Egypt by Latha Nathan

EGYPT

DAY 1

We were two families, one from Chennai and the other from Bangalore. Our trip started very dramatically… all flights out of Bangalore got postponed by half a day, due to fog. So there was this general confusion.  We would miss all connecting flights and……! That’s when our travel agent really proved his worth. He arranged for an alternate flight out of bangalore and also ensured a timely connection from Dubai to Cairo!

Cairo is like any large North Indian town… maybe Delhi. We were whisked straight from the airport to the city of Giza, which is right across the Nile.. kind of like a twin city. Luckily, we insisted on stopping over at a fast food joint and picking up a falafel sandwich. Veggie options are very scarce, and the average waiter/ counter boy  doesn’t seem to understand the concept/ language. Fortified with some food and water ( it is highly recommended that you buy water) we reached the Giza plateau, home of the great pyramids. Entry is ticketed. The pyramids really live up to all expectations. They are truly awe inspiring. There are the 3 great( really huge) pyramids and sundry smaller ones. Our guide drove us around the complex . you can spend some time there admiring the sheer splendour. Also you can go inside one of the pyramids. It is really vertigo inducing and scary!

DAY 2

Took the early morning flight to Aswan.  It is a small town.  We went around with our very-earnest guide Mr.Ayman, and saw the unfinished obelisk and the Aswan Dam./ Lake Nasser complex.  Tried out the local Egyptian vegetarian delicacy- Khoshary- to mixed reactions. Then joined the convoy to Abu Simbel. The drive was through rugged desert terrain. Very harsh  landscape. Makes you appreciate the abundant greenery back home! Somewhere in the middle of all this a Saudi prince has invested in some water pipelines and has created a vegetable / fruit garden. Reached abu simbel at lunchtime after a very dry and dusty ride. Checked into the Hotel Nefertari. Had a very bad lunch… again very few  veggie options.  Drove down to the Abu Simbel temple complex. Truly awesome pair of temples. What makes them so special is their age, the precision of the human figures, their massive size and also the wonderful paintings inside the temples. We also saw the sound and light show at dusk. Spectacular! Went around Abu Simbel town, actually a village, in search of food. Saw huge cabbages and other veggies . ended up buying fruits for dinner….like I said, vegetarian food is hard to come by.

DAY 3

Began with a viewing of the sunrise over the lake Nasser, right from our hotel rooftop. Took the convoy back to Aswan. Checked into the Nile cruise. Our boat was the La Travietta. Very clean and totally impressive. These cruises are docked in the quay. Each room comes with a balcony … quite nice. By now our main problem was- getting used to cigarette smoke. EVERYBODY in Egypt smokes… all the guides, the drivers, literally everybody. It is very irritating! We went on  a Feluca sail. The Feluca is an Egyptian sailboat.Coming back to the smoke, the teenage boys who sail the boat also smoked… we had to ask them to stub out.  The sail was very pleasant. Since we went in Decenber, it was neither too hot nor too cold. The Nile is very, very clean especially if you are used to rivers like the Cooum…… We had a relaxed dinner at the cruise. Everybody kept saying ‘Eendian, Eendian’ when we asked for veggie food. Also our Bollywood stars are very popular. It did wonders to the ego to be addressed as  Aishwarya Rai!

DAY 4

Morning, we took a horse carriage to Aswan town. Went shopping at the local market. Plenty of bargaining! After lunch the cruise left Aswan. The Cruise has a deck with lounging area and a small swimming pool on the roof top. It is fun and extremely relaxing to just sit there watching the waters. Nothing much by the banks. It is all very peaceful and calm. Evening, we docked at Kom Ombo. We visited the temple there. Again truly awesome, but surprisingly quite crowded. I believe the Christmas vacations are the high point of the tourist season in Egypt. The temple is in ruins but the scale, the grandeur and art are awesome. After dinner, the cruise had an entertainment medley- a belly dancer..a let down, and a whirling dervish… quite superb!

