Europe

A 94-day adventure by Jessica Read more

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Trip start
May 10, 2015
Europe Jessica Gerschwitz
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Day 1
Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 8:53 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Australia Adelaide Airport -34.93745, 138.5393134°56’15” S 138°32’22” E
Adelaide Airport
May 10, 2015 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Today I begin my three month adventure around Europe, first stop is Dubai then onto Athens. I'm not entirely sure how I feel at the moment, I'm sitting in the airport waiting to board my plane (I don't think it has sunk in that I will be travelling abroad for three months on my own!) I am feeling excited but travelling alone for me is slightly daunting as I have never travelled alone! I have a fear of getting lost in an airport and missing my flight!

On a seperate note I am so lucky I have the mother I do, she is simply beautiful - before I left to get on the plane she gave me a guardian angel charm to keep me safe on my travels. I am going to struggle with not being able to call her when ever I want, even though we live 1100km apart she is always there for me. I love her to the moon and back!Read more
Sonya GerschwitzLove you too and yes it's hard not being able to ring you lol. Love the photos, it looks awesome xxx
5/14/15Reply
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Europe Jessica Gerschwitz
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Day 2
Monday, May 11, 2015 at 12:44 PM
☀️ 39 °C
Altitude: 5 m
United Arab Emirates Dubai International Airport 25.25101, 55.3581725°15’4” N 55°21’29” E
Dubai Airport
May 11, 2015 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 39 °C
Finally arrived at Dubai Airport, lets just say WOW! The airport is huge, I had to catch a train and walk 15km just to get to C44 my next departure gate! Plenty of time to rest before my next flight, I had about an hour of sleep on the floor.Read more
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Day 2
Monday, May 11, 2015 at 10:20 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 82 m
Greece Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport 37.93565, 23.9484237°56’8” N 23°56’54” E
Athens Airport
May 11, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Finally made it to Athens. As soon as I hot there I quickly grabbed my bags and made a run for the taxi line. Probably wasn't the cheapest option (it cost me ¥35) but at this point all I wanted was to get back to the hotel and to have a shower! I jumped into the cab and began speaking to the driver who looked at me in confusion as he didn't speak English, this was my first hurdle! I managed to explain where I wanted to go and he began driving! This was my first taste of Greece traffic, let's just say it was interesting - people on scooters weaving in and out of cars, trucks and buses through the tightest of gaps with no helmets! I managed to capture this female riding with no helmet and on her phone. All the drivers are very agressive pushing in to gaps forcing other cars to brake heavily. Driving into Athens city I noticed the amount of graffiti around, the city was old and looked run down.Read more
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Day 2
Monday, May 11, 2015 at 10:21 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 129 m
Greece Lykavittós 37.98933, 23.7464837°59’22” N 23°44’47” E
Hotel Zafolia
May 11, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Welcome to Hotel Zafolia! The hotel itself was really nice, I was actually suprised! Being on a Contiki tour I expected to be staying in hostels. I checked in and went up to the room, my new roommate wasn't there and I was exhausted so I thought I would have a nap before going down to the lobby to meet my 'contiki family'. I got about an hours sleep in before my roommate Beka came in, we began talking and started to get to know each other before heading down to the lobby for the 'kickstart meeting' for the Spotlight on Greece tour. Not long after we walked down stairs and met Tom, our tour manager and the other 43 people who would be joining us on the tour! There was a ME TIME optional mentioned called 'Traditional Athens Affair' that included dinner, I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet everyone and start to get to know them so after the meeting everyone went to their rooms to get changed before meeting back in the lobby to go to dinner.Read more
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Day 3
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 4:02 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 83 m
Greece O Pirgos Ton Anemon 37.97349, 23.728137°58’25” N 23°43’41” E
Plaka Area
May 12, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Majority of the group decided to do the ME TIME optional, we started by walking through Plaka area and made our way to Abepna where we were spoilt with a three course traditional Greek meal. The food was AMAZING we had plenty of it! While there we got to listen to and watch traditional dances, they even pulled a few of our group up to dance with them.Read more
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Day 3
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 74 m
Greece Platia Koumoundourou 37.97955, 23.7256237°58’46” N 23°43’32” E
Panathenian Stadium & Acropolis
May 12, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
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Day 3
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 6:03 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 52 m
Greece Gefyra Isthmou 37.92808, 22.9955837°55’41” N 22°59’44” E
Corinth Canal
May 12, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
The Corinth Canal was completed in the early 1890's, it had been invisioned since 300BC but was only started in 1880's and was completed within 11 years.
