Last post??

Alert that this is likely the last post of the tour. We will be in Athens tomorrow but for a tour and then Greek evening, pack and short rest then to the airport at 3am. I can't imagine time in there to charge the laptop and get in a post. Please be sure to pick your loved one at IAH per the flights schedule located on the side of the blog below. It's always a wonderful moment to reunite after such a special time away. See you there!

PS..I will continue with the Sailing/Volcano tour in Santorini, last day in Athens and closing thoughts, as well as, uploading a Shutterfly link to my photos, when we are back and have our bearings.

Crete then Santorini: Last day at port before we get back to Athens

We arrived in Crete to find its shorline looking much like Athens (not a compliment). There were two tours offered: Palace of Knossos tour and "A taste of Crete" (a winery tour, countryside stops for Greek "tapas" and more wine tasting, etc.) The historians of the group went to Knossos and the rest of the group were tasting Crete. Might be fun to try and guess where your family member ended up. I am outting myself by telling you all that I went to Knossos. I spend time in art history covering the subject and I wanted to see it in person. There are mixed reviews from the group that went to Knossos and I'll save my bottom line here. The tour is very much from the archeological angle of this Bronze age archeological site. The connection that most would have to this site is the mythological Minotaur/labrynth and King Midas with the golden touch. This civilization, like so many we see on these rich historical tours, display the tremendous engineering skills and modern approach to life, with civic planning, infrastructure, plumbing both indoor and out, "air conditioning," etc. While this place is too much to recap here in the blog, it is worth noting that the mark of Sir Arthur Evans on the site, is indelible. He is the well respected archeologists that oversaw the excavation of the site and the controversial reconstruction of much of what we see today. He has been able to date the earliest inhabitants of Knossos to 8000BC while carbon dating has been able to pinpoint it to approx 6500 BC. Either way....tis old and very interesting.

We went back to the ship and ferried along to Santorini, dissembarking at about 4:30 to tender boats that took us ashore. All of this boat transport happens into the area of the island that is a crescent shape and the point of speculation about this being the place of the lost city of Atlantis. In reality, this speculation has arrisen because of a tremendous volcanic eruption that took a huge center portion of the island below the sea, leaving a crescent shape ocean, with the arms of the island wrapped around it. I had to work very hard to consider any place more beautiful that I have seen, than this. Rum Point Beach in Grand Cayman. Isle of Capri in Italy MIGHT run the races with this place, but definitely nowhere else. We wove tightly to the side of the mountain to ascend to OIA village of Santorini by charter bus. Oia is the white homes with blue domes and shutters that you think of when you think of Greece. This is also where The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was filmed. It's a beautiful site, despite the arid ground that is as much dessert like as it is green. It's very rocky (volcano, duh) and dry, dirt, etc. and intermittent green space. As long as you look through this, at the houses and then off the ocean which seems infinite, it's breathtaking. Mom and I decided to perch on the second story of a taverna and take it all in from there as we only had about an hour. We shared two local appetizers: Fava bean salad (theirs are yellow..this salad was yum!) and a shrimp cocktail spun Greek style. Good food, good company and great food. We were able to see rooftops of the rich, sunbathers, hear the churchbells of the town square being wrung by one man, etc. Oia, is like a stage and and all of these actors are putting on a play for the tourists. In fact, this is how they live and it's as unique as it is charming.

I will have to get a first hand account from the adventure group that went out on a sail boat to a volcanic area to climb up and then ferry out to a place where they could dive off of the boat and swim. I shall save their account for it's own blog as I am sure it's a fantastic story.

We are off to pack "10lbs of potatoes into a 5 lbs sack" as the consequences of our shopping are here and now. We will dissembark tomorrow morning and pray that we can get home with all of our goodies and no extra charge for our luggage.

Karaoke and Speedo's...Say What???

What do these two things have in common? Nothing...but both were important enough to justify their own post.

Derek sings a MEAN Willie Nelson with a 9.5 out of 10 possible points. While Izzy is not quite as musically gifted as Derek, she makes up for any missing singing talent with some serious dancing skills and some serious verve. And both of them together made up the best Karaoke's of the night last night.

Speedo's... (Nathan Pair, if you are reading this, yes this information applies to you, too.)

The ladies and I have decided that regardless of how attractive a man is, unless he is in a major swimming competition, the speedo just does not look good. We have seen a wide array of physiques and in some cases, my retina's have hurt all the way to my liver. I do want to note that the ladies seem almost as confused about their swimwear but regardless of how off they might be, the speedo is still the worst decision around the pool.

