My main problem is lack of patience and goodness knows you need a lot of that. It has been suggested that my British heritage ought to make me an expert [...]]]> I really shouldn’t travel. Actually, that’s not true. I am very good at travelling and enjoy it immensely – airports on the other hand I should avoid.

My main problem is lack of patience and goodness knows you need a lot of that. It has been suggested that my British heritage ought to make me an expert queuer, but despite a genetic predisposition to standing and waiting I am only moments away from terrible violence in a line.

Kath and I are headed to Melbourne. We got to the airport nice and early to be sure that the cut price airline gave us seats together and so had to wait for check-in to open. I was eying off the other potential passengers lest they get into the queue before us but despite my diligence two men from the Indian subcontinent managed to squeeze in front of us. Then when the staff were ready to serve people some guy appeared at one of the desks and decided to tell his life story (or so it seemed). Then when they started serving people the Indians had too much luggage and that needed to be sorted out. I stood imagining how the movable barrier could be weaponised. Then, with no apologies or explanation the screens above the check-in desks changed to say the flight would be taking off 45 minutes late.

We are not ammused, nor are we certain that we will taking the red-eye to Melbourne again.

Sitting in the airport at this awful hour, out of my mind with sleep depravation I know that it can’t last forever, but it doesn’t feel like it.

It [...]]]> Unlike poor old Odysseus I didn’t have to spend seven years floating around the Agean being seduced by witches and fighting the cyclops in order to get home. Neither did I return to a house full of suitors – I brought my wife with me. Mind you the return trip seemed to take an interminable time.

It is hard to believe that we got up yesterday morning in Athens. We had ventured out the evening before for dinner in the Plaka and enjoyed an evening stroll and an icecream among the tourist shops. Following a quick breakfast and shower we headed out to see some final pieces of the ancient settlement of Athens.

It was a lovely warm morning as we walked up the Aerogata Dionysus toward the Pnyx and through the gentle woodland that covers the Hill of the Muses. The sun was shining brightly in a blue sky and the birds were in full chorus.

We sauntered along until we discovered an urge to have one final search for a Starbucks and a coffee. As we trotted along in bewilderment trying to reconcile the map with our surroundings a kind and distiguished looking Greek lady on her way home from church took pity on us and showed us where we needed to go.

Two very expensive cups of coffee and pieces if cake later we were winding our way back to the hotel, regretting that we had only had one night in Athens. We resolved to return as soon as possible.

We checked out of the apartment after a brief chat with Nik, the owner who is from Perth and a good friend of our travel agent at Harvey World in East Perth. The bus stop for the airport bus (X95 if you are wondering) is about 700 metres from the apartments so we walked rather than take the metro. Through careful planning we managed to get our luggage on the bus and get seats.

We passed the three hours until our flight looking at duty free stuff and drinking coffee. From Athens to Dubai is only 3.5 hours and I spent the flight watching a documentary about the history of the Internet. Nothing I didn’t know but it was cool to see people like Marc Anderson.

Unfortunately we had a five hour wait at Dubai airport. We walked the entire length of the terminal. It is very impressive and very big. However, I can’t say a really like it. I thought that maybe I was being xenophobic, since the people were invariably exotic looking to my Western eyes, but that’s not it. I am lots if things but I am not a racist. In the end I decided that it was just that the place was souless and I felt quite isolated from anything familiar. We just didn’t really understand how a lot of things worked.

Finally it was time to board the plane. The graveyard shift at the airport behind us we looked forward to having a sleep. Which we did. I guess I must have slept for seven hours, although it seemed I just shut my eyes and opened then again.

Emirates are quite good. We had been told they were excellent, but I wasn’t overly impressed. Drinks were offered infrequently, even water, and the air crew seemed a little taciturn. I also became annoyed by the promos for Dubai and the fact that every flight began with 5 minute announcement in Arabic and then in English. Subtitles people. Still they got us back to Perth alive.

I won’t detail the tedium of processing through customs and immigration in Perth. I will say that they seem to have streamlined things a bit and, particularly with customs, filter people before they get to the red or green lanes, meaning if you have nothing to declare you now go right on through.

It was nice to get home and find everything as we left it. Kath will go and get the cats tomorrow and I am back to work.

We had a great trip and I haven’t finished writing about it yet. We took 1540 photographs while we were away. You’ll see some of them here soon.

Wrapped in layers of clothes we mounted Quadropolous Motorcycladaes our faithful transport and headed down the hill to Thera to buy some souvenirs and look at the museum.

