Where is Derek?

My goodness, I moved from Paraga beach to Paradise beach aka euro trash beach. It was like euro MTV spring break and The Jersey Shore rolled up into a feces ball. I stayed at the Paradise Beach “Resort” aka the shithole concentration camp. Thanks goodness for the good people I met at Paraga because without, Woz, Emma, Des, Sam and Kat (the Aussies) and Mark, Theresa, Gabriel, Oliver and Ann (the Canadians) I would have hated my time in Mykonos. Actually, I did enjoy walking around Mykonos town and riding quads around the island and my day trip to Delos but the beaches at night were filled with 20 somethings in bg groups and t was hard as a single person to meet people. If it wasn’t for the hostel I would seriously have found it difficult to make new friends. Mykonos is very clicky if you know what I mean. I made a mistake with my ferry ticket and I will not be able to go to santorini today but I will go tomorrow afternoon. I will lose a day but it cannot be helped. At least I am in good company. Tonight I drink!

Delos as a sidetrip was nice, btw. I would definitely recommend it. I have stayed 4 nights which is way too long. 2 full days would be enough. Oh btw the other night I hung out with the Aussies who had a Greek friends take us out and have drinks at their apartment, that was very nice.

So looking forward to leaving Mykonos.

Write y’all tomorrow from santorini hopefully.

D

My hostel is a dump but things were interesting because they put me in an 8 person dorm with 7 girls. All Brazilian and Aussie and all were doing a gap year. Everyone seemed pretty cool, we went out for a cafe and hit the beach. My room seriously is a dog pound though, I am glad I bought a silk sleeping bag in Vietnam because I will need that filth shield to protect me from the bugs and what not. I spent the day at Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach and then the day in Mykonos town, walking around, seeing the windmills, drinking coffee in Little Venice and eating. Later tonight, is Benni Benassi at Cavo Paradiso, it should be a great party. No sleep tonight.

Day 2 in Athens was really relaxed. I visited the Plaka again and took pictures. Later in the afternoon, I met up with an old friend from my study abroad trip to China, Sevi in Athens and had something to eat and drink. Sevi was near her final trimester and it was nice to see her again. Time was short but it was nice seeing Sevi again.

Later in the evening, I met up with an ex co worker named Chavis and we walked around Monastiraki and the surrounding area, waiting for Chavis’ cousin to arrive. Once Chavis’ cousin, Lauren arrived we went to the Acropolis and did touristy things until having drinking in Psiri. Sorry this post is short but I am waiting for a ferry to Mykonos. I will update these posts with pictures and more stories of the day as I have more time.

Next up Mykonos.

Well after 25 hrs of travel, I finally made it to Pella House in Athens, Greece. This hostel is really conveniently located in Monastiraki which is in the heart of the city. I arrived at 1pm, really weary but I still ventured out to the surrounding areas, first going to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Parliament building to see if any riots were happening. Nothing was happening but I did see a lot of police walking about.

After that I walked around the Plaka towards the Acropolis and back to the hostel. I will update this page with photos as I get back.

The Plaka was very touristy near Ermou Street but as you walk up the hill towards the Acropolis, you find little streets and alleys, just like you see in the movies.

The Acropolis, quintessential Greece, was amazing but due to reconstruction efforts, there was scaffolding everywhere, ruining any photo op. But impressive none the less.

For my first meal in Greece, I just hit up a Greek fastfood place called Goody’s which sold me a gyro with a big portion of fries and mustard with a drink for less than 5 euros. For dinner, I went to my hostel’s bbq party on the roof over looking the acropolis. Not a bad first day.

Tomorrow, I will meet one of my friends from my China study abroad trip, Sevi and later in the evening, a friend from Japan, Chavis.

A brief overview of my summer 2011 trip to Greece and Turkey:

Part I: Greece

July

19   Tokyo to Istanbul ( flight, leave 12:00pm arrive 1:05am +1day)
20   Istanbul to Athens ( flight, leave 10:35am arrive 11:55am )
21   Athens
22   Athens to Mykonos via Piraeus ( ferry, leave 7:25am arrive 11:10am )
23   Mykonos
24   Mykonos – day trip to Delos
26   Mykonos to Santorini/Thira ( ferry, leave 14:55pm arrive 17:35pm )
27   Santorini
28   Santorini to Crete/Heraklio ( ferry, leave 17:55pm arrive 19:30pm )
29   Crete
30   Crete
31   Crete to Rhodes ( flight, leave 20:20pm arrive 21:15pm )

August

1   Rhodes
2   Rhodes
3   Rhodes to Istanbul ( ferry to Marmaris, 12hr bus to Istanbul )

Part II: Turkey

August

4    Istanbul
5    Istanbul
6    Istanbul to Canakkale
7    Canakkale – day trip to Gallipoli
8    Canakkale – day trip to Troy
9    Canakkale to Bergana
10   Bergana
11   Bergana to Selcuk
12   Selcuk – day trip to Ephesus
13   Selcuk to Patara
14   Patara
15   Patara to Olympos
16   Olympos
17   Olympos to Antalya
18   Antalya
19   Antalya to Konya
20  Konya
21   Konya to Gureme
22   Gureme – day trip to Cappadocia
23   Gureme to Istanbul
24   Istanbul
25   Istanbul to Tokyo ( flight, leave 12:20pm arrive 10:30am )

Accommodation:

Greece

Athens          Pella Inn ( http://www.pellainn.gr/ )
Mykonos      Paraga Beach Hostel ( http://bit.ly/rc5loa )
Mykonos      Paradise Beach Resort ( http://www.paradise-greece.com/ )
Santorini      Santorini Hostel Kykladonisia ( http://www.santorinihostel.com/ )
Crete              Mirabello Hotel ( http://www.mirabello-hotel.gr/English/english.htm )
Rhodes         Hotel Parthenon ( http://www.parthenon-hotel.eu/html/ )

Turkey

Istanbul
Canakkale
Bergana
Selcuk
Patara
Olympos
Antalya
Konya
Gureme
Istanbul

Note: To book ferries within Greece I used this website Paleologos
( http://paleologos.forth-crs.gr/english/npgres.exe?PM=BB )

To book the ferry from Rhodes to Marmaris
( http://www.feribot.net/feribot/?partnerid=Mzg=&lang=en )
Here is a listing of the ferries between Greece and Turkey
( http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/arrival///0/routes///4%2C5////TR/ )

and then the bus form Marmaris to Istanbul
( http://www.ulusoy.com.tr/ )

To book trains and buses in Turkey

Bus ( http://www.ulusoy.com.tr/ )

Hello everyone, it has been a long time. I have decided to use this blog only for documenting my travels. My next destination will be Greece and Turkey and I will document my initial travel plan and then update with actual field information.