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The Greek Islands
  • Terry And Randy Clarke

The Greek Islands

A 18-day adventure by Terry And Randy Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 14, 2025
    Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Our ferry leaving Athens.
    Arriving at one of the islands to drop off and pick up passengers.Arriving in SantoriniTrying to get off the ferry with a few other travelers. Look at the cliffs we have to get over.Off the ferry and all together. Now to find our ride.Ferry was off before we even found our bus.Our ride was a little larger this time. Full bus so lots of stops.Our pretty little hotel.Randy and I shared a Greek sampler at Danas. More than enough for the two of us and oh so good.

    Beautiful Santorini

    Sep 16–17 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    It was a little chaotic in the lobby Tuesday morning as there were a number of tours leaving the hotel at the same time. Our driver was about 20 minutes late and had difficulty finding a place to stop with all the activity. The drive to the port gave us another chance to see the city. The line up to get on the ferry was long but moving quickly and the ferry was huge. We had assigned seating and as it was a fast ferry we weren't allowed outside. We stopped at several islands and the loading/unloading process was amazing. It was a full travel day and we arrived in Santorini in the late afternoon. Getting off the ferry was wild, us and about 500 others trying to get down three sets of stairs and find our way out the back ramp. Total pandemonium. Our driver was waiting and the trip to the hotel was a great introduction to Santorini. The road was a series of switchbacks up and over a very large cliff. At times we had to stop to let the downward busses pass. We were staying in Kamari which was a wonderful beach town on the opposite side of the Island. Our hotel, the Terra Blue was a small family run business at the base of the cliff. Our views of both the cliffs and the ocean were stunning. We had a wonderful dinner at the Taverna Danas and explored the area. It was a short walk to town and about a 10 minute walk to the beach.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Cats everywhere at our hotel. This one hung around around our rooms looking for handouts.
    The local bus was a great way to get around.The start of our walk along the clifftop in Fira.We keep trying to take selflies with mixed results.Finally made it to the Blue Note. Definitely not the one Mike and Lori remembered.Three cruise ships in town so it was busy.The donkeys going up and down the steps.Lots of little alleys.Beautiful but a very long way down.We walked for a few hours.Randy enjoyed the local beer.Looking for our bus to head back to our hotel.

    Local Bus Travel

    Sep 17–18 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Breakfast was provided by Terra Blue, and we sat in a garden terrace with about 10 cats. There are cats everywhere here, and if we leave our door open, they will wander right in. Many people share their breakfast with them, so it's hard to keep them off our chairs and even the tables. After breakfast, we walked to the end of our road and caught the local bus for €2 to Fira. What a beautiful city set on a series of cliffs. There are seven hundred steps down to the ocean. You can walk, ride a gondola, or if you're really adventurous, ride a donkey. We chose to stay closer to the cliff top in our explorations. Mike and Lori were here 35 years ago and wanted to visit their favorite Taverna from that trip. We asked a few locals and checked Google maps and set off. Google Maps said 1.7 kilometers, so it's not a problem. Up up up, we went then down and then up again. Finally, we made it to the Blue Note only to find out it was a totally different place. The original was closed. It was a bit of a disappointment but we enjoyed a cold drink and the beautiful view. The bus ride home was a great opportunity to rest after exploring Fira. We had a nice dinner at Black Stone, a family run restaurant recommended by our hotel.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Here come our rides for the day
    Lori and I trying them out. It's the first time I've been on an ATV and I loved it.Terra Blue is our hotel and this is the road behind the hotel leading to Ancient TheraHard to see the road.Very windy at the top and we stayed away from the edge.Our next stop is the village behind us. We had to go down and around the cliff to get there.Small beach town on the other side of the cliff. Very prettyMany small towns have large churches. We heard over 400 churches on Santorini.Next stop home of Blue Monkey beer.Monkeying around.More monkeying around.The settlement before Red Beach.Many buildings carved into the rocks.Randy found an empty place he wanted to fix up.Such a cool placeSo many abandoned places.Restaurants and small hotels as well.Just around the corner is Red Beach. Only accessible by boat or a long hike downJust spectacular.