Rhodes...the small, huge island

I can't account for the rest as once we get on a cruise ship, it's every persons vacation and whichever way the wind blows you, is the way you go. Mom and I decided against a guided tour in Rhodes, though I know many of our group did the tour and are all the wiser about what they saw today. We slept until 9am and waited until the touring folks got off of the boat before we rushed down for the last few minutes breakfast was being served. After getting our aesthetic act together, we walked off the boat and right in to the fortified Medieval town refered to as "old town Rhodes"...not very clever but it works as there is indeed a "new Rhodes." That said, the rock walls, buildings, turrets, etc. give away the old town as you come off of the pier. Mom and I decided to follow Irene's advice and simply "get lost" in the streets. It's Assisi (for those of you who have been) but much much larger and the cluster of streets like Venice. There are shops after shops and the vendors are all charming and completely unaggressive. We did some shopping for some more "original fakes" and finished up our check list of those we needed to bring back souvenirs for. This is the appropriate time to note that most of us, by now, are wearing Ray Dan's...not to be confused with Ray Ban's as these look just like them but only cost us 5-6Euros, unless you are Joe as in his case, they are 8Euros. 

Mom and I decided to cool our heals at a sweet cafe that faces one of the many busy squares. We got a front row seat and took our time in ordering some pita and Tzatziki and shared a prawn appetizer that is swimming in a light red sauce/white wine and melted feta. Yum! This was the perfect place to watch the Greeks at work and the tourists wandering in visual overload. There are many tamed Parrots around the square which of course are for photos and to draw people in to the cafe's that own the birds. It works..

We wandered some more, checking out some of the charming archetecture in this medieval fortress and then made our way back towards the pier. The water is blue blue and clear, but a dark blue, not like the clear water we are accustomed to in South America or around Florida, etc. It's a deep, beautiful shade. We skipped the beach even though this was our original plan, and opted to drop our many bags and make our way poolside on the ship. There, we were able to swim in the Aegean just the same and hydrate the mess out of ourselves.

The food on the ship is terrific. It's not like Carnival where it's round the clock eating, which is actually a good thing. There are designated times and two locations to eat as part of the cruise package. Most of us are taking advantage of this by getting back on the ship in time for meals.

Patmos...hmm...it's a mystery.

Today we left Kusadasi at 12:30 and arrived at Patmos at 4:30. While in mind, this tour would overfill our cups, mom and I decided that our body and spirits needed a loooong nap (3 hours!), serious spa time (mom) and/or time laying/dozing/swimming by the pool. So we've made some seriously boring grown up decisions and stayed on board. I will get the full scoop from the group that got off of the boat and let you guys know what they thought of the Grott of St. John and House of Mary tours.

Tonight is Karaoke night on board and I think I heard most of our group warming up their vocals. Should be a big night of fun together. Stay tuned...look for us on Youtube as I'm sure we'll be easy to spot with those millions of hits.

Kusadasi, Turkey: Ephesus= Big Wow!

To keep it simple, Turkey is indeed another country. It's pace and mindset is a little different than Greece in that it feels older and a little more aggressive towards tourists. This is not to say it's any less safe or enjoyable, just different. The peddlers in the big market were in full form today and you had to really be insistent that you had no interest in their shop while maintaining your best Southern Gal mentality. I sense that they would become irritated if not being coaxed easily, if you aren't careful.

The coastal area of Kusadasi is the home of the "original fakes" as Turkey produces a lot of the designer clothing and handbags. So when fashion houses send a design over and order say...100,000 "units" the producers here will make 100,000 to send to designers and another 100,000 to sell right here in Ephesus for DIRT cheap. Let's just say we took full advantage of this today whereas in other travels I've completely avoided this designer stuff.

We disembarked and boarded a bus to ancient Ephesus. I wish I could pronounce our oh so beautiful guides name, but for the sake of ease, let's just call him "Marco." For those of you who followed my blog or were actually on tour in Pompeii in Italy, you know about Marco the absolutely dreamy anthropologist guide who led me on two separate tours through Pompeii and had the women (young and old alike) tripping over themselves to be at the front of the line nearest to him. So today, his Greek cousin, who we'll also call "Marco" gave us a really nice guide through Ancient Ephasus. He likened ancient city planning to the human body with the Acropolis (top of the city) being the head and then various buildiungs making their way down the hill until you get to the "Agora" which is the open air market where people would shop as the rest of the body. Of course today, this is an excavation site and I'd like to say that it's as impressive as Pompeii in Italy with a very similar balance of working, residential, public and places of worship that have been unearthed, while it's covering less area of land at this point than Pompeii. They have only excavated since the 1960's and have only uncovered 20% of what they beleive exists. It's an unreal example of advanced engineering and city planning complete with roads, public baths, TOILETS...photos are the only way to explain these and the most impressive is the "bibliotek" or the enormous public library which would have also served as a university for men during this historic time. The archeological society has done an amazing job of recreating the three story facade in all of its intricate detail, as a centerpiece of the walk along the ancient city.

