Hello Ios!

On Monday 26^th I woke up at 5.50 to collect my laundry from the yard and then Athina came to pick me up. We drove to Pireus E7 (normally I always leave from E8). I hopped in and the woman asked to see my student card but I was just telling her that I study in greek university in Egaleo etc etc and all in greek. So she just left me in with no hussle. At the door this other greek woman was so surprised when I spoke greek! She helped me to get to my seat.. The ticket price to Ios was 57€ but I got it half price. The boat left at 7 am and arrived to Ios around 11.45. Spinich pie was again my breakfast on the boat.

At the port there were at least 30 people with the signs and this really nice woman came to ask me if I needed a place to stay. Her place was right at the Chora (village) and in her other place 5 minute walk away she had a swimming pool. She offered 25€ at first but dropped it to 20€. In the car she also told me that I was being really clever since if I would have booked it online the same room would have been around 80€!! The companies like booking.com etc. take so much money from their service so the hotels need to raise their prices in order to get enough money for themselves. Margarita’s room was very simple right at the Chora so with perfect location and all I could ask or need. Avanti was her other place on the other side of the Chora with way more expensive places and this perfect pool! I was so lucky!

I went to walk around, found info, got a map and went for 2,5€ gyros. Then I went to the pool to cool down! I decided to walk to this church up top (not in the Chora side). I thought I was being smart but ended up in a dead end. Ended up walking for ages and had to ask couple times but eventually when I found it it was perfect and I was the only one up there! Proper zen moment.

Then when I started coming down I noticed that the dead end would have actually led there.. So coming down it took me literally three minutes to be back at the pool! I was at the pool for another hour and then I left for a nap. A bit before eight o’clock I started climbing on top of Chora with another three churches there and a beautiful spot for sunset! On the way up I got to admire the tiny little alleys in Chora.

After I was trying to find a place to eat and noticed that there were almost more clubs and bars than tavernas.. Went to eat at this local greek place called the Net and most of the prices were at least 0,5-1.5€ more than for example in Athens or Poros. After eating I found this nice place the Steps! Met an American and a british girl but decided to head to bed after a while..

On a Tuesday morning I woke up already around nine and left to walk towards the windmills I had spotted the previous day up in the hill. It was really easy to find but they were a bit of a disappointment, nothing special really. Then it was time to head towards the beach Mylopotas by foot. It was only maybe around 2,5 km away from the Chora. They had the steepest stairs to descent to the beach! All the tavernas and coffee places were still shut but I found the Free Beach Bar where the American girl was working and I went there! Check out the pictures! The coolest pool ever! Also quite expensive but I spent there almost my all day from 10.30 to four o’clock.

It was again such a hot day that I took a bus to the Chora for around 10 minutes paying 1,8€ for the bus ticket. I went to the ferry office to figure out prices for different islands (I also used a page called viva.gr). Then it was pool time for around one hour to actually plan where to go next! I wrote the days down and made myself a plan. It was Mykonos time next even though it was said to be the busiest and most expensive. Smaller islands close by where said to be so so small that there would be really nothing there especially when I was alone. When I left the pool I went to buy the ticket to Mykonos and again got the -50% discount for the ferry. Then I had to rush to shower and back to the bus stop to catch the bus to Koumbara for Patmos Sunset Lounge / Beach bar at 19.05. The bus only went once in an hour and I didn’t wanna risk not finding the place and missing the sunset. The sunsets were around 20.40.

The bus was so packed and the guy who charged us tickets told us to play human tetris. The bus dropped us straight in front of the Patmos and it cost 10€ to get in but with that you got one cocktail for free so it was okey! The sunset was pretty amazing! I didn’t stay to hang around after the sunset but left for the bus and they had thought it really well since the bus was there right after the sunset and you didn’t for example have to wait for an hour for the bus. After I went to wander around in Chora and for couple of wines glasses around. 

Weekend at Poros!

The next morning I felt a bit hangover and I headed out to catch a bus 845 to Pireus around 9 o'clock. It was so packed that I barely fit in! Sweating like crazy I managed to get in and it took around 25-30 minutes to be in the familiar Pireus area. I basically walked straight into the boat where the man checking the tickets was a dick head. I paid two euros extra cause he didn't believe my student card and then it was fine.. On the way I bought a spinach pie which I ate on the deck. I was so super excited to whole way!! The boat left 10 am and arrived to Poros around 13..