    Exploring on ATVs

    Sep 18–19 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    We rented ATVs for the day to explore the island. Our first destination was Ancient Thera which was directly above our hotel. The road was unbelievable, and we were surprised how many small cars made the trip up. It was a great opportunity to get comfortable with the ATVs, and the view from the top was incredible. There was a wind advisory, and we really had to watch where we walked. The wind was so strong. We decided to check out the other side of the cliff and visited the village of Perrisa. It had a lively waterfront and a few surfers and windsurfers. The beach was closed for swimming, but the streets were full of visitors enjoying the day. Our next stop was the Ftelos Brewery home of Blue Monkey beer. It was beautiful and the beer was good. The menu was interesting, but we decided to do a bit more exploring before having lunch. We used Google maps and checked out many interesting places. We couldn't find parking in some but we did cover a lot of ground. We stopped at Red Beach for a late lunch and explored the waterfront. There were many buildings carved into the rocks, some deserted but many still occupied. Including a hotel and a few restaurants. We were too late to visit White Beach, but we could see it in the distance. We returned the ATVs and stopped for refreshments at an Irish Pub. I guess there aren't many places you can travel to where you can't find an Irish Pub. We had a nice dinner at a restaurant called Honey and Thyme. Very good.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    We enjoyed our evening at Alexander's.
    1Dancing in the streets.More dancing.On our way to dinner.On our way home from dinner. We had fun.Very cool walk home.

    Last Day in Santorini

    Sep 19–20 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    We decided we needed a low-key beach day, so that's what we did. It's low season, so we had our pick of lounge chairs. Ferries were canceled today because of gale force winds, but the beach here was protected. We had a wonderful server, and there were lots of vendors and people offering massages to keep us entertained. We were so relaxed I didn't take any pictures. The women from Alberta took the beds beside us. They are on the same freedom tour we are. That evening, we went to Alexander The Greats; live music, good food, and friendly people. We had a blast. The owner provided free ouzo and dance lessons. Santorini is a beautiful place, and we really enjoyed our time there.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Loved this hotel, Terra Blue on Santorini.
    Cutting through the pool to get up the hill to our room one last time.The road to the port was intense.So many switchbacks to get to the bottom.Getting off the ferry in Peros.Our patios at the Panorama hotel in Pariki Paros. A bit of a disappointment after our last hotel.View from our hotel room. Football pitch was busy with players of all ages. Trash emptied early.

    Santorini to Paros

    September 20 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    The bus picked us up at the hotel and took us to the port for our ferry to Paros. We'd forgotten how crazy the road to the port was. If anything, the way down was even more intense. The traffic was wild with so many buses and trucks traveling in both directions. We had to stop at almost every turn to let someone get by. When we reached the ferry terminal, it was a mad house, so many people. We still had an hour till our ferry came, and there were hundreds of people waiting. Lots of crowding in the hot sun and some people trying to cut to the front of the line. At one point, getting on the ferry, I was pushed from two different directions and pushed right back. Not a proud moment. The ride wasn't as long, and the island looked beautiful as we left the ferry. Our hotel was in an older neighborhood, and our rooms had patios that looked out on a football pitch. The hotel was a bit of a letdown after the Terra Blue, but our bed was comfortable. We walked to the waterfront for dinner at a restaurant the woman at the front desk at Panorama recommended. The food and service were good. We walked a bit and picked up water, beer, and diet coke. You can't drink the water on Paros.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Beautiful beaches in Parika
    Lots of boats at anchor on both sides of the ferry terminalLovely day wandering the waterfrontFun tour boatOld town ParikiBeginning of a restorationBeautiful churchOld town was quiet, it was a Sunday so maybe a day of rest.Lots of blueOld townStopped for a cold drink after exploring for a few hoursCan't stay away from the beach.Another nice stop. The name translates to Mom's Kitchen.More old town.From the waterfront looking up to Old TownMy favorite beer.Watching the sun go down

    Relaxing Day Exploring Pariki Paros

    September 21 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    We had a slow morning settling into our new hotel and then headed out to explore Pariki. It's a beautiful, small seaside town with a vibrant waterfront. It's only a short walk from our hotel, but with the narrow winding roads and no sidewalks, it's always full of surprises. The waterfront is full of restaurants and shops. There are several beaches, the ferry terminal, and lots of boats to look at. We wandered up to the old town. There were shops, restaurants, and homes built into ancient buildings. The alleyways were like a maze, and we really enjoyed our afternoon. We had a wonderful dinner on the beach at George's restaurant. There was a christening celebration with music, dancing and a large group of family and friends. We enjoyed our first full day in Peros.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Our rental car for exploring Paros
    Our route for the day. Started in northwest and circled the island.The road to our first beach.Beautiful rock formations leading to the beach.The rock formations on the beach were magical.Warm waterWe parked in front of an abandoned hotel. Randy thought potential fixer upperTown square in NaousasWorking harbour in NaousasChurch in the backgroundWaves crashing over the breakwallFor AlexisCatch drying on the boatClose up of octopusPretty streets in Naousas village.Santa Maria Beach. Would have loved to spend a day here.Lefkes was built on a cliffside.Quick break before going down about 100 stairs.View from the top. We went all the way down.More stairs in LefkeBack at the car. The trip up was a challenge.Next village was Marpissa. Quick stop for lunch.Golden Beach.Aliki was a wonderful stop. Beach, harbour and town squareOctopus drying for dinner