When we left Ancient Ephasus for the modern coastal area where the ships are docked (seven at port today, oy) we were whisked in to a very interesting lesson about how Turkish rugs are made (double knots as opposed to 1 knot and very very slowly) while being served Apple Tea (VERY VERY good) in hopes that one of us would whip out our wallets and buy a $2500+ rug "but this includes shipping right to your front door!" At that price (though worth it due to the craftsmanship), unless mine came with a magic genie who loves kids, dogs and housework, it isn't happening. I did buy some nice apple tea to bring home for $3 euros. Whoo! After the carpets, we proceeded to be bombarded one stall after another, by the gents selling their turkish goods but we made it out with our wits, Southern sensibilities still in tact and some seriously good "original fakes" and various other Turkish delights!

Side note to my cat loving friends: Like any ancient city I've visited, there are inhibitants but they are the four legged fuzzy variety that love to get attention from tourists. I always feel like they know just how well they bring character to an ancient column, stone, archway, etc. and thus we snap pictures of them as if we've never seen a cat. Today's kitties had a pavlovian response to bags rustling because they must know that food comes from these and I am betting they get treats most days of the week.

On another note: France has it's crepes, Italy has it's Gelato's and yes, Greece has it's yogurt but the treat with the common thread are fresh fruit slushies. These come in a wide variety of flavors, dictated by the fruit that's in them and every time we exit a big tour, we all seem to find our slushy vendor just like little kids find the gift shop at the end of the ride at Disneyworld. It's very hot here so these are hitting the spot and they are delicious!

Mykonos...this is where the pretty Greeks have gone.

Please forget about what I said about the Greek Gods gone missing. They are here...in Mykonos. Perhaps all of the islands will be where we find the gorgeous women and equally handsome men that we think of when thinking of Greece.

This morning we boarded the ship and all was so smooth thanks to our lovely EF Guide. Irene (Eerrreenie). She knows all of the tricks to position us just ahead of all others in most that we are doing. I am almost positive that 10 of our 12 travelers promptly booked spa treatments varying from 1 hour massages, mani pedis and 20 minute upper body massages. It was "team Savage" in the spa from 12:15 to about 1:30 and we were feeling a lot less stiff/sore/cranky after that. THe staterooms are great. AC is fine and yes, we've already lost some $$ at the casino. It was extra fun to see Teresa go from "I'm not sure about this" to... "I am almost ready to go, I am playing three machines at once and about to cash out."

Lunch on the Lido was buffet "meh" but we all got there late due to our spa treatments. Looking forward to what the real options are when we are on time.

We docked in Mykonos about 5:30 and off we went with Irene. There were no shortage of "ooohhhs" or places to do the perfect Jump Poses with white houses and the Aegean sea, dotted with yachts/sailboats and fishing boats behind us. It's a post card here. It reminds me of Capri in Italy but much more quaint and less touristy, ironically. This is the island that became the settling place for those who wanted to visit the sacred, smaller, neighboring island of Delos, but did not want to live there (would place a jinx on the island if born there or die there so it got too complicated to try to live there.)

This is a cliffside crescent shaped city that is filled with the typical white homes you think of when thinking of Greece, blue roofs and cafe's shops, where the sea laps against the island. The water itself is easiest to describe if I say it is the same color as blue powerade. Not a very sexy descriptor but I think it paints a good mental image. There are families, babies toddling about, young and old splashing in the water to cool down while tourists are walking by to get to some shops, see the many churches (built so that there are no shortage of prayer spots for the fisherman when heading out to sea) or the famous windmills. Our luck must be thicker than thieves because we also ran in to the famous island pelican that walks about like a dog. I feel certain by his swagger that he knows he's a local celebrity. He did allow us to get close enough to take a few photos with him, while he continued to act aloof. I like him.

I am not sure what the rest of the group did but mom and I knew that the best way to feed our souls while also our bodies, was to find a table that was on the farthest point out into the sea, situated so that we could consume an amazing entree of rissoto, mussels and prawns while watching the sun sink behind the ocean. This goodness was only compounded when our friends Kathy and Tom wandered up just as we were ordering and shared some Octopus Fritters and some fun starters with us. With each item, the adorable gents waiting on us wanted to know that we liked it and then let us know that an aunt or a cousin in the kitchen was working hard to prepare these meals for their customers. The owners everywhere are so happy that we are here, they thank us a dozen times if once. This particular owner brought us Ouzo at the beginning of our meal and another at the end, as we were paying our bills. Thus we all walked beside the sea in a state of bliss, towards our beautiful ship. Bidding Mykonos adieu is bittersweet for only having a short time here today, but with a lot of promise for what is ahead in upcoming stops.