DAY 5

Morning-again- smelly horse carriage ride to the temples of Edfu. Similar to the ones at Kom Ombo, but better preserved. These are the only temples with an intact roof ! Again very crowded. Its fun to watch so many guides in so many languages….. The cruise set sail for Luxor. The best part of the cruise…. We go through almost rustic landsacpe and the only sounds heard are the rippling of the water! At around midday we gather on the rooftop to watch the cruise pass through the locks of Esna. The mechanical aspect is especially thrilling for the kids. We reach Luxor by evening.

DAY 6

 Check out of the cruise, with a heavy heart, and drive down to the valley of the Kings. Remarkable place…bleak , windswept hillside, where all the pharoahs were buried. Each tomb is different. Intricate paintings of Egyptian mythology are breathtaking. Then we went to the temple of Hathshepsut. It’s a two storeyed temple with an imposing façade. On our way to the Luxor airport we stop by the collosus of Memnon- truly colossal! Catch the plane back to Cairo. Our hotel The Al Nabila,was in downtown Cairo, the only good thing about it!

DAY 7

Egyptian museum at the now famous Tahrir square. Excellent collection of statues, paintings… Tutankhamen’s exhibits are truly wonderful. We visited Old Cairo- a synagogue, a cathedral. Then back to the pyramids. We went on camel back… shaky but fun. Also stayed back for the sound and light show against the backdrop of the sphinx and the pyramids.

RECOMMENDATIONS

·      Must see/ do- sound and light show at any one location, Nile cruise

·      Avoid- Al Nabila hotel in Cairo

·      Weather wise December was good. But try mid January to avoid the crowds.

·      Food on the cruise is good, but otherwise grab something when you see a mac donalds.

·      We went on a customized package tour. So we had guides/ transport  everywhere.

Japan, by Nandita Vohra

JAPAN

Japan is a lovely country, definitely worth a visit. The courtesies of the Japanese are incomparable to any other community I have interacted with so far. Cleanliness, design perfection, hard work, so much to learn from them.

Travel – Air Nippon has the best and fastest connection to Tokyo, flight timings are convenient both at the time of departure and arrival.

We planned an 8 days visit to Japan. If you plan to take the Shinkasen bullet trains in Japan, please do remember to buy the Japan Rail Pass (JRP – you can buy either a 7 days or 14 days JRP) voucher in India. You cannot buy it in Japan.

Day 1 - Arrival at Tokyo Narita airport. From the airport, you can either take the Narita express train (you can use your JRP) for that to city or take a return limousine bus ticket from the airport (which gives you 2 days of metro train pass free). We took the limousine bus which had a straight drop to our hotel Grand Hyatt (at Roppongi hills). The hotel is very central and conveniently located.

Day 2 - Since we were travelling around New Years and most of Japan is shut from Dec 30 to Jan 3, we decided to first cover destinations that were open. We headed to Disney Sea which is the only Disney theme park in the world by the sea. Our daughters had good fun and they recommend the caramel, chocolate and strawberry flavoured popcorn to all children who visit Disney Sea in Tokyo. The Big Bang Beat show was enjoyable and the “Journey to the centre of the earth” was a great ride.

Day 3 – We took the metro train to Nakamise street where we offered prayers at the Sensuji shrine, a typical Japanese custom (to offer prayers on New Year’s eve).  You can also take your fortune paper out of boxes outside the shrine! At Nakamise street, don’t miss buying handmade chopsticks and fresh sponge cakes with cream filling. We also saw the Sony Building in Ginza area.

Day 4 – We took the Shinkansen bullet train to Odawara. From the Odawara station we bought the Hakone free (its not free but entitles you to a lot of freebies in Hakone) pass. We took a bus (under the free pass) to Hakonemachi and checked in to Yuugiriso, a Japanese Ryocan (inn). This was one of the highlights of the trip. We took a pirate ship (under free pass) to the other end of Lake Ashi from where we took a cable car to Owakudani. Enroute the views of Mount Fuji were beautiful. This is a volcanic activity area and one can smell sulphur in the air. A unique experience was black boiled eggs which are boiled in the hot spring water (which has sulphur). Back at the Ryocan, we were given Yukatas (Japanese cotton dress) to wear and then we went to the onsen (community hot spring bath). The onsen was a great experience.

Day 5- We went for the cedar tree walk from Hakonemachi to Motohakone, you do get the best views of Mount Fuji during your walk especially on a clear day. We then took a bus back to Odawara and a shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto.