Thanassis was there to meet me even tho he had broken both of his arms dropping down three metres trying to cut a branch from a tree.. We took a taxi to the hotel and I walked straight for lunch! After eating a headed to Kamares where you had to pay 5€ for using the pool and then I drank a radler there for old times sakes. Went to Romantza around four trying to find Jorgos but couldn’t find him. Took a nap instead and left for a walk to the center. I tried to look for Manos from the boats that go across to Galatas side but couldn’t find him. L Went to Oasis to eat and surprised people working there! So lovely it was! After the free beer in there I went to walk around and then to Unique for one drink where this American girl came to talk to me when she saw that I was alone. They actually had a course in Poros for two weeks with their teacher! The lessons were from 9-12.30 ja then from 18-19.30! In between they had free time there! We went out with the girls but the place was dead already at 2 am so we all headed home.

On Saturday morning Thannassis rang and woke me up at 9.30 for breakfast on the balcony. After I went to Panorama beach with free sunbeds when you ordered something worth 5€.  At 2 o’clock it was time for lunch with Thanassis and Angeliki and damn it was good!

Then I went to walk around and back to Romantza to see Jorgos and this time he was there! He was really happy to see me after couple of years! Drank beer with him and chatted. Then it was nap time and then I left a bit earlier to the center cause i wanted to see the sunset at the port! I waited for taxi quite a while but eventually got one. I walked around and found a nice bench to watch the sunset. First this Israelian Juyri came to talk to me trying get a picture of me, a pic together, my number and he also invited me to eat with them.. He was around 50 years-old.. Then after he left this homeless looking guy that was on the same boat with me came to talk to me. I felt sorry for him cause he seemed really sweet but then at the same time you could tell that everything wasn’t okey.. I tried to chat with him in greek a while and then continued when the sun was set.

At the boats I asked for Mano and they told me that I was standing in front of his boat that he must be somewhere to have a coffee! I went through all the places and eventually find him! His face was priceless! Almost started to cry! He is like my dad in Greece. Chatting with him for a while and drank Frappe and then he had to leave for work.

Then it was time for food in Oasis again and couple of glasses of wine. Sakis asked me to come back later for a wine if i wanted to. I left for Del Angelo for wine and I actually got offered two glasses from both the guys working there Christos and Kostas. After it got a bit more quiet Kostas came to talk to me and ended up being quite a nice guy actually. I went to meet Sakis and others in Oasis but they were just closing up. So I left with the guys from Del Angelo to Joy and then later to somewhere a bit further away. Then we left to beach with a car and then it was time to sleep around 7 am..  Then nice and fresh to breakfast at 9.30 am and then to Panorama beach with Kostas where we played rackettes! At two o’clock it was time for lunch again tho it was so so hot I couldn’t really eat anything!

After the lunch they ordered me a taxi and it was time for couple of tiers again. L I feel like they are my family! They didn’t take any money from me again for my stay. L I went to hang out in Kosta’s work place and he offered me a frappe and a water there.. Hangout with him there for maybe an hour until my boat came (15.55-17, flyingcat and I paid 12,5€ (-50%)) and it was time to go. L So confused feelings on the boat that I even cried a bit. That place is like my home and no one else can understand except for my sister.

I was a bit nervous with my ticket since the full price was 25€ and I had gotten -50% discount being a student. They didn’t ask anything and I just walked in. The ferry ride went so fast and before I noticed I was already in Athens. I was trying to find the same bus to go home with but i couldn’t find and it was like 35 degrees so I decided to take the train and change in Monastiraki to metro. I was at home 18.25 sweating like fuck! Viktoria and Athina left to stay somewhere else so I got the home to myself and ordered some food, washed laundry and went early to bed! 

Back home at Athens

On Tuesday morning, I woke up at 9.30 and left for gym which happened to be right next door where Athina’s sister’s tattoo studio and shop was! I paid 10€ for two times for the gym. After gym I went back home to shower and back to the tattoo studio with my laptop to work a bit. After Athina was finished with her work we left for Vouliagmeni or Kavouri to be exact for beach but it was a bit cloudy so I didn’t swim. We drove to Haidari to eat gyros around 5 and it was delicious again!

I took a quick nap and we left for Akropolis rocks for beers with Athina! God I love the place, atmosphere and the view most of all. Love it. After the rocks and the sunset it was time to get the car from Egaleo and drive to Arch for beers and meet Athina’s boyfriend Elias and see Gloria after years!!

