It’s my birthday today. Not that I usually celebrate the day but I will spend most of it travelling back to the UK – always the worst part of a trip that has been so enjoyable. Lateral flow test has been done – Tick!. Passenger Locator form complete – Tick! Clothes stuffed into suitcase –…
I’m really looking forward to my guided tour of Andros – albeit the truncated, half day version. First things first, breakfast. There are so many choices of where to eat in Batsi but I walk into the centre and up the road out of the town. As soon as the road begins to climb, there…
Before I arrived on Andros I realised that 4 days wasn’t really enough to explore the island. I also didn’t know how good (or bad) the bus service would be. With this in mind I made some preliminary enquiries about doing a guided tour of the island as I had done on Tinos. Now if…
It is fair to say that travelling during a pandemic has been shall we say, “interesting”. Although lockdown restrictions and travel bans have been lifted there are still of course protocols such as mask-wearing in restaurants, shops and hotels, all the necessaries relating to the requirements for Passenger Locator Forms, vaccination certificates and Covid tests. …
Today is Sunday and so my plan is to walk up to the Church of Evangelistria (Panagia Evangelistrai Megalochari) also known as Our Lady of Tinos, to observe the rituals, ceremonies and customs of the faithful. I’ve always had an interest in witnessing religious ceremonies, even as an atheist/agnostic. I must admit I move more…
One thing that you can’t help but notice when on Tinos is the fantastic collection of ornate dovecotes that are scattered across the landscape. So far I had only caught fleeting glances of them from the bus, but I wanted the chance to see them up close. I had asked Valentina, my guide from the…
Today I’m excited to be doing the day tour of Tinos, having been able to hijack a trip organised for people coming from Mykonos. I am to meet the guide called Valentina at the port. First stop though is a breakfast of bougatsa in the bakery come coffee bar that I had discovered. They have…
A young lady taxi driver picks me up at he Daidalos Hotel. Together we managed to heave my suitcase into the boot. The conversation begins with her asking me if this is my first time on Ikaria to which I reply that I had stayed in Therma a few years ago. “Ah, so now you…
Where did those five days go? It’s as if they have disappeared on the gust of wind that whips around the Armenistis coastline causing those big rollers to smash onto the shore. The wind is a curious thing. From my balcony at the Daidalos Hotel, I have a view over a small swimming pool which…
OK, let me just clarify something. I’m not driving a Chevy or a vehicle of any kind here in Greece (you know my nerves won’t stand it!). My pants aren’t heavy nor do I have any kind of stomach disorder. When I first came to Ikaria two years ago a particular song from the film…
Having just one day of doing not much at all was worth it. A day to myself was just enough to help me recoup from the frantic four days in Athens. I find myself always having to fight the temptation to be up early and explore everything within my capabilities – or rather the capabilities…
The ferry journey in my view is always part of the travel experience – not just a process of getting from A to B. The ships become like old friends. Some you may have had an encounter with or maybe just even seen from afar. The Blue Star Patmos has been one of those friends…