A [...]]]> What a corker our last day in Santorini has turned out to be. We awoke to leaden skies and even the ever-blue waters of the Caldera appeared somewhat grey.

Wrapped in layers of clothes we mounted Quadropolous Motorcycladaes our faithful transport and headed down the hill to Thera to buy some souvenirs and look at the museum.

A cruise ship had come in over night and groups of elderly Americans puffed their way up the steep streets while we poked around looking for just the right things to take home. I had seen a statuette of two figures embracing made from the island’s volcanic rock that I really liked. So we went from shop to shop looking at similar things until I found just the right one.

The museum is small but the 3€ entrance fee is well worth it. The displays are of objects retrieved from the Pompai-like ruins of the Bronze Age settlement of the island prior to the eruption of the volcano. Among the amphoras and pottery are some real gems and the frescos are fantastic.

By the time we emerged from the museum the sky was blue and the sun was shining. We dropped the quad off to the rental place. The guy running it told us that in the summer we would have paid 30€ per day instead of the 8€ we did pay. Gives you an idea how much things are in the high season here.

By this point we were sweating even though we had stripped of as many layers as we decently could. We started the walk back to Imarogvili and, almost needless to say, got a little lost. We eventually found the right path. Walking along the edge of the Caldera offers some gorgeous views although the terrain is quite demanding.

When we got back to the hotel our wedding photos had arrived. The photographer had done a wonderful job and most of the shots are really good. Definitely something to treasure. Since she has provided all of the images on disk we will be able to print more of them. Expect to see them on Flickr with the rest of our holiday pictures soon.

The wind howled outside, but it was too late to think about postponing the wedding. It was going on despite the weather. At 6:30 we made our way up the hill [...]]]> As the day progressed yesterday we closeted ourselves in our room watching Russian music television and Kath started to get ready while I read my book.

The wind howled outside, but it was too late to think about postponing the wedding. It was going on despite the weather. At 6:30 we made our way up the hill to meet the wedding car. A few minutes later as we withstood the gale a black Mercedes E-class drifted up and we were greeted by the photographer and the driver. A few quick photos later and we were whisked through the narrow, winding streets of Santorini to the Chapel of Saint Irini.

We arrived to more photographs and, as the wind swirled around us, met with the marraige celebrant. Kath looked lovely and despite the efforts of the elements could not have been more been more beautiful. It was as though she challenged the weather to spoil our day.

The ceremony, first in Greek and then in English, was quite brief. The vows were simple and heartfelt. We were both very happy.

The photographer and videographer then stage managed us around the chapel and surrounds to take their pictures while we sipped champagne. It was quite surreal with the sunset behind us, the wind around us and the Greeklish instructions of the photographer.

Very soon It was over and we were being swept through the deepening evening back to our hotel. We had dinner at the Blue Note restaurant just down the hill and then retired for the night.

A very exciting and quite amazing way to marry and something we’ll remember forever.

There are at least 25 satelites that the receiver in our room can access and that makes for at least 500 viewable channels not to mention the thousands of others that require a subscription to [...]]]> The curtailment of our external activities by the weather has allowed me the opportunity to explore European free to air satelite television.

There are at least 25 satelites that the receiver in our room can access and that makes for at least 500 viewable channels not to mention the thousands of others that require a subscription to access.

We have been able to watch Al Jazeera, Baghdad television, Tunisian soap operas, Italian infomercials, lots of channels that seem to be advertising done kind of sex thing in lots of different languages and other rubbish.

It is amazing that there can be so many channels harnessing what is some pretty impressive technology and they are all rubbish. Obviously the good content has to be paid for. I am sure that Logie-Baird did not have this in mind. In the end we settled for a Russian music station playing variously Kenny G, some kind of death metal, American pop and advertisements for Russian tourism.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have to order a device that will help me get toned abs. At least I think that’s what they said. It’s only 99€.

The windows and doors began to shake and we could hear tables and chairs shifting outside. If anything the wind continued to intensify during [...]]]> I can’t say that we slept that well last night despite our beautiful surroundings. Not long after we went to bed the wind which had been gusting all evening began to really scream.

The windows and doors began to shake and we could hear tables and chairs shifting outside. If anything the wind continued to intensify during the night so that by dawn it sounded like it was going to sweep the cliffs clean.

When we got up and showered and went outside we could see that it was blowing from the south-west sweeping straight across the sea from North Africa.

