Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Summer in Greece

I've always wanted to visit Santorini. Probably from the postcard picture of breathtaking sceneries. Checked the flights and found out that we have to fly to Athens first so booked the flights on Monday, June 12, 2017. 

Departed from KLIA on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 10.17am and arrived at Hamad International Airport at 12.55pm. Then departed at 2.10pm and arrived at Athens at 7.10pm.

We took a taxi (€50) to Best Western Hotel Museum and checked in around 10pm. 
After we freshened up, we went for supper (€33.50) at 10.30pm at a highly recommended restaurant, Atitamus Restaurant. We tried a few local delicacies such as saganaki (EUR4.50),
fried zucchini (EUR4.50) with grilled Halloumi cheese (EUR4.50) and peta bread,
smoked eggplant (EUR4.50),
Greek salad with manouri (EUR6.50),
and smoked trout fillet (EUR7.50).
We even had a few shots of their local liquor, Ouzo on the house before heading back to the hotel half past midnight. What a welcome to the city!
On Sunday, July 23, 2017, we bought 1-day pass for Metro (€4.50). We took Metro from Omonia at 9.35 am. 
We went for shopping at the flea market at Plaka till noon. 
We then had lunch (11.60)


with free desserts before walking to Acropolis.
The entrance fee to Acropolis is €30. 


We had early dinner at 5pm at Souvlaki Leivadia (€9.30) 
before drinks at Six D.o.g.s.
On Monday July 24, 2017, took Metro at 6.05am to National Garden

and walked in the park for half an hour. 
After that we walked to Panathenaic Stadium. 


We waited for the flea market to open at 10am

at Starbucks.
We also dropped by Hard Rock Cafe.

Took Metro at 10.45am to Piraeus Port. 
Walked for an hour along the port for lunch.




After lunch, took a taxi (EUR5) at 1.20pm back to Piraeus. Then took Metro at 1.45pm back to Omonia and taxi at 2.45pm to Best Western Museum Hotel (EUR4). We had dinner at 7.30pm at Atitamus Restaurant (EUR22.00-15.00). 

We got shots of Ouzo on the house (again!)

On Tuesday July 25, 2017, we checked out at 5am. We took Metro at 5.15am from Omania to Piraeus (EUR1.40). We reached the port at 5.45am.





The 7.15am ferry left the port on time with stops at Sefiros Island at 10.15am 




and Ios Island at 11.45am. 


We arrived at Santorini port at 11.55am.
We took taxi to Oia (EUR40). We had lunch at Amenomilos Restaurant at 2pm
before checked in to the apartment. 
I had lamb with potatoes (EUR9.50) and fresh orange juice (EUR4.20).



























Walked to Amoudi Bay at 6pm for dinner.
Amoudi Bay is located 300 steps below Oia.
It's hot and a long way down on the slippery steps.



We had dinner at Ammoudi Fish Tarven.
The restaurant is open daily from 10am to 12am.
We had seafood with rice (EUR25) and
lobster with linguine.













Took a taxi back to Amenomilos (EUR10) at 9pm.




















On Wednesday July 26, 2017, we were picked up at 9.15am by minibus to Amoudi Bay to join the Sunset Oia sailing tour (EUR56). 
The sailing boat left the bay at 9.50am.




Our stops were hot spring at 10.20am for twenty minutes, red beach at 10.50am for 30 minutes, white beach at 11.50am for an hour. 
We had barbecue buffet lunch on the boat.













We were back at Amoudi Bay at 2.53pm. We had dinner at 8pm at Apsithia Restaurant (EUR18+7).






















On Thursday July 27, 2017, walked out to watch sunrise at 6.05am.






























The sun is up around 5.30am. We took a bus at 2.30pm from Fira to Akrotiri (EUR2). It was a 15-minute journey. We reached the red beach at 3.15pm. 






I had chicken burger (EUR4) and fresh orange juice (EUR3.50). 
We left Akrotiri at 4.20pm by bus (EUR2) to Fira bus station and took another bus (EUR1.80) back to Oia at 5pm. It was a half an hour journey. When we found out how easy it was to take bus, we cancelled the return hotel taxi booking (EUR65) for Kamari the next day.


On Friday July 28, 2017, I had Earl Grey tea (EUR1.50), choc croissant (EUR2) and baklava (EUR2.40) for breakfast.
We took a bus at 10.40am from Oia to Fira (EUR1.80) then another bus at 11.15am to Kamari beach (EUR1.80). We reached the black beach, Kamari beach at 11.40am.
The black sand is so hot you can't walk barefoot. 
We got on the water taxi (EUR5) to another black beach, Perissa beach at 1pm. The boat ride is 20 minutes only. 
We had to stay in the water as it is so cooling instead of walking on the black sand. We took the water taxi (EUR5) back to Kamari beach at 3pm.


Caught the bus (EUR1.80) at 3.25pm and reached Fira bus station at 3.50pm. Then got on the bus (EUR1.80) to Oia at 3.55pm. We reached Oia an hour later. Had dinner at 6.45pm at Laokasti Restaurant. I had spaghetti with seafood in basil sauce with fresh tomatoes flavoured with ouzo (EUR17) and Cosmopolitan (EUR10).



On Saturday July 29, 2017, I had potatoes omelette and tea for breakfast at 10.05am at Amenomilos (EUR8.80). 
We checked out at noon and took the hotel taxi (EUR35) to Santorini airport. 
My 5.05pm Aegean Airlines flight back to Athens was delayed for 40 minutes. We arrived at Athens airport at 6.20pm. Departed from Athens airport at 8.30pm and arrived at Hamad International Airport at 1.05am. Boarded the 2.25am flight to KLIA and arrived at 3.20pm.

I had an awesome time. The trip was a memorable one. I've finally been to a place I wanted to go for a long time. 

Till next week, to many more travelling :)