    Driving Tour of Paros

    September 22 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We spent the day exploring Paros in a cute Nissan Micra. I had a list of 10 beaches and 4 villages that looked interesting. We started at Kolymbithres Beach, which had to be one of my favorites. It was a challenging drive, but Randy handled it like a pro. The rock formations were beautiful, and there were areas of sand between them. The water was really warm. After the beach, we headed to Naousas. I think Naousas was my favorite village to date. It had a charming waterfront with fishermen drying their catch on the bow of their boats. There was also a beautiful old church right on the water. There were icons behind glass in the church, and people were kissing the glass. There were so many interesting little restaurants but it was too early for lunch. We then headed to Santa Maria, a beach on the northeast east corner of the island. Very pretty white sand beach. We spent time in Lefkes and Marisspa, two pretty mountain villages. We then made it to Goldon Beach on the southeast coast. Many of the beaches were difficult to reach, and we didn't want to damage the rental car, so we didn't get to all. Randy found some crazy places to turn around when we decided we couldn't make it. We ended the day at Aliki, a charming village with a beautiful beach. We dropped the car off by 7 and had another great dinner at George's restaurant on the beach. It's much quieter tonight without the christening celebration. It was a wonderful day on this beautiful island of Peros.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Lovely place to spend a day.
    Nice spot to sit when we needed shade.Not as busy when the cruise ship people left.Fanta was a nice refreshing change from beer.Travel buddiesLori's lunch.1Gorgeous Parika.

    Beach Day

    September 23 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We decided it was time for a low-key beach day. The loungers were more expensive than on Santorini, which was a surprise. We found a nice spot and settled in for the day. We met a group from a cruise ship from St Johns NFLD. They were friends with a guy Randy knew, so pictures were taken and shared. The sun was hot and the water was refreshing. It was a much more relaxed day and we really enjoyed it. We had dinner on the waterfront at a great restaurant. The name translated to Mom's Kitchen. Paros is a beautiful island, and we really enjoyed our time hereRead more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Randy sat outside for the short trip to Naxos. We couldn't go outside on the fast ferries.
    Our pretty hotel upgrade.It was such a pretty, bright studio.Everything looked new and was so comfortable.Someone put a lot of thought into the lighting. Stone and marble balanced by soft features.Beautiful and functionalOur patio was lovely. About 4 feet from street level. Private but lots to see.Cats everywhere. This one was trying to move in on another's space. Cat fight.Nice place to enjoy a warm evening.

    Surprise Upgrade in Naxos

    September 24 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    It was a short ferry ride from Peros to Naxos, only about 45 minutes on the water. We learned from our trip from Santorini, and Lori and Mike grabbed a table at a cafe close to our gate. We sat in the shade and waited in comfort. We were in the last group to board the ferry, but as we had assigned seating, it didn't really matter. The best part is so much less pushing. Naxos looks beautiful from the port with the Temple of Apollo so close. We arrived at the hotel with a large group but they were very organized and offered us cold drinks and a place to sit while we waited. The drive from the port seemed to take forever, and we were worried we were far from the waterfront. In reality, it was only a 10 minute walk through a vibrant city center. When they called our names, we were told we had received an upgrade and to please follow George. Out the side door into an alley up the small road and up a few stairs, and here we are. Wow, we had a lovely brand new suite with a huge patio on the alley. It really was so nice. We took some time to settle in before we headed out to do some exploring. It was an interesting walk to the waterfront, and we had a nice afternoon wandering around. There were so many boats, and Mike and Lori booked a trip on a 51-foot Dufour for the next day. We had dinner in our neighborhood at a family run Taverna and enjoyed sitting out on our patio.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    This pretty square was just steps from our hotel.
    On the way up to the castle district. We were looking for an actual castle.Really pretty church but I wasn't dressed appropriately so we couldn't go in.The galleries were interesting.The views were beautiful. Ongoing restoration all around.So many small streets. This was a defense strategy. If you can't find us you can't fight us.We took pictures for people and they returned the favour.The grains of sand were small pieces of marble polished by the waves.A big piece of marble.Selfies are not our strong point. But what a backdrop.Temple of Apollo. Construction was started but the individual died 5 years later so not completed.The restaurant threw vegetable scraps out for the geese.Our new digs. Definitely a step down but we took advantage of our balcony.Good neighbors1Dinner with the ladies from Alberta.