Day 6 – We stayed at Hyatt Regency, very comfortable, well located, great breakfast spread. We took a bus and went to Ginkakuji shrine. The Buddhist shrines have lavish architecture and natural beauty around them. From there we started our Philosopher’s walk (about 3 km) along a water body. In April, the walk is lined with blooming cherry blossom trees.  

Day 7 – We took a full day tour with JTB tours and saw the scenic  Nijo castle, Kinkaji shrine, Imperial palace, Kyoto Handicrafts (the full day tour includes a very good buffet lunch here, including good vegetarian options), Kiyomisu temple (the corner porcelain shop just next to the temple has an irresistible variety of Japanese porcelain - tea cups, vases, lamps). The Ippodo tea shop is an experience, must drink and buy green tea from there.

Day 8 – We took a shinkansen back to Tokyo for our return flight to Mumbai. Some shopping options – Matsuya mall, Takashimaya mall.

Tips for Visiting a Buddhist Temple in Japan

• Stop by the purification fountain in the temple grounds at first. Fill a hishaku ladle with water. Pour some water over each hand from the hishaku ladle. Put some water in your left palm and rinse your mouth with water.
• You might need to take off your shoes before you enter temple halls in some temples.
• Remember to take off your hat before you pray to the Buddhist images.
• Throw saisen (offering coins) into the offering box. Put your hands together in front of your chest and deeply bow once. Quietly make a prayer.
• Keep in mind that taking photographs might be forbidden in certain areas.

Tips for Visiting a Shinto Shrine in Japan

• Before you enter the torii (entrance gate) of a shrine, bow to it.
• Stop by the purification fountain. Fill a hishaku ladle with water. Pour some water over each hand from the hishaku ladle. Put some water in your left palm and rinse your mouth with water.
• When you pray to the Shinto deities, the followings are common steps.
  1. Ring the bell if it's hung above the offering box.
  2. Throw saisen (offering coins) into the offering box.
  3. Deeply bow twice.
  4. Clap your hands twice. Make a wish.
  5. Deeply bow once.
• Keep in mind that taking photographs might be forbidden in certain areas.

Diwali Getaway, November 3-7, 2010

Come Diwali, the preoccupation is about getting away from the smoke and noise of Mumbai, generated by the spirited celebrations of Mumbaikars. Add to that, this year's Obama visit coinciding with Diwali was a big motivation to get away for a few days! The best option was to go to Goa or Kerala. Zeroed in on Periyar Wildlife Reserve near Thekkady in Kerala. Undeterred by unseasonal rains, we forged ahead, the motivation to stay away from Mumbai was too strong!

There are a few places to stay in the Reserve itself, but are difficult to book at short notice. Also were not sure about the facilities. There are a few good places to stay in and around Kumily, the nearest habitation on the outskirts of the Reserve. We chose Cardamom County Resort at Kumily, because the package came with a one day stay in a house boat in Alleppey (Alapuzha). How can a visit to the God's Own Country be complete without spending some time in the backwaters!

The airport nearest to Kumily is Madurai, but flight timings were unsuitable. The next best choice was Kochi. The drive from Kochi airport to Kumily took close to five hours due to winding ghat road and rains. But the scenery was breathtaking, with a small waterfall thrown in as a bonus.

Cardamom County is a comfortable resort, with the most outstanding staff we have ever experienced! Rooms are basic, not plush, but very comfortable. The meal spread was good. We wished the Chefs would stick to local cuisine. Experimenting with Chinese, north Indian, Italian etc. may be aimed at the foreign tourists, but we were looking for more of authentic Kerala cuisine, which obviously was the Chef's strength. They have their own spice garden and butterfly farm. The ayurvedic spa was divine! Not to be missed.

There are lots of outdoor activities to do in Kumily and in the Reserve. Trip to a spice garden and a ride on an elephant back were interesting. The elephant clearly was protesting, which made the ride more adventurous than our elephant ride in Thailand! The Jeep safari which took us to the Kerala Tamilnadu border, Chellarkovil waterfalls and some good viewing points is a must-do. Could not manage bullock-cart ride through the village due to the rains.

