I'm back from holiday. Finally as someone might say. It was great and relaxing and quite good for meditation. OK. Lets start with the beginning. This year in May was my name day and my mother's birthday. My brother had this brilliant idea of making us a nice present: a summer holiday in Greece. So a couple of weeks ago we begun our journey. I must confess that was quite nice because we haven't had a mother-daughter holiday in years. Time to catch up. For mom was the first time in Greece so everything was new and inviting for her and I believe she enjoyed every single moment of it.
Nei Pori is a nice village on the Aegean coast in Greek Macedonia. It was nice to be at the very place were the Olympian legends were created: The mount Olympus. I even climbed on it and I've admired the view from almost 1000 m above the sea level.
I've been to Thessaloniki and got on top of the White Tower for a better view of the city not knowing what miracles of technology were on the inside. Those people built on each of the fourth levels of the tower a techie museum: movement sensors turned on sound and image on LCD displays every time someone got in, interactive maps of the city and floor maps that transformed their very own shape as the story in images moved on. Quite impressive.
As our guide was explaining the connection between Greek mythology and the sites we were seeing we discovered new places. I was absolutely delighted to visit an abandoned village on mount Olympus named Paleo Pantelimonas. The village is a museum now and it kept the air of old times with narrow stone pavement streets, flowers, chairs on porches as some old men prepare to drink their afternoon ouzo and chat about life, streets that go up and down the mountain. We got there the same day the descendants of the people that used to live there were celebrating Saint Pantelimonas and the church in the center was full. After running as crazy with my camera it was great to refresh a little with a great ice cream in pineapple crust. Yami!
Afterwards we went to Stavros platform and then to Zeus Bathtub a special rocky formation in a canyon were is thought that Zeus was taking a bath before going home to Hera. I like the concern that Greeks provide to everything and their way of making tourism. They have such a lovely country.
As if it wasn't a full day, we were prepared a nice surprise same night. We were taken to the Greek night in Platamonas were we danced and have fun until the morning.
One trip that I absolutely loved was the boat trip to Skiathos island (I just simply love islands). Our guide told us that here was filmed Mamma mia so once I got home I've seen the movie. It's a such a picturesque island with lovely streets and a nice port. On the narrow streets you could saw every step blue shutters and flowers, scooters and restaurants. The best view was from the church's tower and you can get there only following the white steps the climbed on the hill. And that was just the capital city. The best part was yet to come. Our crazy sailor that made us dance in order to have some Metaxa on the ship, took us on the other side of the island to swim and take a sunbath on a nice beach called Koukounaries Beach (The pine cones beach). There's a natural reservation in front of which lays a beautiful beach with golden sand and clear waters. It was the first time in my life I've managed to swim and I was so proud of myself that everything seemed so beautiful that day. And it was. On our way back on the sea, the crazy captain on Elizabeth Cruises organized a water balloon fight between our boat and another one. It was simply fun and I enjoyed that. Afterwards captain's kids made a show performing traditional Greek dances.
The weather was fine, the water was clear and excellent for my first swimming (yes), the cookies from Papa John were delicious, the sea food great ... overall it was a great holiday. I'll be posting soon pictures on my flickr account.
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