Journal Day 7 Syros

Day 7 - Galissas, Syros

May 19, 1997

Breakfast on the rooftop terrace? Not to be. We got there about 7:45, stayed til just after 9:00. Not another soul in site. Thought maybe we'd make our own coffee, but couldn't find the pot. Could see the bread and cheese in the cooler, but it was locked. Found out later that you have to go get the lady. Pulled out our "Planet" and decided to go explore the island, looking for a good beach. I left my spare film in the room, so had to go back...missed the 10:30 bus. So we had coffee and "tost" with ham & cheese. We laughed a little at the menu translations (eg tost for toast, Neskaffe, etc.) but were soon to find out that the Greek to English translations can be quite hilarious. We walked a little more, I swam-waded again, then lay on the beach with my toes reaching the water, the waves lapping at my legs. Too Cool!

Caught the 12:30 bus to Galissas, a long sandy beach, in a very tiny village. We lunched in a pretty taverna...tzitziki, shrimp salad and beer. (Druft beer) Then I went to the beach, while Dad went exploring. Think we may come back tomorrow. Dad found a place to rent motorcycles. I found a little tourist shop with some pretty posters. The bus was due in 5 minutes, and the shopkeeper told me to come in and look around - the other people at the bus stop would wait for the bus for me. I don't think I'm in full relax-mode yet. Somehow I still need to do my own waiting, can't let somebody else do that for me! Caught the bus back, and did more island touring. Saw a really pretty place.. Vari. Maybe we'll go there tomorrow instead.

Back at Pardise. Dad had a short snooze, and I headed for the rooftop. Visited with the young couple from Holland that Dad had brought in. They go home tomorrow. Then a little vodka/tonic, bread, cheese, and tzitziki for super. Tzitziki is yogurt, garlic and cucumbers. Deelish!

We walked around the cobblestones streets for an hour or more, then back to Paradise. Still can't believe we're really here.

donkeys

One of the brochures had said they had e-mail, so went there to write home. "E-mail?...oh yes, we will be getting it soon. No e-mail today". At Galissas, the fella told Dad he was getting the internet in a few days...Right! Turns out later we found that Santorini was the only island (that we found) had internet access at all.

There is so much construction everywhere. Tearing up streets, renovating old buildings, building new ones. They are paving some of the main streets in Ermoupolis (this is the city we are staying in), with marble! We wonder if all this activity is in preparation for the Olympics which they hope to hold in Athens in 2004. They will be expecting a huge influx of visitors, not only to the mainland for the games themselves, but to the islands as well, and are getting everything ready.

One of the biggest culture differences I have noticed in my few days in Greece is the temperament of the Greeks. It seems everybody Shouts! The first few times we thought there was some big argument, or a traffic accident, but it just seems to be the way they talk to one another. Lots of animtion! We might think that one fella was angry and was going to punch the other guy, when all he really wanted was for him to pass the salt.

Day 8 - Galissas, Syros