One of the highlights of the trip was a one hour demonstration of Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art form of Kerala, at a centre near the resort in the evening. It is an extremely graceful and energetic art form, demanding a lot of focus and practice. Unfortunately, we could not follow the commentary though it was delivered in English. We wished the centre would use a professionally pre-recorded narration, to make it intelligible to the visitors, especially the bus-loads of foreign tourists. 

But nothing can beat the experience of trekking through 12 Kms in the Periyar Wildlife Reserve. It is an extremely well organised program of the Forest Department. It starts at 7 am and ends at 5 pm and is aptly called the "Dawn to Dusk'' trek. While the trekking is through the dense forest, it also includes long rides on Bamboo rafts on the Periyar Lake. The escorts include Forest Department officials and some rehabilitated poachers who know the forest like the back of their hands. Breakfast and lunch served in the forest is an experience by itself. Breakfast consisted of fruits, biscuits, bread and tea served in a clearing in the forest which was cordoned off from the surroundings by a elephant  trench! Lunch was home cooked Pulao Rice, Onion raitha (raw onions in plain yoghurt) and pickles. A typical tribal villagers meal. After 6 hours of trekking, it was a better meal than any other we have ever had.

The trek was through dense, slushy foliage with an abundance of leeches. We had covered our legs upto our knees with something that looked like a cross between socks and gumboots with strings attached to the top for tightening. It was sprinkled with tobacco powder rather generously to deter the leeches. However, a few enterprising leeches found their way through all these obstacles.

Usually the forest is full of birds. We did not sight any due to the incessant rains. However, our stubborn guides took us through non conventional routes in the evening to give us a dekko of an amazing herd of wild elephants with two really tiny baby elephants, several herds of bisons, sambhar deer and one wild boar. For a good measure of adventure, we also saw the skeletal remains of an elephant and the nail marks of a tiger that had marked its territory.

This day long trek is a must do for every outdoor enthusiast, every nature lover and every non outdoor person who can make it a "once in a lifetime experience". After this, a massage at the Spa at the resort is soothing to say the least.

After 3 days in Thekkady, we headed to Allapuzha for a day on a houseboat. We did our booking through Cardamom County. Houseboats are available in one bedroom, two bedroom and multi bedroom options. Some are available with a conference room too! Ours was two bedroom for the three of us with a crew consisting of the Captain, a motor engineer and a Chef. We were treated like house guests, amazing food served on board in the most beautiful ambiance. The staff were the most courteous and well trained in hospitality.

Starting at 12 noon, the houseboat goes towards Vembanad Lake. At 4 pm, the guests are taken in a small boat through the winding backwater lanes on Allapuzha. It is not a wonder that this is the Venice of India and personally speaking, much cleaner than Venice. The houseboat is anchored at 5.30 pm in the backwaters for an overnight halt. At night, the houseboat could be anchored along with a few others or in an isolated place with just one or two other houseboats. This has to be clarified before booking to ensure privacy alongside security and also to avoid crowded, noisy night. The night in the houseboat is simply outstanding - the backwaters on one side, paddy fields on the other, lilies in the field, the sound of the insects of the night and an exclusive candle-light dinner.

Kerela is God's Own Country. Truly.

Our recommendations

Places to visit and things to do:

• Must do: House Boat - Muthoot Cruises, Bamboo rafting at Periyar Reserve, Kalaripayattu demo
• Ok to do: Jeep safari, Elephant ride, Spice garden walk
• Can avoid: -
• Must avoid: -

Places to stay / eat:

• Must do: House Boat overnight stay
• Ok to do: Cardamom County (Stay)
• Can avoid: Cardamom County (Food)
• Must avoid: -

Greece, Sparta, Mykonos, Santorini

Day 7: Athens - Sparta (Private Tour)

After breakfast at the hotel, we drove down to Sparta in a hired private car. Once again we passed through the Corinth Canal and reached the ruins at Mystras after a 4 hour drive. We walked up the ruins of the medieval fortress state which is now a World Heritage Site. We walked all the way up to the fortress from the lower town. On the way we saw the remains of various beautiful Byzantine churches. The surviving wall-paintings in them date to the late fourteenth century. The palace of the despots which was built between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries was closed for renovation and so we could not visit it. Overall the trek was very interesting although quite tiring. We had our well-earned lunch at a roadside restaurant at Mystras on the way to Sparta. At Sparta we stayed overnight at Hotel Maniatis, which was just about okay for a night’s stay. Hotel Menelaion which was just nearby seemed a much better option at least from the outside. 

