Ia on the island of Santorini
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Culture and HistoryGreek Islands is where you escape to. Beautiful island with whitewashed buildings and colorful church tops. The beaches are not the greatest - usually coarse pebbles to rocks. Some have some sand but water warm and inviting.
Being there twice it is only getting busier and busier and is now overrun Santorini is the jewel but stay the night there and wait for all the cruise ship people leave and watch the sunset in Thira or Ia Miykonos has gone jet-set and is now longer a quiet place when i first went there Paros, Cretes and Corfu are other islands to explore. If you want to party and are young Ios was the place. Look at the Acropolis then leave right away from Athens and enjoy the islands |
Ancient Greece
THE CYCLADE ISLANDS
PLACE VISITED IN GREECE
Athens (3*) (2 times)
Santorini (5*) (2 times)
Mikynos (4*)
Paros (4.5*)
Cretes (4*)
Corfu (3.5*)
Ios (3.5*)
Delos (3.5*)
Athens (3*) (2 times)
Santorini (5*) (2 times)
Mikynos (4*)
Paros (4.5*)
Cretes (4*)
Corfu (3.5*)
Ios (3.5*)
Delos (3.5*)
Greece is my favorite place in Europe. I have been there twice. Get out of polluted. Athens and go directly to the islands. Each island is different and different tourist go to diff islands. E.g. Miyoknos is for the gay community but is now considered a jetsetter's destination, IOS is for partying and those who like staying up all night, Cretes is for Germans, Corfu is for British, Paros is a blend of Mykonos & Santorini, Santorini is for couples, cruise ship day-trippers and Scandinavians love Naxos
Athens: After seeing the Acropolis/Parthenon - leave immediately and head for the islands. The food in Plaka is gross and expensive and catered to cruise ship tourist! Santorini Been here 2 times. The best in terms of what to do and see is Santorini. It's got volcanic sand, a site thought to be the lost civilization of Atlantis, and the picturesque cliff town of Thira and Ia. You will see this site on endless number of ads and posters. Whitewashed buildings with blue coloured tops and more churches than houses. Wander around Ia at the tip and you will be in for a nice surprise. Now flooded with cruise ships in the day time. Nighttime is quiet and there is little nightlife. The main attraction is watching the sunset in Thira. Food is your regular tomato cucumber salad and food soaked in olive oil. I think Greek food in Canada is much better and may be cheaper except for the souvalaki on a pita which used to go for about $1 (many moons ago - maybe 5-6 Euros now). Great snack or lunch or 3am snack. Cretes: Big island, filled with gorges, and ancient ruins. The ruins of Knossos near Iraklion are nice with its well preserved frescos. Rent a moped from Iraklion and go to the small picturesque town of Anogia. Lots of whitewash houses and colourful flowers everywhere. As a day trip from Hania, go to the Samaria gorge -longest gorge in Europe. At the end of it you will be rewarded with a nice beach and the Mediterranean Sea. One popular beach on the island is Matala. On the side of the beach there are caves carved right out of the mountain. They are fun to explore thru or just hang out to enjoy the view. Some backpackers actually camped out in them. They were used by the Nazis in WWII to hide out. Wander off to the other side of the cave on the cliff to see some awesome views. Remember you can go TOPLESS on the beaches and sometimes BOTTOMLESS. You can tell who are North American women are as they are much more conservative. Paros: Nice combination island. Sort of like Santorini, Mykonos - all in one. A little of everything. nice beaches with 'real sand" too - hard to find in Europe. Wander around the whitewash houses & churches. Mykonos: It's now considered a party place. Once known to be the "gay" island, now is home to jet setters alike. During my stay there, I must have been hit on (tried to get picked up by guys) 10 times. Dangerous place if your a guy. Safe if you are a girl back in the days. The island does have nice beaches. Don't make the mistake I did. I went to SUPER PARADISE BEACH on a moped. it was a gay NUDIST BEACH. AHHHHHHH i left quickly and found Paradise beach. Lots of night life or just people hanging by the harbour having drinks and dinner. It’s an international jetset place now even for the rich and famous now.! The windmills on top of the hill by the habour are beautiful esp. at sunset. IOS. Wake up 2 pm in the afternoon, Drink, tequila shooters or ouzo Dance at 9pm- 6am Have or do "activities" on the beach, throw up. Hangover. Sleep/ dance/ throw up. Just a daily routine here. If you want to kill some brain cells come here. I managed to survive. Delos: Lots of nice ruins on this island. A short boat ride from Mykonos. Corfu: Many British tourist. Everyone stays at Pink Palace to party. I'm sure things have changed now. Not on the top of my list |