The Corinth Canal saved sailors travelling an extra 700km around the coast of Greece is 90m down, 8m deep and 24m wide.Read more
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Day 3
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7:41 PM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 184 m
Greece Mycenae 37.7272, 22.7546337°43’38” N 22°45’17” E
Agamemnon Tomb (Bee Hive)
May 12, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
The Agamemnon tomb is an impressive "tholos" tomb on the Panagitsa Hill at Mycenae in Greece. It was constructed during the Bronze Age around 1250 BC. The lintel stone above the doorway weighs 120 tons, the largest in the world. The triangle opening above the opening was situated there to distribute the weight onto the walls preventing the roof from caving in.
The Agamemnon tomb was incredible to see in person, to appreciate the size and workmanship that went into building it.Read more
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Day 3
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 8:38 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 202 m
Greece Mycenae 37.73079, 22.7544437°43’51” N 22°45’16” E
Mykines Palace
May 12, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
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Day 3
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 10:46 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Greece Limáni Nafplíou 37.56668, 22.7957937°34’0” N 22°47’45” E
Nafplion
May 12, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
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Day 3
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 11:00 PM
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 56 m
Greece Koskinás 37.65835, 21.6238337°39’30” N 21°37’26” E
Amalia Hotel
May 12, 2015 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
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Day 4
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 11:19 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 38 m
Greece Olympia late Hellenistic Baths, Greek Baths 37.64132, 21.6283737°38’29” N 21°37’42” E
Olympia Museum
May 13, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Olympia Museum would have to be one of my favourites so far, the tour guide was informative and enthusiastic about Greek history. I learnt a lot about the Olympics and how they have progressed over the years.

Highlight of the day was running on the Olympic track.Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Greece Stenó Ríou - Antirríou 38.32184, 21.7733238°19’19” N 21°46’24” E
Rion Anti Rion Bridge
May 13, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
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Day 4
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 3:29 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Greece Órmos Nafpáktou 38.3923, 21.8282938°23’32” N 21°49’42” E
Nafpakto
May 13, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
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Day 4
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 4:56 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Greece Nisída Pétalo 38.37639, 22.3873938°22’35” N 22°23’15” E
Galaxidi
May 13, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
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Day 5
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 7:42 AM
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 539 m
Greece Delphi 38.48034, 22.4898738°28’49” N 22°29’24” E
Delphi Palace
May 14, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
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Day 5
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 11:19 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 531 m
Greece Delphi 38.48179, 22.502738°28’54” N 22°30’10” E
Archaeological Site of Delphi
May 14, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
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Day 5
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 12:27 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 927 m
Greece Arachova 38.47942, 22.5829138°28’46” N 22°34’58” E
Arachova
May 14, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
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Day 5
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 5:00 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 74 m
Greece Platia Koumoundourou 37.97952, 23.725637°58’46” N 23°43’32” E
Arion Hotel
May 14, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
We arrived at Arion Hotel early afternoon where we said goodbye to Tom and half of the Spotlight on Greece group and hello to a much smaller group for the seven day cruise around the Greek Islands. We were greeted by Carol our new tour manager, she went through the basics.Read more
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Day 5
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 8:00 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 61 m
Greece Hadrian's Library 37.9764, 23.7258337°58’35” N 23°43’33” E
Monastiraki Square
