So plans are meant for breaking and the last few days that I had in the Canary islands proved this when I suddenly found out I had the photography gig that I had applied for in Tanzania - with the catch that I must start asap. So there went my Spain, Portugal and Lebanon plans but for a very good cause. I was able to book some cheap flights with Turkish Air to Nairobi departing from Athens so that I could dump my things at my cousins home.
So arriving on a Friday afternoon into Athens, my cousin decided its time I explore the Greek Islands since I always seem to visit Zakynthos and Athens only. So 5am Saturday morning we are up in the car on our way to Rafina port to catch the ferry that takes 2 hours to get to Andros - part of the Cyclades group of islands. We had the most beautiful sunrise from deck and I found myself enjoying the fresh air on deck listening to some of my soul soothing Bollywood tunes - it was perfect!
We arrived in Andros before lunch and was greeted by my cousins friend who has a home on the island. We piled into the 4wd and drove through the hilly seaside towns - picture perfect! Little white homes built into the hillside and of course what would an island be without tavernas, gorgeous beach coves and boat ports.
We stopped to buy some fresh fish (which thankfully I didnt have to gut) and had a delicious lunch at the friends home. Then it was down to serious business and off to an isloated beach. Europe is plagued with sunbed and umbrella mafia who you have to pay anywhere between 3 - 20 Euro to enjoy the decent part of the beach. It seemed we were in luck and scored a mafia free beach with the beds and umbrellas free! So we spread out and it took us seconds to strip off and get into the flat crystal clear water and caves - water tempurature was perfect and with the snorkels on I saw great fish and huge sea cliffs dropping off into the depths of the ocean.
Paddle ball is all the rage in Greece - as it is with the South Americans on the beaches of Sydney. You ended up fighting for sand and if you are not playing then you learn the emergency brace position to duck from flying balls. We enjoyed delicious souvlakia and beer on the beach mmmmmmmmm meat! One little bit of trivia that I would like to complain about.... in Greece souvlakia is either chicken or pork - mostly the latter. In Australia, the Greeks use lamb, which is just delicious, so I raised this point with my cousins and they all shrugged and said no we prefer pork - crazy!!!
That nite we watched the football - Spain progressing further of course and to watch the game we took the tv outside under the tree where we drank and enjoyed the cool summer breeze. Feeling exhausted that night I retreated to bed whilst the others went to a paniyiri (festival) in the village which we could hear just over the mountain. It seems that huge amounts of tsipuro were consumed that night as I heard one of the boys be violently ill from the top bunk onto the tile floor, trapping one of the other guys onto his bed - it was hilarious - well for me at least.
The next day we decide its time to go to another beach and end up in this amazing cove where you can walk out in waist length water for a few hundred meters. Everyone is starting to drink again but Im here to worship the sun and sea so disappear way out at sea and end up swimming around the corner to a group of rocks beneath a cliff. One rock seemed to be like a sun bed half emerged in water so I climbed up and lay there listening to the water lap and enjoying the amazing sun that dosent burn like in Australia. Before I know it I fall fast asleep and awake to the sounds of my cousins friends calling out my name as they apparently begin to get concerned they have lost me. Lying on that rock was brilliant, there was something special there or maybe I just needed a good day chilling out by the sea - I could have happily stayed there forever.
We had a massive feast that nite - pork again! But this time pork steaks that remind me of brontosaurs from The Flinstones! We have just enough time to pack up and clean the house before heading down for the 9pm ferry. Whilst waiting to leave I find some amazing sweet and bakery stores and now spew that I didnt buy anything after devouring some of the sweets my cousin made. Thats the funny thing about Greece (and perhaps in other European countries)each group of islands has their own special sweet or cheese that you can only buy there, so you are forever seeing Greeks with kilos of cheese and sweets going home.
My first Cyclades island and I love it! Andros down and a few more hundred islands to go!
Next stop Istanbul to Nairobi and onwards to Arusha, Tanzania......
Posts
