Time with the Rents

So I apologize for the lack of entries.  Internet access has been sparse and we have been busy being hte  ultimate tourists.  The past week was spent in Santorini, Crete, and now Athens.  Everything has gone splendidly well and all the reservations and accomodations have been flawless (well almost).  Our only hiccup was arriving in Santorini at midnight and getting to our hotel with no one there.  Luckily mom and dad thought it wise to keep my Greek cell phone and we were able to reach hotel staff and get let into our room.  We spent one day in Santorini walking from Thira to Oia (6 miles) along the rim of the volcano and had breath-taking views followed by a gorgeous sunset.  The nest day we explored another part of the island (well mainly the black sand beach).  Santorini had a lot more to offer than I thought after my previous visit.  That afternoon we took a hight speed ferry to Crete.  Why haven't I been traveling high speed this whole time! It was amazingly fast, almost like a train.  It was a perfect way for me to end my time ferries (I've been on approximately 17 ferries since March).  Crete was my favorite island with my parents.  We sent a day exploring (and driving to) Chania.  This was a very cute little city on the water that reminded me of Venice without the canals. Dad had one of the best meals of his time here there at breakfast (a 2 pound omelet) and was full for the rest of the day.  We spent the rest of our time in Crete split between the beach and ruins like the Palace of Knossos.  We also got a chance to see Alounda, a town that we all agreed we would like to stay in next time if we stayed in Crete for longer.  Our accommodations in Crete were the most interesting. We are now really appreciating the Marriot here in Athens.  In particular I am enjoying it and Starbucks as a little taste of home before I begin my hostel tour of central Europe.  Athens has been fun but hot and we definitely have gotten our fill of ruins.  Mom is in love with the Parthenon and we enjoy going to the roof at night to see it lit up.

From the Blue Star 2

I am writing this latest entry while on the the Blue Star Ferry from Rodos to Santorini.  I said a tearful goodbye to Paros on June 1 and have spent the last 4 days in Rhodes with my parents.  Everything has gone very well.  Our resort was beautiful, and nestled above a beautiful swimming bay where we enjoyed the Aegean Sea daily.  We rented a car and got to see most of the island... even the dirt back-country roads (on accident).  We explored the LIndos Acropolis, various ancient castles, and the old town in the city of Rodos.  We also caught some rays on some outstanding beaches.  Now a 7 hour ferry ride to Santorini for the 2 days.  I am excited to see a different side of Santorini with my parents.  I absolutely love traveling with my parents (they spoil me after I have been traveling on a student budget) but, I cant wait for Lindsay to meet me in Prague in only a week!

Safe Arrival

So just a quick update for the family members.  My parents arrived here last night after roughly 30 hours of travel exhausted but excited.  After a nice dinner at one of my favorite local Greek restaurants (where Marios the owner greeted them with a shot Ouzo) they hit the hay.  We will  most likely be on the beach today and then we have my art show tonight.  I am so excited for the next 2 weeks with them, but I can't believe these are my last few days on Paros!

Loose Ends

So I can't believe how fast this semester has flown by!  My parents get here in 10 days to see the final art show and then to help me move out of Paros and begin my real travels.  It seems like only a few weeks ago were my first on Paros.  I thought I'd give everyone an itinerary of where I'll be once my program ends because my I will only have sporadic access to the internet once I leave.  

May 29- June 1 my parents arrive here for  the end of my program

June 1 -5 Rhodos

June 5-7  Snatorini

June 7 -10 travel to Crete (Heraklion)

June 10-14 Fly back to Athens to explore the mainland for a few days

June 14 parents fly home and I fly to Prague where I meet my sister Lindsay

June 14-17 Prague, Czech Republic

June 17-20 VIenna, Austria

June 20-22 Hallstatt, Austria

June 22-24 Salzburg, Austria

June 24-27 Munich, Germany

June 27-28 Rothenburg, Germany

June 28-July 1 Bavaria/Tirol (FUSSEN, GERMANY & REUTTE, AUSTRIA)

July 1-4 Berner Oberland, Switzerland (staying in Muren)

July 4-5 Interlacken/Lauterbrun Valley

July 5-8 Cinque Terre, Italy

July 8-13 French Riviera (NICE, MONACO, ANTIBES, ST. TROPEZ, CANNES)

July 12-17 Paris, France

I will be back in the States on July 17 completely exhausted.

Santorini

This past weekend I spent 3 days and 2 nights on the beautiful Santorini.  The 4 hour boat trip there went by quickly because it was supplemented with a few bottles of champagne for mimosas.  Once the boat pulled up to the port I could see why everyone talks about Santorini.  The way everything is built on the rim if the volcano is mind boggling.  The first night there was very exciting.  Our group was excited to test out the night life on the tourist trap of an island, and it provided a great time.  It was fun to experience a place with so many people after sleepy Paros.  We took a boat tour on Saturday to the caldera and walked around, it was so much bigger than I had expected.  We also went to the hot springs and another small island off the main part of the island.  The boat then let us of in Oia, the other city.  I enjoyed Oia much more as it is a smaller city, and a little less hectic.  Along the coast about a 5 minute walk from the port is a beautiful little lagoon where an old church has broken away from the rim that provided cliff jumping.  The water was so beautiful, blue, and refreshing.  After left the grueling task of climbing the 280 stairs back up the rim to town.  It was exhausting!  I can't imagine having to make that trek everytime I wanted to leave the island.  Until recently, that donkey path was the only was on and off the island.  That night we had dinner in Oia where we watched the gorgeous sunset.  

Antiparos

This past weekend our program took a journey to our neighboring island, Antiparos.  I was BEAUTIFUL.  Though it is so close, it has an entirely different feel.  We got to see the uninhabited island of Despotico as well and some great ruins on it.  We walked through this amazing field of wildflowers and go to go swimming around the sea caves.  Also, for my historical sites class I gave a presentation with 2 others girls on the history and myths about this small island.  It consisted of a finger puppet show and a rap.  It was quite the presentation.

A Little Taste of Boulder

This past week Danielle and I hosted some visitors from another study abroad program In southern France (one that also goes to boulder).  We rented a car and discovered another beautiful beach on Paros, Santa Maria. The weather couldn't have been better.  I definitely got started on my tan finally.  I was so good to have a little taste of home, but it made me miss Boulder.    Paros is starting to pick up, everyday more and more tourists can be spotted around town.  I can't believe my program is almost done, I never want to leave!