Tomorrow morning we all head to an Island in Turkey, Kusadasi. There we will tour the town of Ephesus which is a holy site. It contains one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis and the place where the Gospel of John was written.

We will get up and have breakfast by 6am, dissembark by 7:00am and off we'll go. We hope you all are having as big of an experience as we are and if not, why not???

Where are the Greek Gods? Can we say unattractive?? I think we brought them with us...

Okay the Greeks...not so much. They are very comfortable with their inner German. We've seen tons of misshapen adults wearing the wrong wrong attire. This couldn't be more true in our sweet seaside Gyfalda, when passing the beaches. I should have packed my bikini, I would have been one of the skinnies. 

So speaking of unhunks...Izzy, has a second option, should Jody flake on her while here. While stuffed like an olive in the public "metro" tram, I got to know her new Beau's armpit intimately, while he flexed for her and showed all of his cards in terms of flirting. this was only made worse by our choice to stand near the entrance/exit of the tram where one person got off and three got on at every stop. Thus, her new beau just kept smiling wider. Thank God he finally got off and Jody is a prince. Not to worry, Izzy is coming home. 

Delphi...now we know what we should do when we grow up.

Delphi is the mythological site that was the home of the most important Oracle in Greece. The most wealthy, or those who could afford the pilgrimage, would venture to Delphi to learn from the Oracle, their future. One of the most common philosophies we have gleaned from here is "Know thy self." This place is a cross between the beauty and hilltop/side of Assisi and the ruins of the Roman Forum with a side dish of Pompeii. It's about 3 hours outside of Athens by bus, which we were glad for. Our legs are aching and we are tired. It's also miserably hot. 100+ and while the AC in our rooms are GREAT the one on the bus and everywhere else in town would be old aunt Sally, if they had a name. We journeyed through the armpit and several mountain ranges today which took us away from the Aegean sea and closer to the Ionian Sea. The scenery became very lush and breathtaking while winding through the mountains. Delphi is isolated like Assisi in Italy with nothing around on the side of Mt. Parnassus. It's staged in several levels, starting with the Agora (shopping market) a Treasury (to house the treasures brought to the Oracle), a theater, tholos, hippodrome, and the castalian spring that is supposed to provide clarity in your life if you drink from here. We shall remain without clarity as it was bloody hot and to gain this wisdom, we would have had to walk 20 minutes in the opposite direction of our destination. If the panoramic from the Acropolis in Athens was breathtaking, this is indescribable other than through photos or a visit in person yourself. It was beautiful no matter where we looked as there are scattered ruins and lush mountains at every turn and elevation.

There is a beautiful modern museum connected to the entry level of the ancient Delphi. Mom, Katy, Tom and I meandered the trail together towards the museum which is a shaded stone trail that connects the old to the new. The museum is not large but it's large in spirit, housing much of the most precious pieces that have been excavated from the site to protect it. the most impressive is without doubt, the Naxian Sphinx.

Derek managed to get in to trouble but with my help. Climbing on to ancient stones and tempting his fate as one wrong move and Derek wouldn't need an Oracle of any kind. However, the photo I snapped while the guide was insisting that he get down, is awesome and I wish I had been the one on the rock and he had snapped the pic.

Many many photo ops here and tons of exercise. Thank GOD there really are Buccees in Greece and we made a pit stop there to unload and refuel and snap some pics of us looking like the locals.

Tomorrow we set sail for Mykonos. Time for bed and up early to pack and have another yummy breakfast and bid the Oceanis adieu. Stay tuned...

Athens is an armpit, butttt......

Updating from behind this evening thanks to a battery drain, late night and tired bones. We got up yesterday morning and had an amazing European breakfast filled with greek yogurt, fruit, breads, jam, honey, juices,coffee, boiled eggs, cereal and plates of cheese and ham. The Oceanis Hotel is one of the better hotels  we've used through EF. Not only are they glad for us to be here, the hotel is clean, working AC's and they are enjoying feeding us well. WE took the bus in to Athens and kept waiting for the scenery to improve but we now know why EF puts us up in Gyfalda. It's a pretty seaside resort town and Athens is a giant armpit.Concrete structures that are not pretty at all, dirty, huge stray animal population (They have a gov' system of fixing stray dogs, as indicated by a Gov't ID tag/collar but then they are turned loose again to continue their stray lifestyle.) The highlight of yesterday was the Acropolis, to be sure. The heat is tough..100+ degrees and the hike was no joke, but we are a good lookin group of Olympic worthy specimens so we all made it. The marble that has been there for 1000's of years is well worn and thus very slick, making footing unsure and the pace is slow. Nonetheless we made it and it's just what you'd imagine. the panoramic from the Acropolis, is stellar. The Parthenon is in a state of restoration but still quite easy to imagine it during its original construction. I was most excited to see the Caryatids that I love speaking about in art history. These are the beautiful columns that are Greek women wearing the typical Greek gown/toga and are absolutely stunning. There are reproductions at the Erechtheion but they are very convincing. The decent is as tough as the climb but definitely worth the effort.

In addition to our time on the Acropolis, we went to the Parliament building and watched the oh so entertaining changing of the guards. I would liken it to London guards, complete with funny little outfits of the Greek variety. This area is surrounded by a beautiful public garden and is well shaded.

Alas, we were able to do a little shopping and sit down at a Taverna and enjoy an authentic Greek lunch. Bottle cokes are hitting the spot along with several varieties of Greek beer and the water is safe and tasty. We all had a wide gulf of cuisine from Gyros to Souvlaki to fish and beyond. The Tzatziki is great on everything I've eaten so far and the Greek salad is unlike ours stateside. It's chunked up tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, sometimes slivers of bell pepper, Kalamatas, Feta and olive oil...no lettuce. It's always in a generous bowl and delicious.

Today we headed to Delphi but this deserves a blog post of it's own. Stay tuned...

Glyfada

So we all ate incredibly odd (but probably well loved by the Greeks) din din last night (some crazy "meatloaf" that wasn't so great) with an incredible Greek Salad but a lackluster desert. That said, it was enough to send our 28 hours weary bones up to icy cold rooms (the AC's work GREAT! Not the norm for Europe), shower and get 7 hours of sleep. The group is combined with three other small small groups, there are 38 of us in total and very few students. that said, our group of 12 is very much our own little pod and a fun fun pod at that. We've decided that we all hope to be as in love as Tom and Kathy when we have shared as much life as they have as they are so dang cute to watch together it should be a crime. The "New Braunsfels" group are still the craziest clan of them all but now they've added "Izzy and Jody" to the group and oh boy...wow. Of course Teresa and Tonya are my buds from the education trench and we are enjoying  having fun instead of being at the grind together. And mom...bless her heart. While it is so tempting to tease about being here with her, I feel so blessed to have her with me and I am enjoying every minute of it. (Ask me how I feel in a week :).

Glyfada is a busy seaside town with pretty watter, several beaches, shops, restaurants, etc. We are loving the proximity we have to any number of resources. We are about 30 minutes outside of Athens, but the bus ride is welcomed already as our feet hurt, we are sweaty/sticky (temps in mid-high 90's today) so the sit down and bit of AC is nice!

Technology is a bear,l but our hotel is GREAT!

After 28 hours of awake time, we arrived in Athens with no delays and smooth flights abound. Funny meals, 101 positions and still not comfortable, new friendships in check and we made our drive to the seaside about 6pm here on Friday. Our hotel is in the thick of shops, banks, and many Greeks on their weekend vacations by the sea. It's a busy little town and that makes us happy. Something for everyone here. Our hotel is comfortable and about a 2.5 star by our standards. The air conditioning works as well as at home YAY! so we all got a great nights sleep. We are heading out to the Acropolis and all things Athens. It's HOT HOT HOT, over 100 today but we will be cool with giddyness for the adventures ahead. More this evening as it has taken me FOREVER to connect to the wifi here and I must run to the bus. All are well, happy, rested, showered and pointed forward. We hope your day is as lovely as ours is sure to be, but my money is on us!! Yia, Lisa (the only Greek word I know!)

Flight status

As of 11:20am, there is NO flight delay for our departure. Please be at the airport by 1:30 and drive safe! Whoo! CHeck your passport before you leave your driveway!!!

One for the Gents...

Be sure you have at least one pair of pants to cover your knees. There is a place in Patmos that we cannot visit with bare boy knees in addition to the ladies!

In Flight

It is imperative that in between the funny little meals and movie watching on board, that you get up and move about to avoid general circulation issues. This is customary on international flights in ways that are grossly frowned upon on domestic flights. I will remind you and you will see me all but doing a gymnastics routine up and down the aisles. Join me!

Water...Lufthansa will offer us all sorts of nifty beverages (free) that would help us sleep, laugh, etc. However, I cannot stress enough how important it is to consume water as much as possible to avoid long distance travel, dehydration, which only adds to poor circulation/cramping issues.

Sleep: It's a great idea for you to sleep while on the plane as when we arrive in Greece, we will hit the ground running (this is actually a good thing so we can adjust our internal clocks to theirs). You will energize when there due to the excitement but the next day you will really be dragging. If you can get some sleep on the plane (ear plugs, eye cover, neck pillow, perhaps a benadryl, etc.) you will be ahead of the game a little.

A final email from Irene before we depart

Irene confirms there is free wifi in the lobby of the first hotel in Athens. She confirms there is an internet cafe on the cruise ship at an small expense. I will be able to keep the blog fully updated so let your family/friends know they will get updates from me at least every 48 hours and specifically, confirmation when we have arrived at the hotel on the first night.

Good News: there is AC at no charge in the first hotel. Bad News: it will not cool your room the way you keep your homes here. You will likely get it to a balmy 80 degrees, a little lower if you are lucky. On the cruise ship, she tells me that it stays chilly for her, so likely very comfortable for us. Last night in Athens at the second hotel there, also has AC at no charge. Yay!

Dangling bits of info from Lisa:

Your US cell phone: Once we board the plane in the US on the 12th, turn it off and pack it away so you aren't charged for any data, roaming, etc. This can be a costly mistake.

American $$: You only need about $20 of this for at the airport before we leave and if you need a water/soda, etc. when we return.

Essentials: Items that you forget and then wish you hadn't

We will be outdoors, 90% of the time on this tour. Sunglasses!!! If you are fair skinned and would typically wear a hat in the hot summer day, bring it! Don't forget your sunscreen. Bring a travel umbrella not only for rain but for shade. A word about foot triage: Bring nail clippers, a file, maybe some polish to spruce back up and you will definitely thank me about the fourth day in, if you bring a pumice bar/stone of some sort. Your feet will take a beating more than anything else. Each day, or every other day, change the shoes you are wearing so they hurt in a different way.

Southern Girl tragedy: Hairdryer blowout

Tom, Joe and Derek...my apologies for being gendercentric with these posts. But lets face it, you guys are going to look great even if your hairdryer poops out, whereas all of us chics are going to be in the fetal position.

Okay so what happens when you use your adaptor/converter for the first time and you do it wrong (RESEARCH how this works. There are a zillion different brands, etc. and I won't be able to help you with yours.  In short, converter goes in to the wall. Adapter goes in to converter. Appliance goes in to the adapter and it all looks ugly and unsafe and you can't count on it working properly even if you follow the rules) and blow up your hairdryer? Have a plan B for your hair because NO hotel will have a hairdryer. Middle class Europeans are not as vain as we are so there won't be a bail out with a new dryer or adapter/converter, etc. Just know that what happens in Greece, stays in Greece and if you look like you stuck your finger in the converter for the whole trip, we promise to take pictures of you from the forehead down!

Yoga pants are awesome, even if you don't do yoga! What to wear on the plane..

I am wearing addidas capri yoga pants on the trip over (remember that this outfit will be worn for the first evening in Greece too). For those of you who know me, you know I don't do Yoga. I should, but I don't. Nonetheless, the pants are awesome!! I am wearing those and a t-shirt short socks and wearing my sneakers  loosely tied (they weigh more than my flip flops so better to pack the flops and wear the sneakers). This is so comfy on the plane and when I have to take my shoes off to go through security, I won't be bare footed (ewww).  Once you get on the plane, take them off and put them in the overhead bin so they are not clogging up your foot space during travel. Just before we start to decent, get them down and slide them on. So Here's the trick. Pack a small baggie of laundry powder in your checked luggage (not your carry on unless you want to get frisked).  THE FIRST NIGHT, hand wash this same outfit and let it dry while we are in Athens. Then you can wear the same outfit home. Another tip...ladies esp., if you just bought new undergarments, wear an old set that you are about to toss, on the trip over and then toss them while there. Nothing to pack and bring back. I have done this with coats on winter trips, tennis shoes, etc. It's a GOOD strategy unless you go throwing out good things to save a $50-$100 additional weight fee on your bag. Just throw out stuff you thought you were going to throw out already. Same for toiletries. Toss them for the ride back home. You don't need the other half of your shampoo bottle, travel toothpaste, etc. Just toss it, unless it's high end stuff that's worth money.

Trip the lights fantastic, when to dress "up"

For the most part you either need to wear capri pants and a tank style shirt or a regular shirt that covers your shoulders and shorts. In both cases, you need to have a pashmina/wrap that you can either circle around your shorts to look like a skirt or pull over your shoulders if we are going in to a place of worship. These are easy to fold up and carry in your bag and the rest of the time you'll be comfy. Irene (Tour director) says there are two times when we will want to go for something just up from this. IT's when we have the one captains dinner on the cruise and then there is the Greek Evening (last night) when you are supposed to wear shirts with blue and white (Greek Flag colors).  In both cases, everyone will know that when you pull yourself together for these things back home, of course you'll have snazzier shoes for that ONE outfit or gobs of cute jewelry etc. so don't think about this the same way you would if here. We all get it that there are limits to our luggage so if your shoes aren't perfect, we won't look down!

There are no Bucees in Greece: Potty stops

Going to the restroom in any foreign country can be a cultural experience of epic proportions. There are no shortages of how to flush, how to get the water going at the sink (when in doubt, look down for the foot pedal on the floor) and it's hit or miss whether there will be toilet paper or handsoap (good news! More likely to have toilet paper than handsoap!) There are many occasions where there is not a gender specific restroom and a gent will be in the stall next to the ladies, etc. There are also times, though very rare so please do take a photo when you go in there, that there is a hole in the ground and two raised footbeds for you to stand on and ready, aim, fire. My point in all of this is to prepare you mentally for the world of restrooms and to encourage you to levitate when you can, bring along a small hand sanitizer and it's not a terrible idea to have packets of tissues to carry with you, just in case!

Reminder, yes..it's a repeat but only because its muy importante!

Did you scan and send your passport to a friend? This is to ensure that you can access it from a computer somewhere should you lose yours??

Remember that there is only room on our bus for your one checked luggage under the bus and your purse/personal item in your lap. The last day, on the ride to the airport, you will be able to unearth your duffle/carry-on (packed in your checked luggage until then) option and have it in your lap along with your personal item. There is no storage compartments for anything other than your checked luggage. All else has to be on your lap. We will not make friends if we have anything else with us until the last trip to the airport. I cannot stress this enough.

We will meet at Intercontinental on the 12th at 1:30pm in the entry to the international departures area of the airport. Lufthansa is our departure gate but unless something has changed since my last trip, it's all one area. We will meet in the area BEFORE we check in. We have to check in as a group and I have your boarding information. This is very important that we all meet, chat a minute then go through together. Please check to make sure you have your passport, at least three times, before you leave your house! (are you seeing a trend to this passport thing. It's important! No trip without it.)

By now, you should have called your credit card or ATM customer service numbers and made sure that they are aware you will be using these while traveling in Europe. They will ask where and for the locations.

If you are waiting to get money from ATM's in Greece, we can stop at the IAH foreign currency booth to get you $100 worth to get you going, though beware, this will not be the best rate. You have to have some euros in hand when we land.

Technology, it's like your grandma's.

Okay, I had a question about skyping, etc. So here's where I lower the boom. There is a huge disconnect somewhere in the wiring between here and there where technology is concerned. So as many times as I've been to Europe, I have done well to get my phone to work. I seem to always have to BEG or work the front desk at the hotel to update the blog and even then THEIR computer is cranky. So please remember we are getting away...leave it all behind. Just tell your people we will be having a blast and EF will call if something goes wrong and otherwise you'll call every couple of days or as soon as you can, but please do not sit by the phone waiting. Remember that due to time change, the best time for you to try calling is late at night when we crash into our rooms for slumber.

Meds! What do I bring, what containers?

If you are bringing RX's, they have to be in original containers and you will want to be sure and take these with you in your personal bag on the plane in the event of lost luggage. In the event that you were to get REALLY sick, Irene (Greek guide) will get us where you need to be and get you the meds you need. So only think minor inconveniences when packing all else. I would recommend the following: Imodium, Ibuprofen, tylenol Cold (AM and PM), small tube of neosporin and bandaids. While not a med, certainly an in flight necessity: Deodorant and disposable toothbrushes to freshen up before we land in Greece.

Reminder that if you are carrying any liquid/gel on the plane, it has to fit into a zip loc bag (quart size)

Greek Evening and Swimsuit reminder

We are all scheduled to have an awesome time at the "Greek Evening" farewell dinner. Irene, our tour guide tells me that it is customary to wear light blue and white shirts?? I almost giggled out loud when I read this as I can't remember the last time I owned one or where to go buy this. I am thinking a white tank and blue shirt pulled over, unbuttoned is the way to go? Maybe not...anyway, in case you wanted to have an excuse to shop before the trip. Also, don't forget your swimsuits.

Hodgepodge... Time change/weather/cell phones

Greece is 8 hours ahead of us. So when we leave here on the 12th, we'll arrive in the evening of the 13th, for losing 8 hours on the time change. Not to worry, we gain it back on the last day there. We leave on the 21st, but arrive back in Houston after allll those hours of travel, on the 21st.