On Wednesday morning, I slept late and left to the center to wander around. First I went to my jewelry shopping place Athens Protasis and I bought couple of new bracelets.. Then I went to plaka at this annoying man’s place (Geros tou Maria) where I was supposed to eat but couldn’t stand him so I changed a place to Klepsidra close by with nice people there.. I ate greek salad and drank a frappe and worked maybe for couple of hours.. At home I took it easy and then we left for outdoors concert in Egaleo! Was really nice there.

At 21.30 I met Dafni and met her boyfriend Constantinos! I was starving so we went to this falafel place to catch food for me and bought beers from “Peripteros” and went to Plaka stairs to chat. After I met Athina and went to Hot Hot Burger place to get food for her and 7 Jokers for beers! Such a good night with my friends! Went to bed around 1.30am. 

On Thursday I woke up around 10 am and went to gym to try to get something done.. After that it was shower time and back to the center where I went to this rooftop place called Loukoumi vintage bar there I worked for couple of hours. Again I was confusing people cause all the others were greeks in there.. After I went to Maiandros for greek salad and tried to do little work there. After Athina came we went to walk around and ask about boat tickets to me.. We went to eat this desserts and they were sooo good.

We got the car from Egaleo and drove to Imagination travel near the Arch to buy tickets for me to Poros (return) and then to Ios on Monday 26^th. We said that I’m a student in greek university and I showed my old student card as well as my international student card. I wanted to take a slow boat to Poros to sunbathe on the deck and admire the view.. Coming back I chose the fast boat for only 55 minutes. Those cost me 20€ return. 

The ticket to Ios set me back 28,5€ but it was a student discount for -50%! It was hellenic highspeed boat. 

At night I was supposed to meet Dafni and go somewhere to party but she messaged saying that she is not coming that they had a fight with Kostas.. Well I decided to go somewehere for beer anyway and went to this Lover’s cocktails place with music near Souvlaki bar. The owner was so nice and proper hippie but loved him! After Dafni and Kostas eventually showed up we went to walk around with beer on the other side of Ermou (not Akropolis side). So many new and lovely places there!

Then we went to this Techno bar near by where they knew people. I got to catch up with Dafni and I had missed her so much!! She also told me they are getting married!! I took a taxi home to Egaleo for 8€ around three o’clock. 

Island hopping in Greece summer 2017 - Τώρα ή ποτέ!

Lipon as they say in Greece.. It was finally time for me to bag my backbag and head to see my friends in Greece! It had been two summers since I had last visited there and boy did I miss everything!! Almost every day for the past four months I had drunk Greek coffee Frappe and listened to Greek music from the radio.. All in all almost four weeks of traveling in Greece was ahead of me! 

On 18^th of June my flight left at 23.45 with Finnair straight to Athens. I had struggled a lot to find cheap flights to Athens and the flight times, prices and durations were ridiculous! Eventually I just booked this flight without really thinking about it too much. I paid a bit over 300€ (with the luggage 40€) and straight flights both ways.

Since there were so few flights to Athens the flight was obviously fully booked and two scream babies close by.. Didn’t get any sleep on the flight. After the 3 hour and 40 minute flight Athina picked me up from the airport and I was soooo happy to see her!! We went to cactch something to eat from Everest and then head to Egaleo at her sister’s place to get some sleep at 5 am!

The next morning, I woke up at 9.30 cause I was so excited to be in Greece! I went to wander in Monastiraki area and bought a metro ticket for 5-days only for 9€. One way was 1,4€ so I thought it would pay itself back pretty fast.

I loved wandering in the familiar streets and people trying to sell me something but I would reply in Greek and get them proper confused.. “But I thought you were a tourist, Im sorry”.. I went to Souvlaki bar between Monastiraki and Thissio to eat my first souvlaki in ages!

After a while Dafni came over and we hugged like 5 minutes and both almost started crying!!! We left for Frappe to Plaka and talked for ages.. Over two years of catching up to do.. Later I met Athina in Monastiraki and we all went to walk around and eat at this place in same direction as the Six Dogs called Feyrouz .The wraps were so good and filled me up and only cost 3€!

Dafni had to leave for work but me and Athina stayed and shopped a bit in Ermou. I took a nap for one hour and then we left to Egaleo for wine and meze! Was soooo gooooooood!! This almost dessert like thing with cheese inside and honey on top with seasameze things! (Later during my trip we heard sad news that the owner of the place had died in a motorbike accident only 32 years old and they had to close the whole place..) After we went for one beer in this place in Egaleo and chatting about our plans to visit Cuba next year.. At home, we hang out with Athina’s sister and her friends and I went to bed at 1 am

In love with Greece.