May 14, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Tonight we went to the Monastiraki Square for dinner, the meal was delicious and a very generous size - I could only eat half of it! We then made our way to Yum... Me for frozen yogurt. After that nearly everyone else went back to the hotel a few of us decided to stay and go to a roof top bar for a cocktail naking our way through Monastiraki Square to get there we were hassled by several gypsys. The view of the city from the rooftop bar was absolutely stunning, such a shame photos don't do it justice. We made our way back to the hotel after having done a little bit of exploring.Read more
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Day 6
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 9:00 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 15 m
Greece Kyprianos 37.72053, 24.046437°43’14” N 24°2’47” E
Celestyal Cruises
May 15, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Today we begin our Golden Fleece tour, a seven day cruise that stops at Istanbul, Kusadasi, Crete, Rhodes, Symi, Chios and Mykonos. On the bus on the way Caro went through all the ME TIME optionals that we could choose from and also told us about a drink package that we could purchase which was €20 a day for an all inclusive drink package, let's just say I have a feeling we will all be getting our monies worth. Once getting on the boat first thing to do was book a massage, followed by changing into my bathers, ordering a cocktail and getting in the jacuzzi! After the jacuzzi I went to get a full body massage, it was INCREDIBLE! Life is pretty good right now, I really cannot complain.Read more
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Day 7
Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 8:29 AM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 33 m
Turkey Basilica Cistern 41.00824, 28.9783641°0’30” N 28°58’42” E
Istanbul
May 16, 2015 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
We have arrived at Istanbul! We got off of the boat at about 9am and we didn't have to be back on deck until 6pm. Because I am coming back here during the Ultimate European tour I decided not to do the guided tour because it is included in my other tour but instead walk around with Ben, Lee, Nick, Jessica and Arwel.
First off we caught the tram to the Grand Bizarre, I bought myself a new pair of pants and a beautiful scarf. There was quite a few people in there at the time but I think it could get a lot busier. After we left we sat down at at café to use the wi-fi and ordered what I would describe as a white coffee with cinnamon on top, it was so yummy - I just have to find out the name of it.
While walking around I bought a bag of chestnuts, they weren't very nice but at least I tried it!
For lunch we managed to find a little café walking down a side street, the café had a really laid back feel to it. There was art work and graffiti across from it and they were playing Bob Marley ? oh and the food was pretty good as well.
Last thing we did before heading back to this ship was the Spice Market, it was crazy full! I couldn't wait to get out of there haha. On the walk back to the ship we came across the random rainbow stairs haha.Read more
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Day 8
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 4:42 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 40 m
Turkey Selçuk 37.93606, 27.3456537°56’10” N 27°20’44” E
Kusadasi
May 17, 2015 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Kusadasi! First up we had a guided tour of the Emphasis and Terrace Houses followed by a trip to where they make hand made rugs. We were taught how the rugs were made and how they get the silk. After that we were dropped off near the ship where we did a little bit of shopping followed by dinner at a local restaurant - we ended up with a platter to share and it was pretty tasty!Read more
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Day 9
Monday, May 18, 2015 at 8:56 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Greece Órmos Firón 36.41455, 25.4102436°24’52” N 25°24’37” E
Santorini
May 18, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Santorini is BEAUTIFUL! I would move here tomorrow if I could! We started the day by getting on a boat and going to the active Volcano after we had walked to the top and back again we got back on the boat where we were taken around to the other side of the island where there were hot springs to swim in. After we had a swim we headed back to the old port where we were driven to Oia where we walked around, the white buildings with blue roofs and sat down for lunch with an incredible view. After we caught a taxi back to Santorini where we rode donkies up the side of the hill so that we could go shopping and ride the cable car down.Read more
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Day 10
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 8:16 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Greece Ormískos Ammoúdi 35.19742, 25.7125935°11’51” N 25°42’45” E
Crete & Spinalonga
May 19, 2015 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
We have arrived in crete, first we are catching a boat to Spinalonga followed by lunch and a swim in crystal clear water on out own private beach. After we returned to Aghios Nikolaos to do a little bit of shopping, we also got dessert at a local café which was delicious. To finish off the day we went to get fish spas which made my feet so soft!Read more
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