Sparta itself is a beautiful little town. A walk through the town, visiting the central square and having a coffee at one of the cafés overlooking the square was quite refreshing.

Day 8: Sparta – Athens (Private Tour)

After breakfast at Hotel and we left for Monemvasia, the spectacular medieval town. True to its name there is only one narrow entrance to this town,  which was cut off from the mainland by an earthquake. Here we walked through the narrow streets which were lined with souvenir shops and tavernas. The town is a complex network of stone houses, which were connected to the cobbled alleyways by narrow winding stairways. The view of the sea from the top was simply breathtaking.

After Monemvasia, we proceeded to Athens and stayed overnight at Ledra Marriott hotel in Athens.

Day 9:  Athens – Mykonos

As before, we packed only for Mykonos and Santorini and left the additional luggage at Hotel Ledra Marriott. We took a ferry to Mykonos. There are quite a few options for these ferries. We took a normal ferry which starts in the morning. There is also a fast ferry service. Some services are cancelled depending on the weather.

In Mykonos, we stayed at St John Hotel. It is an exquisite property. After the check in, we took a cab to the local market. Here we hired scooters and drove around Mykonos visiting the not-to-be missed famous windmills.

Mykonos is an extremely beautiful place. It has beaches, quaint lanes and by-lanes and one can spend a week!

Day 10: Mykonos

We visited Delos, another island close to Mykonos.  Delos can be described as a floating museum and a shrine to the past is one of the greatest and most organized settlements of ancient Greece. In 1873 the French Archaeological School of Athens began excavating the island, uncovering the history we know today.

The trip to Delos is a short boat journey. We had organized a tour with a guide. This also involves a lot of walking. Sunscreen, walking shoes and water are essential.

Delos did not seem to have too many visitors but it is a definite must do.

Day 11:   Mykonos – Santorini

After breakfast, we took a ferry to Santorini. Reached Santorini in the afternoon. Checked in to Hotel  Majestic. This again is a very nice property. Rooms are large, comfortable. The restaurant is good. We went for a walk into the nearby town of Fira.

Day 12 :  Santorini

After breakfast, we will proceed for Caldera Tour. We left the port of Athinios in a traditional  boat for our visit of active craters of the volcano on the top of the island of Nea Kameni. The whole group from the boat was accompanied by a guide for the climb. This is an active volcanic centre with the most recent rock formations a little more than 50 yrs. In several places we can see and smell the sulphur fumes from various vents near the crater. This trip again involves a lot and lot of tough climbing to reach the crater.

We then sailed to Palea Kameni, “old burnt”, where thermal springs provide natural warm-water bathing, while the surrounding water and beaches were cold, and winds can be daunting.  For getting to the hot springs, we have to dive out of the boat at a good 100 m distance as the area near the hot spring is too shallow for the boat to reach. So, those who are interested in bathing on the hot spring dived in the water and swam for 100 m to bathe in the hot spring and swam back a 100 m to get on to the boat. Not very tempting for most of us…

The boat stopped at Thirassia  for lunch. This is a typical cycladic village with a way of life as it used to be before the invasion of tourism. Tiny houses of various colours give a special character to these small settlements. Is an ideal place to taste some of the traditional plates of Santorini. Nothing for the veggies, though.

In the evening we went to Oia by cab to catch the sunset. This is one of the most commonly pictured places in Greece in Indian movies. The village is beautiful with very narrow  cobbled lanes, beautiful sunset, nice restaurants and expensive shopping.

Overnight at Majestic hotel in Santorini.

Day 13: Santorini - Athens/India

After Breakfast at the hotel we reached the ferry terminal to Athens. There was a long queue waiting at a very inconvenient waiting room. May be one can reach a little early and find some place to sit.

On reaching then hotel, we went for some local sightseeing in Athens by ourselves.

Day 14:   Athens – India

After some local visits including the Acropolis Museum (which is an outstanding Museum, an attempt to recreate Acropolis with its remains), we left Athens for Mumbai.

