hit the town - and today we have lazed on the beach, eaten Greek food and napped.

Tomorrow we are hiring motorbikes and heading out to explore the island.

I'd write more.... but sunset is coming and I don't want it to miss me!

28 April 2003 Samos - Greek Islands

Last night dinner in a Turkish hill village called Sirence. It's the kind of town you read about in guide books. Narrow cobbled lanes, old whitewashed buildings, stray cats and a sense of having stepped into a storybook. In the restaurant they offered us a range of the local wines peach, apple, blackberry, strawberry. When we looked blank they bought us tastings of the entire range! In a fairly merry mood we ordered a bottle of their finest peach wine and enjoyed a wonderful meal in the setting of an Otterman School House!

Today we went to the (and watch me spell this incorrectly) St. John Basilica. If the cathedral in which St. John's tomb is located still stood it would be the 7th largest in the world. But it's not - so a fairly spurious claim I felt. Nonetheless it was a beautiful spot overlooking the town of Selcuk and out across towards the Aegan. In the end we found ourselves a comfortable spot on the ruins and settled down in the morning sun to while away an hour or so reading and relaxing.

This afternoon it was onto a ferry and off to Greece.

I am writing from the Island of Samos and tomorrow we will toss a coin and in so doing choose our destination for the next few days. Will it be Naxos (home of the Greek God of food and wine) or Ikaria (a more remote island slightly off the main tourist drag) or shall we head for the bright lights of Santorini.....

I have tought Merilyn Backgammon.... and she whipped me off the board. Last time I play a board game with her!

We are both healthy and every now and then we look at each other in amazement and say 'We're in Greece'. Then we do that annoying snicker thing (which we only seem to do in each others company). Guess that means we are having fun. I am trying very hard not to pick up all her annoying speech patterns. Of course I have no annoying phrases or sayings.... so she's safe on that one!

27 April 2003 Selcuk

I have had the best day!

After a slow shower - in Turkey you either get hot water OR water pressure - never both - we headed to the ruins of Ephesus. It was an amazing experience - we had a great guide - and my usual patience lasted at least 20 minutes longer than it normally does! There is enough of the city visible that you really get a sense of what life would have been back around the time of Christ and even earlier.

After Ephesus I quick side detour and a little bit of cash later and I am the proud owner of a bellydance outfit! You all knew it would only be so long before temptation prevailed.

Over a glass of wine back at the accommodation one of the staff - Adem - offered to drive us to the beach. Off we went - getting valuable instructions on how to catch a local bus back home. Sitting on a Turkish beach, under a Turkish sun, looking out over the Aegan - just sensational!

In the end we didn't need the local bus. The police commander for Ephesus pulled up in his Police van and offered us a lift - using one of his three english sentences. We got dropped back at the door of our accommodation and told we were beautiful women!

The later part of this afternoon has been spent having an afternoon nap - reading a book and kicking back. Tonight Adem has offered to show us a local bar and restaurant.

Tomorrow I am hoping for a Turkish bath and then it's onto Greece by afternoon ferry.