Greece - September 2012

Mummy and Daddy had been wanting to get to the Greek Islands for ever so lucky for me they decided to wait until now so I got to come too!



We had a very early start in the morning but managed to catch up on a few winks on the plane.

We stopped over in Geneva and found the most fabulous kiddies play area that I had all to myself!

It was so well kitted out, they even had a special baby bath with rubber duckies!

We stayed over for one night, actually about 6 hours, by the port in Athens but needed to get up super early to catch our ferry.

This is mummy trying really hard to look excited .............

Luckily we had a chance to sleep on the ferry

Which was great because look what awaited us in Santorini!

This is the amazing hotel we stayed at

And this is the view from our terrace

Common Daddy, no time to waste!

 Our side of the island was really quiet and was a lot more traditional

In the evening we went to the opposite side which was all hustle and bustle but absolutely gorgeous

Of course you can never fully escape the traffic

 This is definitely the best side of the island to catch the sunshet, we almost missed it as it took ages to navigate the tiny cobble streets with the buggy but we were rewarded for our efforts.

 We had a fantastic traditional meal on our first night, I was very excited to be going Greek

 This was a really cool shop with murals painted on old wooden doors

The sunrises on this side of the "Caldera" are famed so we got up extra early to say good morning to the sunshine (he must have been grateful as he contiued to shine for our entire trip which made us very happy!)

 

We then got to have breakfast with a view

This is a little cafe that we stopped at on the way to the ferry. This is how a proper Greek salad should look!

After Santorini we went to Naxos which meant another ferry ride, yipee!

And when we got there, boy did we have fun!



I did all that I could to try my first beer

But had to stick with my raisins

 But I am telling you,  OWNED tha boardwalk

And was more than prepared to defend it

Until nap time when I acquired the sofa

And the table ....

I got to eat lots of fresh fruit

And decided that I do rather like peaches

I hadn't been in the sea since New Zealand so this was a pretty big moment

Are you sure mummy?

Wahoooooo!!!!

 We had an interesting way of solving our bathing dilemma

We found an incredible little taverna in an area called Kastraki which had such delicious food and typical Greek wine which is more like a sherry - strong and good!

We  travelled to the far end of the island and found an abandoned hotel complex surrounded by the most beautiful bays 

We also got to see a bit of rural Naxos. There is a lot of agriculutre here, less tourists and more tradition.  

Mylo's hat could not have been a better match for the Greek blue that colours so many of the buildings.

This was our most local beach

And these were the sunsets - every night!



We went on a really fun day tour with a guide so got to see parts of Naxos that we may not have been able to see otherwise.

This is a VERY old Olive tree, aparantly it has been dated as 3000 years old!

 So mummy and I decided to get up close and personal (I promise we are not having a wee)

Anybody home?

This is an old pit where they squashed the grapes to make wine (or possibly an old bath, mummy can't remember which)

This is water from a natrual spring under the ground

And it was delicious!

Even more delicious were the figs we got to eat straight from this tree, SO decadent

, olives,

And this is a juniper tree

Gin is made from these berries. Clever berries!

This is a pottery shop that we visited. It was particularly good as the owner in the green shirt fed us the most divine impromtu meal of fresh bread, home grown/made olive oil, olives and fresh tomatoes. Needless to say we bought some pottery and were able to bring home a litre of gorgeous olive oil.

We visited a fantastic little town where they make the Greek liquor "Citron" which is similar to limoncello but better.

This is the less than beautiful (butt ugly even?) Citron fruit

Because it is so ugly there is rather a lot that needs to be done to get it tasting  delicious

Despite my sly attempts I wasn't allowed any but Mmummy and Daddy can assure you, it is seriously yummy. And strong. It was a good thing we had a driver that day! Their only regret is not buying more bottles

Please do try this at home, and send a bottle if you mange!

 With mummy and daddy all Citroned up I thought I could try some sneaky tactics

 Here is a  very beautiful door that I didn't escape through

We had a gorgeous lunch at a local Taverna  

And were welcomed so warmly by the lovey owner

 J

This is a hill of marble. The big slabs are cut out and brought down the mountain to be fashioned.This white marble is a big export from Naxos

We took another day trip to explore the island.

And made sure we took sufficient sustenance

Which was a good thing becuase Mummy decided she had energy to burn

I think Mummy and Daddy felt that they should be King and Queen of this land

They could make do with this abandoned castle

Our "fun car" was perrfect for exploring the island

We also spent a lot of time locally

There were so many amazing beaches

But even in Naxos we couldn't escape the traffic

 I tried my hand a wooing an older woman. I played with this little girl for hours. I think she may have thought I was pretty cute

 

 

But come on, who could blame her? I mean I had my own tent.............

 My own boat.....

And my own look ;-)

I got to spend lots of quality time with Daddy

 

And I got really used to be thrown in the air

And around and around!

 And got very skilled at pinching Daddy's watch

 and melting the hearts of anyone who laid their eyes on me

 

Seeing I had spent so much time in the air and going round and round Daddy thought it was only appropriate to teach me upside down

But for now I am happy with my feet on the ground  

On our last day we walked up to see the "Demeter Temple"

 

Bye bye Naxos, it was VERY lovely to have met you xx