Greece seat in coach

Greece: Day 3 to Day 6

We did these 4 days on a seat-in-coach basis. We packed separately for just these 4 days and left the remaining luggage at the Ledra Marriott Hotel, as we were returning to the same hotel at the end of the tour. This proved to be extremely practical since we had to check in and check out of hotels every night of this tour.


For a seat-in-coach tour, we always believed that it was essential to have a good group, a good bus, a good driver and a good guide! We got extremely lucky on all these aspects. We were in a group comprising an Australian couple with an infant, an American Couple, 2 families from New Zealand, a Japanese couple, a family from Canada. The tour was organized by Key tours. The guide was Ms. Marianna Tsigaridis (2108953172/ mob: 6944530827 / e-mail: tsigaridisfamily@yahoo.com). She was probably the best guide we have had till now on any tour! Extremely well informed, she almost held classes for us at each of the sites, complete with picture books.


Day 3: Athens – Olympia

We were picked up from the hotel by Key Tours. After passing by the Olympic Stadium to see the Athens 2004 Olympics main venue,  we continued for the Corinth Canal. After a short stop here, we proceeded to Epidaurus and visited the Ancient amphitheatre, world famous for its outstanding accoustics. This involves some walking. From here, we proceeded to Nauplia. It is beautiful town. One can spend a couple of days here if ther is time. For us however, it was a short stop and through the plain of Argos arrived at Mycenae. This is an archaeological site and involved lots of walking uphill. Though it did not have any steps and involved just a climb on a ramp path, the site is very large and therefore quite exhausting. Just outside this site is the Tomb of Agamemnon. In the afternoon, we departed for Olympia, the birth place of the Olympic Games, through the cites of Tripolis and Megalopolis. We stayed at Hotel Antonios Kotretsos at Olympia. This is fairly comfortable hotel for an overnight stay. Food was good, the rooms are basic but clean.

Day 4: Olympia – Delphi

Starting at 8 am in the morning, we visited the archaeological site with the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the altar of the Olympic flame and the ancient Olympic Stadium. This was an exhilarating experience. The places where the registration office used to be, the rooms for the participants, the dining area, the gymnasium have been uncovered. The Altar where the Olympic flame used to be lit in the ancient days is the place where the flame is lit till today while the flame is kept burning in the new Olympic stadium in Athens.

The entrance to the athletic stadium is through a archway. Passing under it to go to the athletic stadium was an amazing experience.

At the entrance to the stadium, just outside the archway used to be idols of those athletes who should not be idolized... of the athletes who were charged with unfair play. The name of the shamed athlete along with other details such as which year he had been debarred, the town he represented and the details of his family along with the details of his shameful act used to be etched under his idol to deter others from unfair play!

In ancient Olympia, aided by the explanations of a good guide, one feels transported to the past.

We went past Patras to Rion, across the Corinthian bay by the new bridge to Anirion. Passing by the city of Nafpaktos and from there on, going along the coastal road we reached Delphi, known in ancient times as the navel of the world.  

At Delphi we stayed at Hotel Delphi Palace. A MUST AVOID. The food is not worth mentioning. It is a very dinghy hotel with indifferent staff. The hotel is literally falling apart - The chair of one of our co-tourists broke at the dining table, the door of our bathroom came off… we were glad and relieved to check out the next morning.

Day 5: Delphi – Kalambaka  

We were picked up at 8 am from the hotel and left for the archaeological site of Delphi. We drank water from the Castalino fountain or the fountain of eternal youth - not sure if it works now a days! We also visited the place of the oracle of Delphi. This oracle was consulted by most people those times before any important decision and Alexander the Great was also supposed to have consulted this Oracle. There is a great stadium stadium here, involving a difficult climb. But is a great experience.

We departed for Kalambaka via Central Greece. Kalambaka is a small town built at the foothills of majestic grey rocks and crowned by the Meteora Monasteries. We stayed overnight at Hotel Divani Meteora in Kalambaka. This is an excellent Hotel.