I can honestly say that I have never experienced wind like it. It has blown with the same intensity now for about 15 hours.

Until now we have had great weather. Sure it was cold in Istanbul, but even there it was still and the sun was warm. Here in Santorini we enjoyed warm days and sunshine. Unfortunately this is the worst possible day for the weather to change since we are getting married in just over three hours.

Now I’ll be fine since I have a nice wool suit and it’s hardly likely that my hair is going to messed up by the wind. Kath, however, will be wearing a dress and will be going to a lot of trouble with her hair. It is disappointing since we came all this way to get married and the only day it really matters the weather has let us down.

At least despite the gale force wind the sun is still shining.

Our new hotel, Sunny Villas, despite sounding like a nursing home is quite lovely. It sits on the edge of the cliff, a [...]]]> Santorini is renowned for its sunsets. This evening’s was, perhaps the best of those we have seen so far, not least because we watched it from the terrace if our new hotel in Imoglivi.

Our new hotel, Sunny Villas, despite sounding like a nursing home is quite lovely. It sits on the edge of the cliff, a cluster of rendered buildings sunk into the rock face. The render makes it, the walls and the paths appear organic, as if they have grown there instead of being built by men. All of the buildings are painted white and the paths grey. In the warm Mediteranean sunshine they almost glow.

Our room is huge. As big as a lounge room and the organic shapes and white render continue from the terrace inside. The ceiling arches like a church and the bed and most of the furnishings are built into the fabric of the room. The bathroom is lovely with tiny blue mosaic tiles. The water from the shower runs into a channel filled with pebbles from the beach. Talk about lifestyles if the rich and famous. It is luxury I am not used to but to which I could easy become accustomed.

It isn’t fair to compare, I suppose, but I will anyway. Villa Soula, our first hotel here was not good. After the dabacle on our first night I don’t think that it will come a surprise to discover that the bathroom was 1.5 metres by 1.4 metres and it was impossible to shower without soaking the whole room. The toilet was so wedged up against the wall that sitting upon it was only achievable sidesadle.

Yesterday we returned to Oia (pronounced “ear” a source of numerous jokes) for a wander around. Like the main town, Thira, Oia consists of a beautiful patchwork of stuccoed buildings. Unlike Thira is feels a bit more polished and somehow fresher. After wandering for a while we rode the trusty quad down to a tiny fishing village. The descent is incredibly steep and after enjoying the viewwe pointed the quad up the hill and ascended at what could best be described as the speed of a totoise…who is on his way home from a big night out…and has the use of only one leg. But we made it.

Riding around here is taking your life into your own hands. The Greeks, like the French and Italians, are terrifying behind the wheel. The overtake on blind corners, park anywhere and drive as though they are in a grand prix.

And the roads. I think that when the car reached Santorini they just poured Tarmac on the goat tracks. Since then they have haphazardly filled the occasional pot hole. The surface tries to through you off around corners and turn your coxyx to jelly. Take your eyes off the road for a moment, say to admire the view, and you are in the ditch.

Let me get back to our new hotel. We went to the little super market up the hill (one thing with Santorini is that you are always either going uphill or downhill) to buy some nibbles this afternoon and spent the rest of our day reading on the terrace, admiring the view, eating fetta and biscuits and getting a little sunburned.

Tomorrow is the big day. A car is coming to pick us up at 6:30 in the evening (hopefully Kath will be ready by then). We met with the wedding people this evening to go over the arrangements and they seem really nice. So when next I write I should be a married man.

We have been zooming around on our little 50 cc ATV and having death defying experiences while visiting some of the beauty spots on the island. Yesterday was Greek Orthodox Easter and all around the island people were letting off fire crackers and cooking whole lambs, [...]]]> The island lisfestyle is certainly very relaxing, if a little expensive.

We have been zooming around on our little 50 cc ATV and having death defying experiences while visiting some of the beauty spots on the island. Yesterday was Greek Orthodox Easter and all around the island people were letting off fire crackers and cooking whole lambs, goats and pigs on spits over open fires. The smells of the cooking meat were fantastic.

In the morning we pushed the little ATV up the highest mountain in Santorini. Halfway up we stopped at a little place called Pirgos for a cup of coffee. The owners were in definite party mood playing Greek music and dancing despite us being the only people there, the atomosphere was one of celebration.

