Some how our flight got canceled so we are now trying to find a way to get to Athens. The only option now is a six hour boat ride. not knowing that I was going to be on a boat, I did not take any nausea medicine. Hopefully I will not be sick the entire time. John is extremely frustrated. Wish us luck and say a prayer for us as we attempt to make it home. Hopefully we will not have the same problem with the delta flight.

Our last day Headache

Today was somewhat frustrating. We spent the majority of the day attempting to find somewhere to get money. Now I am extremely exhausted.

We began our day around 12:00. Once again we ordered in a brunch. I had a different kind of omelet and John had a chocolate crepe, a nice change from his usual cheese. As usual, it was very good. We then decided to lay by the pool, which was very nice. We found two chairs under an umbrella (I am still sunburned) and read. The weather was perfect and it felt nice to just relax. We then decided that we should make our way into a town. We needed to cash some checks so we have money to pay the hotel tomorrow. We didn't end up leaving the room until 4:00 and instead of the busy streets of Fira, we decided we would take our chances in Oia. We both loved it so much, and wanted to spend more time there. Upon questioning the manager of the hotel, however, we found that all banks close at 2:00. I felt the knots begin to tie in my stomach. Traveling agents, according to him, cash travelers checks, and they can be found all over. With this we found some relief. So we headed towards Oia, through the curvy cliff side streets, and I was looking forward to having dinner somewhere new.

We arrived in Oia and were excited. The streets, however, were much busier. We had gone much earlier the day before, so we missed most of the crowd. At this later time, we were forced to push our way through people in hopes of finding a travel agency. We would find, regretfully, that they would all be closed. In a last resort we decided to call John's parents to transfer money into his checking account. This way we could just use an ATM to get money. Plan B, I thought, this wont be so bad. While waiting until she had a chance to do so we decided to grab some dinner.

While wondering the streets of Oia we checked the Menus of several cafes, comparing selection and price. We settled on a cute cafe in the middle of the street. It did not have a great view of the sunset, but it made up for this in its interior decoration. Cute is the perfect way to describe it, although John may argue and say that it was quaint. Every chair was painted a different bright color and every table was set with oddly shaped and colorful plates. Every table was different. The cups were made so that they leaned towards you and every table had a colored vase with a different fresh and bright flower in each one. The place drew you in with its charm, and upon passing it, it is very difficult to deny. For anyone who watches the Food Network, Giada (Everyday Italian) actually ate and wrote a great review for the cafe. The food was delicious, possibly the best meal yet and even though I had a full stomach, my mind was on the desert cafe.

We once again went to get some deserts, only this time we decided to get carry out. I ordered some fresh baklava, and John ordered a cream puff cake and another chocolate crepe. We could only sample each, though, and were forced to save the rest for breakfast.

Despite the delightful dinner we had, we found disappointment at the ATM. We were unable to get enough money. It was getting very late by this point, around 8:30 pm, and I was beginning to worry about a taxi. Once the sun sets people begin to rush to the taxis and buses, good luck getting one if you wait too long. Frustrated, we decided it was best to grab a taxi and wait until the morning to get money out of the ATM.

Tomorrow we must check out at 11:30. Our flight does not leave until 8:oo pm that night. We will probably wonder the streets of Fira until it is time to leave. We will then be spending the night in Athens and flying home on Sunday. I am dreading the 12 hour flight home.

Sweets in Oia

Being in a foreign country is a completely humbling experience. You have to really rely on others. You must take a chance, hope for the best, and go. This is both exciting and terrifying. A brand new experience from what I am use to. This is exactly what John and I had to do today.

Our day began very slowly. We woke up feeling much more refreshed then the mornings before. Our spirits were high and we were excited to start the day. We began by ordering breakfast. Although the hotel serves breakfast in the restaurant from 8 to 11, we have found it to be much cheaper and easier to just order a brunch off the menu. I had a wonderful omelet filled with cheese, mushrooms, and peppers. John, once again, ordered baked feta and bread. Everything here tastes different. It's not like the states where you can pretty much pick out where each flavor is coming from. Here, there is always a sweet element, which is somewhat strange. Last night we ate in the restaurant. I had noddles with a spicy tomato sauce, and John had shrimp (not cheese!!). Just like this morning, there was that sweet taste. After breakfast we decided to go to Oia. Oia is famous for being beautiful. Every travel show, book, or website I've seen raves about Oia. It was a definite "must see" on our list. Although we could have hiked, like we did to Fira, we decided it would be best to take a cab. We hiked 5 miles the day before and were scared we would be too tired to hike the entire way. Finding out how to go about doing this was a little tricky. We awkwardly asked the person in the reception (lobby for American hotels) and once again the man who picked us up from the airport took us to Oia. This time he was playing some form of grunge.

The drive was amazing. Until then we had only witnessed the cliff side of the island. The other half of the island is completely flat and when driving this side of the cliff we were able to see it. It almost looks like a different place. The land is very scarcely populated and most of the land is filled fields and gardens. Different square patches spread across the front side of the island. Although, from that distance we could not tell what was being produced in those specific patches, they looked beautiful with their different colors and textures, lined with dark green, which were probably trees. The road twisted and turned along the cliffs. I was terrified. Cars speed around corners as if there was nothing to fear. It was difficult for me to watch us drive, you could never tell when a car was going to fly out from behind a bend and it was a straight drop to our right.

We finally made it to Oia and it proved to fulfill every expectation we had. When leaving the taxi John made another attempt to communicate with our driver. When asking if there was a bank in Oia he answered 'Aww, bank, yes.' There, however, was no bank.

Similarly to Fira, the streets of Oia twist and turn and are filled with shops and cafes, but in Oia, it is a different experience. Every street provided an amazing view. The breath was almost taken from you as you entered a new street and saw the ocean stretch for miles. These shops were not full of the cheesy and cheap knick knacks of Fira, instead they were art shops, pottery shops, and book stores. The streets themselves seemed like a piece of art. Every door or gate has its different color and they tell their own story.

After walking a way I found myself thirsty. I prompted John to stop at the next cafe we saw, so we could take a break and get something to drink. The place we found was a treasure. It was a roof top cafe specializing in home made deserts. Page after page on the menu was a different sweet treat from tiramasu to chocolate crepes. I had found heaven. John ordered a chocolate tart and I ordered a strawberry cake. I was expecting what we often see in America. A piece of white cake with strawberry sauce drizzled on top, which is always good, but what I received was much better. A piece of chocolate brownie with strawberry mouse, and finished by a strawberry gel. Delicious. Our gaze was amazing as well. It would not matter if you were eating fruit loops, it would feel like the most amazing meal you had ever had in your life. In all of these places you never really feel like what you are seeing is real. It is too amazing. It almost seems like you are in front of a giant green screen or picture, the kind they use for backgrounds in movies. It is out of this world.

After walking the streets of Oia we finally decided to head back. Finding a cab to come back was very difficult. We were really not sure who to ask or what we should say. After wondering around for awhile, we finally found someone who drove a cab. He was an even faster driver than the man at the hotel. I thought to myself, well, at least I'll die with this view. We made it, however, and are currently enjoying some rest.

The first three pictures are of Oia. The last two are samples of some of the doors I described.

Wednesday- Hike to Fira

John and I had a very busy day today. We woke up around 9:30, which was much better than the 2:00 p.m. we had woken up the day before. We had a light breakfast in the hotel, which turned out not to be so light on our wallet. After hanging around the hotel for a couple of minutes we decided that we were ready to hike. There is a path that runs from one end of the island to the other. It sits right on the edge of the cliff and provides the most amazing view. The path isn't exactly ideal. It alters between gravel to dirt, to large rocks that at times break loose when you walk over them. Like I said, not exactly ideal. The view could not be better, though. Hill after hill reveals amazing glimpses into the cities up ahead. Little packed buildings with white walls and blue and cream ceilings. From that distance, they seem miles away, but one after the other we walked through them. Hill after hill after hill. We had walked part of the way the night before. Reaching the top of a point where we could see the majority of the island we thought, we could just walk to Fira (the city capital) and not worry about getting a cab. So we set out to do just that today.

