The port town of Hora on Naxos from the Gate of Apollo July 2009 (c) Rachel Miller.

Opposite the Acropolis in Athens July 2009 (c) Rachel Miller.

The Athenian port of Piraeus July 2009 (c) Rachel Miller.

GREECE * HOT * HOT * HOT AND THE TOURIST TRAP
A few images from recent trip to Greece island hopping. The route was Athens - Crete - Santorini - Ios (for an hour before we decided it was a bit too 18-30s holiday) - Naxos and back to Athens. NB: the word 'hopping' is deceptive as it takes hours to get between some islands ... if you're a cheapskate and enjoy the slow ferry - an experience in itself. Highly recommended is the 8 hour overnight ferry from Athens to Crete. You just need a few things: cigarettes (even if you have quit for a year they are so cheap and add to moments looking pensively out to sea), alcohol, cards and a fun companion. You can get much much shorter catamaran journeys for a lot more money but half the fun is pottering around the wobbly decks of an aged vessel, slowly being poisoned by the dark fumes being emitted from the 'funnel?', reading and chatting for hours.
The ports are hectic when ships go out and come in and then slip into a hypnotic lull inbetween.