Day 6: Kalambaka – Athens

We left in the morning for nearby Meteora to visit the Byzantine Monasteries. This was a really unique experience. The Byzantine churches are built on top of mountains, hidden between rocks. There are a handful of such monasteries. We visited one of them. These obviously include a lot of climb. The roads lead to about the middle of rock and after this we have to climb up. These monasteries are well maintained. Visit to Greece will be incomplete without this visit.

Return to Athens passing the heroic monument of Leonidas at Thermopylae. We stayed overnight at Ledra Marriott hotel at Athens.

Greece, first 2 days

Irrespective of whether you are a mythology buff or a history buff, you love nature or simply want an amazing holiday….head for Greece!

We had a 14 day itinerary for Greece.  Greece has options for every kind of   traveler. It is therefore best to do Greece by picking and choosing what you want to do in the time available to you. We drew up the following itinerary. Our tour included a bus journey in an international group, private car tours, a cruise to some of the islands, scooting in the islands and also a climb on a volcano to a crater! 

Greece involves a LOT of walking. Food is great in Greece, even for vegetarians. Vegans can experiment on the various options or can make a meal of Greek Salad 3 times a day for 15 days. One never seems to tire of it!

Day 1:  Arrival Athens / Evening Athens by Night Tour

Stayed  in Hotel Ledra Marriott. The Airport is about 45 minutes from this Hotel. (Do not plan your return trip to catch the flight on this basis! The traffic can be excruciatingly slow at times). The hotel is fantastic, good food and great rooms. We chose one with a view of the Acropolis. These room balconies however face the main road. It is not very noisy if the windows are properly shut. And, the view of the lit Acropolis at night was simply amazing.

In the evening, we took an ’Athens By Night’ tour. The tour provider was Key Tours, with their office close to the Hotel. The tour starts with a visit to the main Greek port of Piraeus, passing by the most important points of the city (City Hall, picturesque yacht's harbour of Microlimano etc). Following the principal avenues and passing by the Temple of Olympian Zeus, National Garden, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Catholic Cathedral, Academy, University, National Library, Old Parliament we arrived at Plaka. A short pleasant walk through the old unique Athens city took us to one of the popular taverns for dinner with live bouzouki music and Greek folk dances. The tour was not great as it got very dark and the guide was not very informative. However, it did serve as an introduction to Athens which came in useful later when we explored Athens by ourselves.

Day 2:  Morning City Tour of Athens / Afternoon Cape Sounion  

The breakfast spread at the hotel is fantastic, the staff are very attentive and responsive.

After breakfast we left for a half day tour of Athens. We visited the Panathinaiko Stadium which the cradle of the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. Passing by the Prime’s Ministers residence, Ex Royal Palace (guarded by colourful Evzones) Zappion , National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown soldier, Schlieman’s House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Academy, University, National Library, Old Parliament, Constitution Square. We climbed up the Lykovittos hill to reach the beautiful orthodox church at the top. We spent time till lunch at the Acropolis. We visited all these places with a guide (Ms. Anastasia from Key tours) who was very informative. There is a short climb to reach Acropolis and it can be a little tiring, depending on the time of the day! The visit included Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon and Erechtheion). The temple is absolutely captivating and a MUST do. The connection with our Hindu temples, the similarity in the customs followed in those days at the temple of Athena and those that are followed till today in the Hindu temples is amazing.

We left for CAPE SOUNION by a private cab with our guide Ms. Anastasia where we visited the 5th century BC Temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world.

This turned out to be one of the most special and memorable visits of the tour. The temple is beautiful, the view from there especially at sunset is not to be missed. The magical effect of the Sunrays reflecting from the remains of the temple was imply awesome. Please plan properly to reach there well before sunset and plan to stay there for a while after the sunset. Everything else has to be planned to fit this in. Apparently, on a clear day we can see at least seven islands. The precipice is a sheer 197 foot drop to the sea, which reminded of our trip to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa!

Our Recommendations
Places to visit and things to do:

• Must do: Athens by night tour, Sunset at Cape Sounion, Athens city tour by the day, Acropolis,  Change of guard, Panathinaiko stadium
• Ok to do: -
• Can avoid: -
• Must avoid: -

• Must do: Dinner at a Taverna at Plaka with music/dance
• Ok to do: Ledra Marriot Athens (Stay)
• Can avoid: -
• Must avoid: -

Places to stay / eat: