Nikki

Carolyn, perhaps I should have followed that advice, but then I wouldn't have written this report.

Thanks to all who have stuck through it with me to the end and given me the encouragement to share my experiences.

RobynFrance

Hi Nikki--so glad to read your report--just what we needed--you visited many of the spots we are considering--with a Sporades Tour led by Dick Caldwell, a classics professor--waiting to see if I get some feedback on that although my question hasn't yet appeared.

So glad u had a great time--I can't imagine staying out until the wee hours--I am embarassed to be such an early to bedder--but you are inspiring. Loved hearing about the blue/white pottery, although my husband is delighted that the tour has "no organized shopping"--which actually suits me too. But I do enjoy picking up a few things on the way.

Will print off your trip--if u encountered any info on Sporades Tours, would u please fill me in.

Many thanks.

Take care,
Robyn France

cigalechanta

And should we go to Greece, expect a phone call!

Nikki

Robyn, I haven't heard anything about the Sporades tour, but it does sound intriguing on the web site. I'll be eager to read your report if you go.

Mimi, I'd love to talk about it any time. I don't seem to be able to stop.

sassy27

Thank you for posting a wonderful trip report on Greece. I was in Athens at the same time you were and it's interesting to see what sites (other than Athens) you picked to see. I went with 5 other ladies and we took 2 day tours. One to Delphi and the other to Poros, Hydra and Aegina. When I asked them for feedback on the tours, they said it was like comparing apples to oranges.

What I am interested in knowing, is what is the tradition with the plastic bats? I tried to find it on line but haven't had any luck (maybe I'm not looking in the right place). My friends had thought I planned our trip around their Carnival, but it really was just luck and we had a wonderful time.

Vera

Nikki:
I relished every word of your report. I am a crazed Hellenophile who has been to Greece four times. Unfortunately, the last time was way back in 1997, and I'm dying of homesickness right now. (Never homesick for the place I live--just for Greece.)
You captured my feelings the first time I saw each of the places you mentioned. And I also applaud your grit for getting to those late night dinners in Athens. Try as we might, my husband and I always flake out before the party really begins!
I always advise people to start with the Peloponnese (plus Delphi). Now, for your next trip, try renting a sail boat and captain with a few friends and cruising the Cyclades. It is no more expensive than a land trip and we felt like millionaires!

Veera

Nikki

Sassy27, I hope you let your companions think the wonderful timing of your vacation in Athens was no coincidence but a carefully thought out plan. I have no idea what the origin of the bat thing is (and apparently it extends also to plastic hammers). What did you think of the day cruise to the three islands? We considered taking that but decided it would be more fun (not to mention less expensive) to take a ferry to Aegina on our own.

Vera, is that really true about a sailboat with captain being less expensive than a land trip? Sounds wonderful.

sassy27

Nikki- I told my travel companions that I'm lucky that way, but they didn't believe me. I did the same thing without knowing it when I took a day trip to Venice, Italy 2 years ago and it happened to be their final day of carnival. I think someone out there just likes me .

The day trip to the islands I felt was a little rushed. We only had 45 mins on Poros. I'm assuming there wasn't much there, although I found a jewelry shop at the port that was within my price range (Athens was too expensive and I prefer white gold over yellow). On Hydra, we had maybe an hour to an hour and 15 mins. That was enough time to go up to their fort (there was a statue and some canons) and then wander through their shops. On Aegina, we opted for the additional excursion to the Temple of Aphaia and a monastery, this was pretty rushed. We were on the island for about 2 hours and had 10 mins at the monastery and maybe 10 mins back at the port. This was only enough time to buy some pistachios when we got back to the port. We did get lunch ( which was ok) and entertainment on the boat. My friends enjoyed the entertainment because it was about their Greek dances and two of them got to participate. The reason I chose this excursion was to get a taste of the islands and if we wanted to return, we could do so on one of our free days.

carolyn

Nikki, that was just me being wistful about my inability to express my feelings in words. Your report is wonderful.

RobynFrance

Hi Nikki et al--

Your report is so exciting--we have signed on for the Sporades Tour trip starting September 1--I found Dick Caldwell to be very responsive (I am particularly interested in icons) and got several notes from people who had been on the trips recently--said they were wonderful--couldn't figure out how he made any money the prices were so reasonable for high quality--so we are excited--doing some reading now and really digging deep in the Spiritual Icon class I am taking at the Divinity School here--giving me lots of early exposure to the Greek culture.

Thanks for getting us focused on some where other than France--we will still go there in May/June--but am really excited about our new adventure.

Take care,
Robyn France

EmBee

Goodee! More exciting bedtime reading! Havent looked at the photos yet but the printer is labouring away again on the trip report. Wasnt expecting another quite so soon.

I havent yet been to Greece so will see whether you can whet my apetite!!

It's after 11.30 pm here so better go and make the cuppa to accompany my nightly Bedtime Travel Tales from Nikki.

kamahinaohoku

I can't believe that I missed reading this absolutely fabulous trip report about Greece before I went there at the end of May. (so much for Fodor's search function...) Thank you Nikki, for a reminder of what a truly remarkable place Greece is. I'm now going to look up all your other trip reports!

EmBee

Nikki, what a wonderful trip report.

It is great to accompany your footsteps in a journey of passion and understanding through a land you already knew so well through your studies!

You have a great way with words. I will be filing this report too for future travel.

Thanks for sharing.

Nikki

Thank you for the lovely comments.

I have posted photos from this trip, quite belatedly, at:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-b9k6sz

OneEyeOpen

What an absolutely wonderful trip report - with pictures and all. Hard to find Greece off-season reports. Leaving in three weeks. Greece will be our third leg of our month long tour of Paris, Venice, Athens, and two Greek Islands. Loved your writing style and personal demo life experience. A+ !! Thank you Nikki

alya

Nikki

This is too funny - I clicked on this because I was confused! You just got back from France!

Then I saw the original posting date but read it anyway since I missed it the first time round. Wonderful trip report.

Where's the latest :-? Your audience is waiting

Nikki

Thank you, OneEyeOpen, and bon voyage. A month in Paris, Venice and Greece sounds like heaven.

Alya, I'm thinking about the next trip report, hopefully coming soon.

chloer

Nikki - I accidently came across this older trip report of yours. As many other readers have said, you brought back such wonderful memories.

While studying in Paris in 1969-1970, my roommate and I spent Easter break in Greece. We did a 5-day trip of the Peloponnese similar to yours and I've never forgotten the thrill of standing in Corinth maybe on the same spot St. Paul stood preaching to the Corinthians so so long ago. I also can still hear the loud crackling noise at the Theater of Epidaurus as someone struck a match at the center of the stage. And all this almost 40 years later!!

We spent a few days on Mykonos and my memories include the many windmills, cats and women whitewashing the walls in the streets every morning.

Also enjoyed your wonderful photos.

Thanks again for sharing.

Carmenr

Nikki

Chloer, at Epidaurus it was impossible to get all the people to be quiet at once. The tour guides were all trying to demonstrate the acoustics but there were too many uncooperative folks up in the stands. So keep that forty year old memory of the loud crackling match; you might not be able to repeat it.

hannafonckers

bkm