From Greece to Italy

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We've left Greece for Italy by ferry.  I would like to go back someday and see some of the other island chains.  There's just so much to explore!  Island hopping in Greece is so easy, at least in the off-season.  It is a very pleasant way to travel.

Santorini was really something out of a picture book -- whitewashed buildings packed together on a cliff overlooking the caldera, with the occasional bright blue church dome.

Elounda, the site of the wedding, is a cute tourist village populated by British expats, with lots of 5-star resorts.  The wedding guests were staying in the Elounda Gulf Villas, a beautiful resort of stone and marble containing suites and 3 or 4 bedroom villas.  We had reservations (made when we were still working) but not starting until 2 nights after our arrival.  The first night, we got in late, so we just crashed on Christina's villa floor.  The next night, we went down into the village and found a charming, though rather basic, hotel with seaside rooms and balconies for 40 euro.

The suite at Elounda Gulf, though, was tremendous.  A heated saltwater pool with a view of the bay, a very plush king size bed, and a gigantic bathroom with jacuzzi tub and oversize shower.  We spent 4 days soaking up the luxury!

The wedding was clear across town at the even MORE luxurious Blue Palace Resort.  The ceremony was on their balcony overlooking the beach and Spinalonga Island, with its Venetian battlements.  The reception was on one of their restaurant patios, over their gigantic swimming pool.

See the rest of my photos of the wedding.
 
At Christina's aunt's insistence, we gave a little swing dance demo, which her family seemed to enjoy.

The food was overwhelming.  It was a buffet, and I wanted to try just a taste of everything, but I found my plate full before even reaching the hot food.

With the wedding party, we went on a tour of the palace of Knossos.  This was the seat of the first great European civilization, during the bronze age, and is the source of the legend of the minotaur, as told by Homer.  It's a large palace with frescoes, a grand staircase, indoor plumbing, the first flush toilet in Europe, and the oldest throne in Europe (no pun intended), dating back more than 3700 years!

From Crete we returned to Athens for a (too) brief exploration of the amazing Archaeological Museum (it deserves several days -- we didn't even go upstairs!) before catching a city bus to an intercity bus to a ferry to Italy.

A quick note on Grecian internet cafes: We got fast computers with fast connections, well maintained, with headsets and all the works.  Why?  Greek youths are addicted to online gaming.  Go figure.