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Sabtu, 30 Juli 2016
adventure
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excursions
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friends
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fun
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Greece
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historical sites
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MEMORIES OF ALL THE FUN I HAD IN GREECE (Sept/Oct 2015)
I didn't do much blogging after I got back from last year's trip to Greece and here it is, time to embark on another. So while looking through my photos I came across many of the adventures I enjoyed, from the islands to visiting archaeological site and hanging out with my friends.
Then I moved into a lovely pension in the town with a room right by pool-side.
Then, back to Athens, an on to many more adventures. These included a couple of day trips with friends, a visit to the island of Salamina, an afternoon at the Temple of Poseidon, Sounion, and many others. Here's a sample of a few of them.
Maragas Camping, Naxos
The most beautiful beaches!
A margarita for lunch at the Picasso Beach Taverna
Spectacular Naxos sunset
I started my holiday adventures on my favorite island NAXOS, at my favorite spot, Maragas Camping, Agia Ana. The most fabulous beach, and fun staying in a bed-tent for three days.Then I moved into a lovely pension in the town with a room right by pool-side.
The "Something Else" Pension
There's lots to see on the island of Naxos and I like to go back there every time I visit Greece.
The walk out to the "Portada"
The Portada "Apollo's Temple"
I love the Venetian influence on Naxos with these vaulted streets.
The Corinth Canal
A day trip to the Peloponnese: Fish farms
The small ancient theatre of Epidaurus.
The Big Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Then some trips around Athens and the mainland. There is so much to do there and many choices of where to spend your time. You really need to allow for this when you visit Greece.
Athens, the Acropolis
The Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion
The Temple of Poseidon (try to get there for sunset!)
One day I made a trip to Marathon, where the famous battle took place between the Greeks and the Persians. This is where today's marathons begin, just as the runner who bore the news of the Greek victory ran from there to Athens (and then died of exhaustion!)
Grave mound of the fallen warriors
Marathon, monument for the runners
Then I made a trip to Salamina island, also the scene of a famous naval battle between the Greeks and Persians. My friend Christina lives there so we always go exploring and this year was a very special archaeological adventure!
Monument to the fallen warriors
Monument for the Battle of Salamis
I had heard from my friend about a cave up on the mountain where the dramatist Euripides had once lived. I was determined to make the climb up there, and I did! (It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!)
The Cave of Euripides
It wasn't all Archaeology on this trip. I even did a reading of my historical novel SHADOW OF THE LION: BLOOD ON THE MOON at the Canadian Institute.
Then there was more exploring and having fun.
somewhere around the Agora
along one of the old walled areas of ancient Athens.
my travel buddies
My Athens pals!
And most of all I love hanging out with my Athens pals. This year there will be lots more adventures too and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and being there, in Athens, my second home, and exploring Greece, my favorite place to be!
Jumat, 27 November 2015
adventure
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cruises
,
history
,
islands
,
pirates
,
sea life
,
seafood
,
Spain
,
tourism
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EXPLORING TABARCA, THE PIRATE'S ISLAND, SPAIN
If anyone mentions �pirates� to me it immediately piques my interest. So when my friend Inkasuggested that I might like to visit the pirate island of Tabarca off the Coasta Blanca in Spain, I was more than interested.
We caught a boat from Torrevieja for the short, pleasant cruise to the island, just a few nautical miles off shore. The island was once known as Illa de Sant Paul (Saint Paul�s Island) because it is believed that St. Paul disembarked here. For many years up to the 18th century it was a refuge for Barbary pirates and part of the Republic of Genoa. Later it was fortified by Charles III of Spain. Around that time, some Genoese sailors were shipwrecked off the coast of Tunisia and rescued by islanders from Tabarca. They settled there and people of Genoese descent can still be found on the island. From 1770 the island was known as Nueva Tabarca (New Tabarca).
My two travel writer friends, Inka and Darlene and I wandered around the old town and explored the shoreline and ruins. The island was once fortified with walls, bulwarks, warehouses, a governor�s house and barracks.
The gateways are still there as are the Governor�s House (now a hotel) and the church of St Peter and St Paul built in 1770. Later the garrison was removed and by the end of the 19th century the island was populated by about 1,000 people, mainly fishermen. Tabarca is the smallest inhabited islet in Spain. Today the population is around 50, although during the tourist season there are up to 4000 people a day who arrive as visitors.
The gateways are still there as are the Governor�s House (now a hotel) and the church of St Peter and St Paul built in 1770. Later the garrison was removed and by the end of the 19th century the island was populated by about 1,000 people, mainly fishermen. Tabarca is the smallest inhabited islet in Spain. Today the population is around 50, although during the tourist season there are up to 4000 people a day who arrive as visitors.
After seeing all the sights around the town, we stopped by a restaurant for lunch, attracted by the �pirate� who welcomed us inside.
We chose a table on the terrace of the Nou Collonet, overlooking the sea and enjoyed a delicious lunch from the menu of langostas y bogavantes, pescados and other traditional Spanish cuisine. The island has several good restaurants as well as hotels for overnight accommodations.
Inka meets the Pirate
Langostas
After lunch we hiked across the desolate grassy expanse to the garrison ruins and the old lighthouse at the tip of the island. Tabarca is a protected marine reserve for seabirds and various marine fauna. The sea around the rocky shoreline is crystal clear and perfect for snorkeling. It was declared a Marine Reserve in 1986, the first one in Spain. Boats to the island run from Alicante, Torrevieja and Santa Pola. Some of them have glass bottoms so you can view the reefs and sea life.
I didn�t see any pirates on Tabarca other than the one who welcomed us to the restaurant, but it was certainly an excellent way to spend the day with my friends. 
Old Fortress
Lighthouse
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