We spent most of our day hiking until we finally reached the city of Fira. Here is where you can do all of your shopping. It is truly an amazing sight to see. Tiny, cramped streets bend up and down the cliff side. Its truly a maze which you find yourself getting lost in. The streets are filled with shops that sale fine jewelry or nick knacks. There are also roof top cafes that allow you to drink coffee and eat crepes as you watch the island from an open balcony. One very nice thing is that the hiking trail and the streets are too small for cars, so we did not have to worry about of crazy Greek driving. The walk was very nice. We went through most of these shops where we impressed the locals with John's vast knowledge of Byzantine history. They kept asking him his name as if he may show up on T.V. one day, famous for his esteemed knowledge of history. I thought that this must have been so nice for him. After seeing shop after shop we finally decided to head back, but not before we had some ice cream. Let me just say, you have never experienced ice cream until you have had it in Greece. I'm not talking about gelleto (the ice cream like desert that you typically hear about) I am referring to the real thing. Gelleto is very sticky. It does not melt in your mouth like ice cream does. It tends to linger in your throat for a while. Ice cream here is perfect. Its fresh, sweet, and home made. Delicious. If you come to Greece, go for the home made ice cream over the gelleto.

After finishing our snacks we decided we should make our way back. Doing so is not as easy as it may sound. When wondering the streets of Fira, you tend to become lost. they curve in and out, up and down, and you cannot even remember the direction you came from let alone the way out. We, thus, came to the conclusion that it would be best to walk up. Any street that went towards the top of the hill, we went. It was not so easy on the body, but we did find our way out.

We were exhausted by the time we walked out of the city of Fira. I thought that we were never going to make it back, but step after step, we kept going. We stopped at a little cafe in firostefoni, a city between fira and improvigli. John, once again, had cheese and bread (although it was goat cheese instead of feta) and I had a small bowl of vegetable soup. It was very good. By the way, if you are a diet coke drinker, try to find Coca-cola light. I am not sure if they sale it in the states, but it is very good and is better than the boring diet we drink in America. We eventually made it back with minor sunburns. I got most of it, of course. John tried his hardest to stay out of the sun. I am not sure what we will do tonight. Whatever it is, we will definitely be resting.

The First picture is a view of Fira. It is the type of view you would have when reaching a hill before the city.The second picture at the top is one of the shopping streets in Fira. The third shows the hiking trail along the cliff side.

Santorini, First Night.

The twelve hour flight almost did me in. It was exciting at first. They provide much more care to those who they know they will have to deal with for a while. Our seats were 40 A and B. At first, I thought that this would be great. We were the second seat from the back, right next to the restroom. Aw, I thought, I will not have to go through aisles of people to use the bathroom. It turned out to be not so great. Flushing the toilet created a similar sound as a vacuum cleaner does and as one could imagine, hearing that throughout the night tends to keep you awake. We also sat right behind the wings, so every gush of air the plane went through felt like a tiny earthquake. Being a beginning flyer, this was very unnerving to me. I'm sure John began to question the commitment he made on Saturday as I constantly asked "Is that okay" or "Was that normal." I got use to the noise, after 5 or 6 hours you tend to become comfortable with those things. The food, however, stayed with me. They give you two choices for dinner, chicken or pasta. John and I came to a compromise that I would get the chicken and him the noodles, this way we could sample each meal. It tasted alright. After horror stories from others, I expected something completely different. I was thinking that it wasn't so bad as I ate every single bite. I was starving after missing lunch and eating very little on Saturday. About an hour afterwards, my stomach began to act up. I have never really had bad stomach problems. As you know, I love spicy and strong foods, the type that tend to bother the strongest of stomachs. This however, was not normal! I felt like the inside of my belly was being eaten away. Sure the plane is uncomfortable when you a sitting at 90 degrees and have limited leg room, add an upset stomach and you wish you could jump out of the window. More than any noise that was around me, the unexpected bumps and shakes, the sudden on and off sound of a vacuum cleaner, and the foreigner to my left who kept talking to the stewardess in a strange and annoying accent, my burning stomach kept me up the most. I made it though. We finally landed in Athens, which was exciting. Looking out the airplane window you can see a very populated island with little white buildings that stretch for miles behind the emerald beach. It was intimidating and beautiful

