Hi Fodorites,

I just wanted to drop in a hello from the road (is it possible I am feeling Fodor Travel Forum withdrawl?). My 3 month France/Greece trip is one month in and I am having a good time - actually I have lots to say, but you will have to wait for the trip report for all the gory details.

As far as Greece goes, I spent five days on Santorini and stayed in Oia (good move) at a great hotel - Delfini Villas (thank you the the fodorite that recommended it) what a view for 35 Euros a night. I also took the 20 Euro boat trip to the volcano and hot(not hot) hot springs - well worth it, beautiful day. I really enjoyed hiking from Kamari to Ancient Thira then down to Perissa as well (get in good shape). All in all, 5 days was enough, especially as it is not warm enough to swim yet.

Got to go running out of card time,

Hope to chat with you all soon,

Murph

Nice to get an "on the road" report. I am enjoying your comments on Greece as I have to cool my heels until next summer for my Greece trip. More, more!

Hot springs : "hot(not hot)" -- more info, please, as I am an avid hot spring goer...

Hi annabelle,

sorry for the delay in response....

The hot springs on the volcano tour are well....cold. Ok, to be fair luke warm. The boat pulls up near an inlet, you then swim in definately cold water to the luke warm water in the inlet. Personally I thought swimming back to the boat was difficult - give me luke warm over freezing any day! It was fun though. You have no place to change so a large towel will help you discreetly change your outfit so your not soaked for the rest of the tour - OR like my french companions you can not worry about such things and flash everyone on board.

I am in Monemvasia today and it is beautiful! Think Mont St Michelle, but inhabited and free of tourists (today anyway). I have to admit I hate that it is too cold to swim. I didn't think it would bother me, but being here surrounded by lovely beaches, it really does. I think I may have to suck it up and go anyway....

I have been to the following places if anyone has any questions:

France:
-Paris
-Rennes
-Vitre
-Fougeres
-Quimper
-Dinan
-St. Malo
-Amboise
-Blois

Greece:
-Santorini
-Athens
-Monemvasia

Heading for Gythio tomorrow.

Cheers,

Murph

Hi murphy,
We leave for Greece on Saturday and will be spending 2 weeks on the mainland. How is the weather? Do you still need pants and jackets?

Thanks so much for posting! DH and I are hoping for a Greek trip in the near future, so I look forward to the rest of your report. Sounds like a wonderful trip so far!!

And TexasAggie, I can't wait for yours as well! We too want to focus mostly on the mainland, visiting historical sights, and your reports are always so entertaining!

Tracy

I am going to do the same on my trip! That way I think I will be able to remember more things than if I wait a few weeks to post.

Have a great trip!

Hi Tracy
Both Chris (DH) and I enjoyed your last trip report on Umbria so much! It certainly does seem like we share the same travel styles, doesn't it? I must have highlighted dozens of sections in your report to add to our files b/c so many things y'all saw seemed right up our alley. I'll do my best to sum up Greece (hopefully in a more timely fashion this time...).

Hi! TexasAggie...it certainly does! I remember reading your "12 days of Pizza" report and realizing how similar we are in terms of travel styles...and I have been aching to go to the Cinque Terre ever since I read your report! I can't wait to read your report. We are interested in visiting a couple of the islands, but are definitely more interested in mainland Greece, and there isn't much about it here on these boards. I'm sure you will see some fabulous things and give such wonderful descriptions that I will be tempted to book a trip asap!

Tracy

Hi Guys,

Well TexasAggie,

The weather fluctuates greatly. It can be very warm even hot, then 30 min later the wind will pick up a bit and you'll want your light jacket. I am in pants and a light shirt, I carry my light fleece with me everywhere as it is constantly coming on and off. Its been warm enough for some skirts but the wind can make that an embarassing choice. Also, the mosquitos are already starting to come out somewhat and I personally am more comfortable in pants for this reason. The temps have been in the 20-26 degrees during most days, cooling off in the evening to around 16ish.

I forgot to add Provins and Mont St. Michelle to my list of "have been to" places.

I love the internet! I am in quite southern Peloponnese and have really nothing to do at night - I find this a challenge (really a challenge).

Cheers,

Murph

topping in hope TexasAggie sees this before Saturday!

Have a great trip!!!!

Thanks murphy!!
I will definitely pack several pairs of pants and a good light jacket for both of us. It's hard to analyze the forecast data from here so the personal insight is awesome. I appreciate the info SO much and I hope you have a fabulous rest of your vacation

P.S. After our first 5 nights in Athens we are headed to the Pelopponese for the next 5 nights. Cannot wait to see all of the amazing ruins! There appear to be so many that we are already tossing around the idea of a 2008 Greece Mainland Part 2 trip ;-)

One more thing!

I just had the most amazing day of my entire trip visiting Mystras near Sparta. If you are going to the Peloponnese TexasAggie do go - unbelievable. It rained all night and all morning, but instead of being the visits downfall it was a hugh bonus - eveything was lush,green and scented. Low hanging clouds lazed around mid point of the surrounding mountains and the lighting was perfect for fantastic pictures. It was a bit sad that the rain picked up as I was leaving, I would have liked to explore modern Mystras town some more, but did go and had a great lunch - just lovely!

I found an English language book in Sparti! Now my day is complete.

Once again, have a great trip - can't wait to compare notes!

Best Regards,

Murph

Thanks for the tip Murph!
How has driving gone? Are the signs easy to follow? We've got a good map (Michelin) and speak a tiny bit of Greek so I'm hoping we'll be able to find our way to the different ruins without too much trouble

Sorry, I am an all public transportation gal until my stint on Chios and again in Macedonia in late May.

As far as I can tell most signs are clear and most (many at least) have English on them underneath the Greek. Many people speak English (almost everyone in Athens)so no worries there - I've stuggled a bit with bus drivers and at some restaurants etc concerning the language barrier so I bought a pad of paper - pictures and mathematics are universal thankfully.

On a side note, if you swing by Sparta....I had an unsettling experience looking for the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia which is a 15min walk on the road to Tripoli. I had extra time waiting for my bus so I thought I'd head over, it doesn't seem like a great neighbourhood but who knows Sparta's not an outstandingly attractive city. I ran into what I think were some gypsys? (I could certainly be wrong) Who said something obviously hostile to me and made me very uncomfortable, I ignored them and continued to walk on sneaking my wallet out of my purse as I went and sticking it in an less obvious place....they stopped and hung out up the road watching me - the ruins are nothing (really nothing) and as a truck of more of these individuals friends came by I high tailed it out of there not wanting to find out if my bad feelings about them were justified. I would stay out personally - its an isolated road and there is nothing to see anyway. Just a thought I'd pass the info along.

Cheers,

Murph

Murphy, are you going to/have you been to Thessaloniki? Any comment? I'm hoping to go there in September and it seems very few people on this board have any experience.

Thanks for the warning. Sparta is on our list. That sounds like a very uncomfortable sitation indeed and you were very wise to get out of there!

You are heading in the wrong direction! Yes Gythio is nice to visit but don't overlook the island of Elafonnisi off of Neapoli. It has the best beach in Greece and it is a fishing village, where tourists are second to fishing. Plenty of hotels and studios.

No sorry gertie, Thessoloniki is not on my itinerary - I am going to be hitting Central Greece and a small portion of Macedonia though. I plan on Delphi to Kalambaka, Metsovo, Ioannina where I pick up a car and head for Kastoria for 4 days to see the prespa lakes, edessa's waterfall and Verigna tombs. Wont hit this area until late May but I will tell you what I think!