[gtonsing]

That sundeck or whatever it is called in Greece looks super inviting. The view from the bed seems to be made specially for nature lovers and lovers. You are indeed blessed

[navpreet318]

Beatiful pics as ever Sam.Infact this time your travelogue has broken all records of natural beauty.Its right along the other blog with those beautiful lakes.If ever someone wants to live a life properly these places are the ones which have to be visited.

On another note, those cave dwellings indeed look very interesting.Did you try to inquire about any of them.If would be really fascinating to have a look inside.

[Dry Ice]

Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos and experiences Sam!

With t-bhp app now, it'll be a pleasure to catch up on your posts, even on the move.

Awaiting updates! :-)

[gautamkhadse]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

A brief retrospection.

I look around me with a smile. I am deeply thankful. Thankful for my opportunities, thankful for the capability to express how I feel, the ability to write it down. Thankful that there are people who are able to enjoy my thoughts and feelings with me, thankful that I am loved by many and able to love in return.

I am not a man who comes from a fat background. I've probably seen more of the world than my family has. The past few years of my life have given me opportunity to see so much more than I would have ever dreamed of.
And I turn slightly right to catch a glimpse of Jenny, busy with her video camera, grinning like an eager child, enjoying every moment of this.

I'm blessed to have her too. Thanks to her I am able to rediscover my own country in ways I never thought possible. Thanks to my extended family through her, I am now part of a culture that I didn't know enough of a few years ago. I am lucky to have in her a fellow traveller, someone who has actually seen many places in the world I have still to see...

In my true belief, no person is ever completely mature till he/she has seen and lived in a culture that is far removed from the one one he was raised in. I pray that my future family, my next generation has the same opportunities I did/do and has the desire to grab each one as it comes.

Me, I simply want to see every single place in this world before I die. It will not be unique, many men and women have done it before me. But this is my ultimate goal. Not to visit, but to spend a little time in every country of the world before I die, whenever it may be.

I don't know if the future will hold this much travel in store for me. But the present does and I am thankful for this present.

And as I drive through these beautiful roads I grin at myself, smiling and nodding and thinking like an old man, thinking of life in general and how mundane it could have been if I had made some other choices...

No more thinking back. I am here to enjoy the present. Time to drive on.


Where to?
Let's go back to Fira.
Again?
Let's go see the old harbour, all the way down via the old step path.
All the way down!? I laugh
Ja. Then we can take the cable car to come up instead of riding up on donkeys like the old days.
I laugh loudly. Sounds wonderful. Let's go.

Attachment 539447

My mind is still full. If I was religious, I would have prayed this afternoon.

Now , reading this , I could somehow imagine you getting very sentimental . Tell us all frankly , did your eyes become watery when you were writing this part .

Oh and heres the loveliest part .

I'm blessed to have her too. Thanks to her I am able to rediscover my own country in ways I never thought possible. Thanks to my extended family through her, I am now part of a culture that I didn't know enough of a few years ago. I am lucky to have in her a fellow traveller, someone who has actually seen many places in the world I have still to see...

Jenny must be on cloud 9 if shez been reading this .

We've seen the humorous you and now we see the emotional and sentimental Yeti . I loved it . If I was a girl I would have given you a kiss now .

[jaysmokesleaves]

Wonderful travelogue Sam and simply beautiful pics. Totally riveting. Was planning my Europe backpacking trip and Greece was on the agenda. This is surely something I don't want to miss. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Jay

[traveloholic]

Santorini done, now its time for Athens. Sam Bhai, you are Awesome & "The One and Only One®". Always loved your writeups and your anecdotes, so truly KAPASI-vating. So glued to this and thanks for the Divya Darshan of Santorini Island. Your pics do justice to the beautiful landscapes there.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by gautamkhadse

If I was a girl I would have given you a kiss now .

Thanks, I think lol.

Originally Posted by traveloholic

KAPASI-vating

lol Gotta remember that one.

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Awaiting updates! :-)

I will finish this story tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.

[Skye1592]

Nice! It's like I was just in Greece
So far, so AWESOME! Waiting for the fin!

Oh by the way,
Just forgot to say,
I am a huge fan,
Sam

[Sam Kapasi]

In Athens.


I wish I had an exciting portrayal of Athens for you. I am afraid that over the next 4 days I didn't even take a single photo. After all something has to pay for the holiday n'est ce pas?

And so work I did. From early in the morning to late in the evening. It isn't that I didn't enjoy the evenings, I did very much with my colleagues from around the world.
Jenny had some chances to sleep in and go shopping and sightseeing by day.

Hey we even got an award and I even wore a greek salad (olive wreath) on my head!

It was however only 4 days after my departure from Santorini that we had a chance to visit the old city. I was dying to see the Acropolis and the Parthenon.
Unfortunately, after breakfast we had some other work and we couldn't actually leave the hotel before 1.30pm.

A mistake.

The gates to the Acropolis close at 2.30pm. A tourist may only enter before this. And so that pretty much ended our chance to see the Acropolis from the inside.
Though we did spend the rest of the day walking through Athens -- and it was a great day at the very least, I think we were a little disappointed.

That said, we were able to explore, eat at beautiful cafes, go shopping and have a great afternoon + evening in Athens. One of the great ancient cities of the world.
Photos to follow in next post.

[Sam Kapasi]

Impressions of Athens

[normally_crazy]

Love the Chairs shot and that lazy doggie too.

No train shots ?

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Love the Chairs shot and that lazy doggie too.

No train shots ?

Thanks. No man, sorry. I had no rail experiences this trip.

Photos continued

Funnily enough, we end up in the meat market somehow. Strikingly clean with butchers dressed like doctors.
Apologies to the vegetarians and the doctors.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Photos continued

Hi Sam, Is that your last name mentioned in Greek?

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Hi Sam, Is that your last name mentioned in Greek?

Hahaha, a good catch there. However I am pretty sure that's "coconuts" written in Greek. lol

Interestingly a P is an R. So Maria is written as Mapia.

ΚΑΡΥΔΕΣ is coconuts and I know that a Σ is a S too. So it must be Karydes or something close to that pronunciation.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Hahaha, a good catch there. However I am pretty sure that's "coconuts" written in Greek. lol

Interestingly a P is an R. So Maria is written as Mapia.

ΚΑΡΥΔΕΣ is coconuts and I know that a Σ is a S too. So it must be Karydes or something close to that pronunciation.

That's accurate indeed. I did a google translation just now, Greek -> English, and ΚΑΡΥΔΕΣ was translated to KARYDES

P is an R - which means, even the pronunciation is followed in the same way?