The airport was huge in Athens. Although the Atlanta airport is larger, I did not see much of it. We only had an hour between flights so we took the train that ran through the airport. According to a sign inside the train, it is approximately one mile from one end to the other in the Atlanta airport. I did see most of the Athens airport, however. We landed around 10:30 (3:30 am for the States) and our flight did not board until 6:30. We had all intentions to see Athens, but we were so tired that we decided to not even worry about it. Our brains were shot. It was hard enough to decide what to do next in the airport, let alone in a huge city. So we decided not to leave. We wondered around the airport, which was like a mall. They had bookstores and clothing stores everywhere. We made an attempt to take advantage of this new experience by walking around, but ended up sleeping on three chairs. I woke up to a small child screaming and knocking into my shoes. I fell asleep again, however, several times. Two hours before our flight we finally went into our gate, which was much smaller and much more comfortable. This was a nice experience. We ended up sleeping, eating a strange greek chip which was almost like a cracker with a hole in it and watched different planes take off. Finally we boarded our plane, which was tiny and terrifying. After a three flights in a row though, I did not care. I was anxious to see Santorini.

We flew closer to the water in this plane, so it was very easy to see the islands. There are 23 Greek islands all together and it was an experience to see them from that altitude. After landing in Santorini I was very surprised at how quiet the island was. Even at the airport, people whispered as they picked up their bags, which was a nice change from the large airports where people shouted in several different languages, making a constant buzz of chaos. When walking out we found a Greek man who held the sign "Baker 2X Santorini Princess". I had only seen this in the movies so I was very excited. He was very nice, but spoke little English. He attempted to explain some sights around us, but we had a lot of difficult understanding him. Every now and then little words would sneak out like "beach," or "cafe." Any communication back also proved fruitless. When John asked about traffic along the island, he just repeated "traffic, traffic." He did play american music, however. It's very surreal to be in a foreign place, when everything around you is completely different, and all of a sudden, Maroon Five comes on. Talk about a dream.

The island was beautiful. Twisting roads that wrapped themselves around white streets with shops crammed together. Every store had signs that labeled the buildings with first Greek and then English. This was nice. Cars speed past each other, whipping out from hidden streets. Motor bikes zig zagged among the cars making their way to their destination. Everyone drives extremely fast. I must have caused bruises on John's knees as we speed along the cliff side roads. Because the island bends in the way it does we could see the hotel from a distance. It did not look real. It is imbedded along the cliff with several tiny stares that twist along the walls accented with bushes along the side that have bight pink flowers. Several men waited on the driveway to greet us as if we were two very important costumers. They took us around the hotel, describing its every feature. We met the restaurant manager, the spa manager, and the man working on the bar. I've never been a big fan of bars, but when you find one that tops the hotel and provides the most amazing view you have ever seen in your life, it doesn't seem to be so bad. Several pictures of these places will provide more detail. John and I finally made it to our apartment (as they call it) and relief set in. Our room is small, but beautiful. It has a very tall ceiling with a mosquito net hanging above our bed. I have not been bothered by one mosquito, which I originally thought I would when I saw this. We discovered however, that most Greek people sleep with every window and door open, so the net provides protection against bugs that come in the night. Being the spoiled Americans that we are, we closed everything up and cranked the AC.

We had a hard time waking up this morning. We went to bed around 11:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. in Kentucky) and woke up around 2:00 p.m. the next day. The only good thing about not being able to sleep on an airplane is that you can adjust to any time change. We have orded food in twice. They have two menus. One is mediterranean and the other is Greek. Last night I had a salmon club sandwich (mediterranean) and John had stuffed Feta (Greek). Sleeping in so late this morning we orded a late lunch. I had a delicious plate of mixed fruit with homemade ice-cream, and John had a different kind of stuffed Feta (He loves cheese) and some meatballs. The weather is gorgeous. It is warm with a cool breeze. It's the type of weather where you sit outside for hours and get a sunburn without realizing it. We are being very careful to avoid this.

This is only the beginning of our trip.