So when it's 8am here, it's 4pm there. Best time to call your family back home is in the evening after you've settled back in to your room at night. Even if it's late there, it will only be mid-day here.

The weather is projected to be a high of 91 and a low of 72. We will be getting a breeze off of the ocean near the hotels. This is a good thing!

**** note..be prepared to sleep in light clothing and/or to have to pay a small euro fee at night to have A/C at the hotels. We can run in to any sort of possibilities to no A/C (though these two hotels look like they have them..I will ask now) to paying 5 euros a night to have AC's that only cool your room to "just cool" to sleeping with the windows open (very common in Europe and a good way to get the best breeze/temp in your room. This is where your ear plugs come in handy.)

Phones in Europe in general: The best plan is an upgrade to your own cell service. If your phone or your cell phone company doesn't offer this, then you should look in to purchasing or renting a cheapie international phone that you can pay to have minutes on while you are there and then no charges when you return. EF tours offers this but you might be able to get better service elsewhere. Just be SURE that your phone works in Greece, Athens and the islands areas.

What do I wear?

The same thing you would wear here, EXCEPT when going into religious monuments, you have to have your shoulders covered and knees. In the summer time, they are less worried about tasteful shorts than they are about exposed shoulders/low cut shirts. Ladies, pack a pashmina (or buy one there??!!) to just throw in your bag and wrap around yourself when needed. We will only spend about 10% of our touring in religious monuments/churches.

Remember to pack light. Count the number of days and decide if there are shorts or shirts you can repeat. It's hot, so that may not be possible so think about lighter weight fabrics and shoes so your luggage isn't bogged down. 

Two pairs of comfy walking shoes (remember that the streets are uneaven/cobbled/old and we will be doing tons of walking) and a pair of flip flops (ones that can get wet would be best.) 

Try to be creative about how you could dress up a walking around outfit so that we can slide in to a little bit nicer eating place in the evening (akin to some place like the Olive Garden, etc...not too fancy but not fast food, either.)

Don't forget your sunglasses and some sunscreen! We will need both, each day. 

Packing Packing Packing, Rawwwhide!

** For any questions not answered here, please go to www.lufthansa.com for the absolutely correct information. 

Here's what you can have in summation: 1 checked bag, 1 carry on, 1 personal bag (regular size back pack or purse type bag)

You may check ONE bag that cannot exceed 50lbs. You must have wheels on your bag. This will make sense as we travel and I can't imagine anyone not having wheels, but worth mentioning, just in case. If you don't have a luggage scale, simply get on the scales and weigh yourself. Then pick up your packed luggage and weigh yourself. If it's more than a 50lb difference, you need to unpack some stuff. 

You may carry on one duffle size bag type "carry on" (NOT a second piece of rolling luggage that is classified "carry on." This is an EF tours regulation due to bus baggage limitations) and one personal bag like a purse. 

Here's how the pro's do this...(remember that you always come back with more than you take) take two pairs of your most comfy shoes. Don't go buy new ones, take the ones that area already your faves and broken in. Then include a pair of flip flops..again, broken in. Comfy. If one of these three pairs of shoes are near the end of their life, great...plan to toss them when packing to return here. When going over, pack a thin duffle, backpack or your personal type carry on, in to your checked bag. This would mean you are checking ONE bag, carryon on ONE bag. Then you have a third bag you can carry on when you are returning. Plan for all of your souvenirs to fit into this bag. 

Carry On- what do you need for on the plane? Not a lot. Lufthansa will have newspapers, magazine, movies, radio, etc. Suggestions:

1. earphones- for movies, etc. on the plane

2. neck pillow (inflatable kind are great space savers)

3. ear plugs for silence (these are great in the hotel room too)

4. a good book

5. gum, protein bar or two

6. one of those disposable toothbrush packets (usually 3 in a package..GREAT after flying so many hours)

7. deodorant (same reason as above)

8. pair of socks if wearing flip flops (recommended for off and on shoe, less storage space under your seat, etc.)

9. refresher make up ladies.

10. small brush

Reminder about your liquids that need to go in a plastic bag, per Lufthansa:

Liquid and gel-based products such as healthcare products and cosmetics may be carried in hand luggage as long as they comply with the following regulations:

• Containers with liquids and similar products may contain up to 100 millilitres (the printed maximum quantity applies)
• All containers must be carried in a transparent resealable plastic bag (e.g. a so-called "zip-lock") with a maximum capacity of one litre
• One bag per person
• The bag must be presented separately at the security check

Remember that your luggage locks (recommended so you can also lock up your bags while left behind in the rooms) must be TSA approved. Just read the package.