When we had climbed the hill only to discover a military installation (I have a sneaking suspicion that the Turkish Lawn Authority had been in touch) we descended and found our way to the beaches. Stopping for a lunch of gyros (kebabs) at Perisa beach we found that we had to strongly insist that we really didn’t want the 21 Euro lamb and really did want the 2 Euro gyros.

I have found that with the Greeks. To a large extent they are warm and friendly, but often, perhaps because of the tourist nature of the island, you have a sneaking suspicion that you are being subtly taken advantage of – a few extra items on the menu, the offer of only the more expensive option when a cheaper exists or just a little adjustment in the prices. Having no language skills in Greek it is hard to express yourself and easy to fall prey.

Compared to Turkey, Greece is certainly pricey. While in Turkey prices were generally equal to or less that Australian prices, so for example a can of Coke might be 1.50 YTL whereas here a can of Coke is more like 2 Euro. That is a like $1.30 versus $4.00. Want a cappucino here? 3.5 Euro easily. Still gyros are only 2 Euro.

But it is worth it. Seeing the beautiful scenery and enjoying the Mediterranean climate and lifestyle makes it very worthwhile. We have spent the last few afternoons sitting in the sun and reading while in front of us is the glistening Agean.

Tomorrow we are moving to a hotel overlooking the caldera and the following day is our wedding which we are both very excited about. We are meeting with the wedding planner tomorrow everning to finalise things. It looks like the forcast is for a possible shower. Kath has her fingers crossed but as you know, I don’t believe in that. Instead I will sacrifice a lamb and pour some libations to the gods.

We arrived here [...]]]> Wireless internet hotspots don’t quite seem to have made it to the Cycladaes (or the motor-cyladaes as I have rechristened them on account of the scooters and motorbikes that are ubiquitous here more below). I guess that thousands of years of civilisation can only do so much. Posts will necessarily be brief and infrequent.

We arrived here last night from our extended stay in Bodrum on the ferry via Kos.

Kos is another interesting place and we would have liked a lot more than the 7 hours we had to explore the island. The ferry from Bodrum left relatively on time and was laden with people. It took only 45 mintues to reach Kos. Here we left our luggage at the port cafe and then had to get used to paying for things in Euros.

Kos has a feeling that is very Italian. It is arranged around a couple of large piazzas. People gathered here all day (it was Good Friday for the Greek Orthodox Church) and most of the shops in the charming business district were open. The people looked healthy and prosperous and there were lots of children gathered in the streets, playing football and riding bikes.

We wandered around and found, near the middle of town a restored Roman house. The lady there from the Ministry of Culture, who was born in Sydney, showed us around. It was really nicely done and carefully rebuilt. Best of all it was free. We had a lunch of crepes, which were yummy and quite unexpected, and pottered about. We saw the plane tree Hippocrates taught under (it had wings) and looked at the castle built by The Knights of St.John. Those guys were about as busy as old Justinian.

We walked all day stopping here and there to eat. Most of the real tourist stuff was being readied for the high season, but it was interesting. At least until about 4 o’clock. We still had 4 hours to kill before the ferry to Santorini. We sat on benches and looked in shops. It was a great shame to be bored in such a lovely place.

At about 7:30 we were waiting on the docks when the ferry hove into view. It was massive. We watched it dock and whole trucks rolled out of it. Climing about and riding the escalators up we sat in the airline style seats we had booked. On the level we were on were three bars, two cafes and a fast food place. It was quite a thing.

We arrived at Santorini not long after midnight and caught a cab to the hotel. The cab driver took another passanger with us but still managed to scalp us 15 Euro ($30). They have you over a barrel, particularly since you can’t argue in Greek and they know it.

After he drove off we tried to get into the hotel. However the note on the door wasn’t addressed to us but to a different group of people. Not sure if it was our name mispelled and in the absence of any other plan we went up to the that room to call the owner. Needless to say we were very sheepish when the rightful occupants of the room appeared. They were kind enough in spite of their annoyance to call the owner who eventually arrived full of apologies to give us a room. This was at about 1.

We awoke to a glorous warm morning and went for a walk into Fira to have a look at the Caldera of the volcano. For those not in the know a frew thousand years ago the island exploded and left a cresent shaped piece of land with an island within the cresent. The views are stunning and the little houses and shops thing cling to the cliffs quite unique. It is lovely.

We hired a quad-bike (4 wheeled motorbike) and went for a whizz out to Oia, another settlement to the north. Brown trousers time but I got the hang of it.

I have only two minutes left. More to follow tomorrow!