    Exploring Chora (Naxos Town)

    September 25 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Mike and Lori left early for their day of boating. Our plan was to explore this pretty town we are staying in. We started in the old town, which was built around a venetian fortress. Beautiful winding streets, little shops, galleries and restaurants, and the occasional sea view. And steps, lots, and lots of steps. There was a former Ursaline girls school that has been repurposed into a restaurant, a clothing store, and a museum. It was fascinating and the views spectacular. We met a very friendly artisan who made beautiful jewelry. Her shop and her home were both within the castle walls. She told us about 40 families had homes there. We headed to the waterfront to an area called the grotto. Stoney beaches with lots of beach glass to add to my collection. The stones were actually small rounded pieces of marble. We walked out to the temple of Apollo and then through town. We stopped at a waterfront café for a late lunch and cold drink. There was a cruise ship in town so we had lots of activities to watch. We met a wonderful couple who were exploring the islands at their own pace. They were former sailors who lived aboard for years in the Bahamas. They sold the boat and traveled by rv for years as well. We had lots to talk about and had a wonderful visit. He was in his 80s and was an inspiration. Their idea of "slow go" was the type of travel we love now. A backpack and a plan. Hope we can match their pace. We were moved to our booked rooms while we were out. What a disappointment! We definitely miss our upgrades. We met up with Mike and Lori when they returned from their adventures. We had dinner with a group of women from Alberta who were on a trip celebrating their 50th birthdays. It was a blast getting to know them.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Watching the boats tie up med style was cool to watch.
    Most of the boats were for hire.Loved the waterfront.Another church we weren't dress appropriately for.More stairs.More waitingWaiting while Lori and I shopped.And stairs did I mention the stairs.So many little streets to explore.Cats everywhere. The neighbors put out food, water and even beds for them.Too bad this place wasn't opened it looked so cool.Small alleyDrying octopus for the nights dinner.The beach to the south of our neighborhood. It was really windy so not many at the beach.A little downtime after a great day of exploring.That what was left after we'd both served ourselves.Mom demonstrating her wine dispenser. Lori wondered if she could get one for home.

    More Chora Time

    September 26 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Since Mike and Lori hadn't explored the old town, we decided to revisit some of the places we saw yesterday. We actually found a whole new part of this area we totally missed. Later in the day, we explored the beach to the south of the city. It was a large sandy beach with warm shallow water. There are lots of beach bars and restaurants as well. We went to a local restaurant, and the owner was a motorcycle collector. He showed the ladies from Alberta his collection and told the guys to come back tomorrow so he could show them. Business was good, and he was still seating people when we left at 10. We ordered our usual Greek salad that we split and then a pasta dish. Thank goodness we split it as it was enough for a family of 4. The food overall was great, and the portions were large. We split almost every meal. Breakfast was included at every hotel. We finished the day with a walk through our neighborhood and met a family who operated a wine shop. They sold wine to go by the glass. The mom was running the shop, and her twin boys were hanging out with her. They were all very entertaining and we really enjoyed meeting them.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Our little Fun car. There was enough room for Mike in the backseat.
    Cats cats cats.The original man powered olive press.Olive trees still grow on the propertyOur tour guide Maria did an excellent job walking us through the process.Taverns in Melanes.The abandoned monastery.So pretty.Views were spectacularThe kitchen buildings in the distance.View from the roof.Another view from the roof.Driving over the mountains looking for marble quarriesMarble quarry1Lunch in Chalki1Wandering the streets in Chalki.1Interesting planter.1Private collection beside our hotel.Eventually owners will open a museum.Randy and Mike loved this.

    Driving Around Naxos

    September 27 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    We rented a car on our last full day on Naxos to explore outside of Chora. Our first stop was the Eggares Olive Oil Museum. It was interesting and informative. The samples were delicious. I got us a little lost getting to our next stop, which meant some crazy little roads. We finally did get back on track and made it to Melanes, one of the most ancient villages on Naxos built in the amphitheater style. We know what that means, more stairs. It was a beautiful spot, and the views were incredible. We met a really nice person who moved to Melanes from Stirling Scotland. He loved living there. Close by was the Kalamitsia Monastary. It was built in 1673 by Jesuit monks on the site of an ancient venetian mansion and was used as a summer retreat. It's in ruins but still beautiful and very remote. We were the only people there until another group of 4 joined us. They had visited many times and showed us how to get on the roof and into the basement. Our drive took us up and over mountains famous for marble quarries. It was so impressive to see how they have accessed this beautiful stone. The roads were treacherous, but Randy did an amazing job. We stopped for a late lunch and a little exploring in Chalki. It is a picturesque village that once was the capital and trade center of the island. Our day seemed to fly by, and when we made it to Demeters Sanctuary, it was closed for the day. After returning the rental car, we stopped to see the owner of the restaurant who collects motorcycles. Randy and Mike had a tour, and Lori and I had a cold drink and snack. We really enjoyed visiting Naxos.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    So many people trying to get to the same place at the same time.
    Sneaking photos while friends slept.Randy tooOur last ferry.Transfer from ferry terminal to the hotel. Usually in 12 passenger vanRandy trying out his new bedPretty neighborhood in Plaka.Nice dinnerCar so close to LoriAlejandro was a great hostLive music was great.

    Back to Athens

    September 28 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    One more fast ferry ride from Naxos to Athens. It was the usual crush to get on the boat, up the stairs, and to find our seats. No going outside as the Champion Jet travels up to 50 knots or 93 klm an hour. We were in Athens and at our hotel by 5pm. First stop, the rooftop pool and bar. We love this spot. We headed to the Plaka neighborhood to find a place for dinner. We found a great spot on what we thought was a pedestrian street. Alejandro convinced us to stop and gave us a table where we could watch all the action. There was live music and the service was great. While we were eating a car drove down the street. Alejandro grabbed Lori's arm and pulled it back to the table as the car was that close. It was a very entertaining evening. The walk back to the hotel is always interesting as we had to walk through an emerging (sketchy) neighborhood.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Hadrians Arch from the bus window.
    From the bus window.From the bus window.Trying to find our way to the AcropolisStill looking for the route to the top.Took a wrong turn but found a pretty church.Areopagus Hill.Randy and Mike climbed to the top.Beautiful view of the cityBeautiful view of the AcropolisCats everywhereThe wine glass pulls it togetherRandom statueOdeon of Herodes Atticus an amphitheater inside the AcropolisWe made it.Amazing experience even with the crowdsLots of restoration going onStill trying to get the hang of selfies.BeautifulBeautifulNice lunch after a busy morning.Our sketchy neighborhoodGreat way to spend the afternoon.

    Two Days In Athens

    Sep 29–Oct 1 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We woke up to rain. It never rains in Greece must be because the Clarkes are in town. We booked a hop on hop off bus to get a feel for the city and rode almost the full route. We got off close to the Acropolis and decided to walk up to the entrance. It was really busy and the only entrance time available was at 4. We decided to come back Tuesday morning and booked tickets for 10 am. We climbed the Areopagus and were amazed with the view. We wandered down the slope to the Thiseo area. Randy and I found a nice sidewalk cafe for a snack and cold drink. Mike and Lori visited the Ancient Agora. We wandered through the Plaka area for dinner that evening. We spent the next morning exploring the Acropolis. It was amazing and well worth the crowds. Afterward we found a nice restaurant for lunch and a bit of a rest before walking back to our hotel. It was a beautiful afternoon, and we decided the rooftop pool was a great place to spend our last afternoon in Athens. We went back to see Alejandro again for dinner. He gave us a tour of the garden event center behind the restaurant. It was magical with about 20 chandeliers and fairy lights everywhere. Even the bathrooms were beautiful with blue marble walls and floors and copper fittings. Oh, and the food was good too. It was a really nice last night in Greece.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeThe Greek IslandsTraveler
    Our hotel was on a very busy street. Not this morning only police and their whistles.
    We walked down the road for two blocks to meet our driver.This person was getting around police barricades by riding on the sidewalk.Those are bus loads of riot police. Our driver backed up and did a u turn in front of them.Home sweet home. We woke up to a beautiful warm sunny day. The lake was calling.

    Home Again

    October 1 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Buses, ferries, and taxis were on strike on Oct 1. The air traffic controllers were not permitted to strike, so they were planning a work to rule event. There were demonstrations planned in the square close to our hotel, and we were hoping to make it home. We awoke to a lot of whistles. We looked out the window, and the police had closed our street and were diverting traffic. We checked with the front desk and they assured us our ride would be there at 11:15. At 11:45 we were told to walk two blocks to meet our driver. He was waiting in the street and took us around the corner where he'd parked the van the wrong way on a one-way street and half on the sidewalk. While he loaded our bags and got us inside, buses of riot police were passing. It was wild. Once we were out of the city center, traffic was light, and we made it to the airport in plenty of time. The flight was 10 and a half hours and not the most pleasant, so we were happy to land in Toronto. We arrived home at 10:30 pm, which was 5:30 the next morning in Greece, so we were ready for bed. It was a wonderful trip, we loved Greece and feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity to visit this beautiful spot.Read more

    Trip end
    October 1, 2025
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