Yahooooo! Just got my vacation approved… 3 weeks in the Mediterranean. I lived in Athens for a summer, so I’m set there, but any suggestions on sights to see, hotels, etc in any of these places is appreciated.
The basic plan is to fly in and out of Athens, and island hop from Athens to Istanbul to Egypt (we wanna see pyramids) and back. Or from Athens to Egypt to Istanbul. Or whatever. We have 3 weeks. Anybody been there lately? What’s cool?
I hate you.
Me too.
An infinite number of rednecks in an infinite number of pickup trucks shooting an infinite number of shotguns at an infinite number of road signs will eventually produce all the world’s great works of literature in Braille.
What they said!
-Frankie
Lack of charisma can be fatal
Hmmmmph. Have a grape leaf for me, but stay away from the Retsina. Ugh, wine made from pine resin. Sounds like a great trip.
“Your posting style resembles a cross between a spastic squirrel and one-handed ventriloquist.”
–Mullinator, paraphrased–
Mmmmmm… I actually developed a taste for Retsina when I was in Greece in 1990. Don’t worry, UncleBeer, I’ll drink your share.
Dear me, what a lot of green-eyed monsters! Let me congratulate you in advance on what sounds like a fabulous trip, Athena! I’m happy for you, with no envy whatsoever.
Of course, this may be because I’m going to Crete for two weeks in June.
I haven’t familiarized myself with the smilies just yet. Is there one that has an expression of shared smugness, yet a hint of rueful sympathy?
Ah, I guess I shouldn’t complain since I am getting what amounts to a free, 2 week ski vacation in Utah next month. It has been my dream to travel around the world, I guess Utah is as good a place to start as any!
One of the doctors I work with is married to a Greek man, but you say you already have Greece covered.
Have a good time in Egypt; don’t go into any cursed tombs! 
Bring us all presents!
Whaaa!! I wanna go too!
Shadowfox
“We are what we pretend to be.”
I’m not jealous! Ha ha ha, Athena has to spend summer in Egypt! We’re talking insane, evil, horrible heat and humidity - with the fun addition of having to dress modestly (ie, long sleeve shirts and skirts). And Egyptian drivers are completely insane. Worse than anywhere I’ve ever been. A guy I knew told me that he spent two weeks in Cairo and never figured out which direction the cars were supposed to be going. I don’t think he was joking.
I’ve never been to Cairo, but I’ve heard the stories. I can tell you a little bit about Sinai, if you’re heading that way. BTW, Sinai looks exactly like it ought to - jagged reddish brown mountains rising out of the Red Sea. You can even see Saudi Arabia on the other side, the closest I’ll ever get to that happy country.
~Kyla
“Anger is what makes America great.”
Hey shanti…I hate you too!
-Frankie
Lack of charisma can be fatal
I don’t hate you! Exploring the cradle of civilization has always been a dream of mine…but I hope you can find more info on those exotic locations that I’m finding for Cuba! Doesn’t anyone know anything about this country? (This is not a hi-jack!–if you have an answer for me, please post it on my thread, not this one!)
With God as my witness, I thought turkey’s could fly.
Hmmm…lots of things to do in Turkey…try picking up a copy of Scotch and Holy Water…
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0960738207/qid%3D948390559/103-5805297-0118202
Amazon has it available to ship…a great book about a gentlman that lived in Turkey for about 10 years…tells about the places he saw…you may get some suggestions there…Have a great trip
Athena,
Take a day trip out of Istanbul to visit Ephesus. I know that you’ve seen antiquities in Athens, but Turkey seems to have been spared the ravages of Lord Elgin and his compeers. So much of the ancient village (town) of Ephesus is, partially, standing. You can walk down the streets and see the facade of a fabulous library as well as walk through the ruins of a public bath house and sit in an amphitheatre. During the summer months, there are concerts given in the amphitheatre. (Mary, mother of Jesus, spent her final years in Ephesus.)
Have a great trip. The dollar is still strong in Turkey.
renee
Greece - I’ve been to Athens, Thessaloniki and the Chalkidiki Peninsulas. I’ll skip Athens because you lived there. Macedonia was one of the highlights of my travels. Keep in mind that when I travel, I travel as a boheme, not a tourist. I tend to blend in with the locals and immerse myself in their customs and ways. I do take the time to see tourist sights (like the acropolis) if they are significant to the culture (I avoided Euro Disney while in France). If you travel differently, ignore my recommendations.
Thessaloniki is a great city - They adore Alexander the Great and some locals, upon finding out I was American, treated my to a whole day of history lessons. They took me to the White Tower and their proud (and wonderful) Macedonian museum where the bones of Philip are displayed along with weapons and fabulous treasures of Alexander and his vast empire.
I took a bus out to the gorgeous Kassandra Peninsula and spent two days doing nothing but lounging on the beach, swimming and partying with the greeks. Highly recommended. One of the other peninsulas, Athos, has a 1000 year old monastary which I wanted to visit, but I found myself having too much fun on the beaches.
I spent five days in Istanbul sharing a local room with two women from Germany I met at the train station. They were very familiar with the city and showed me everything. I loved the Blue Mosque during prayer (partake of some turkish hash, go into the Blue Mosque, take your shoes off, and let yourself slip away - I was in there for hours, travelling into the past) and Aya Sofia (what a history that building has had!) and you’ve got to go to the covered bazaar. Be very watchful of scams, I was approached many times by slimey men offering me some tea (delicious) or other enticement only to be find out they were salesmen trying to trap me into buying something (usually leather jackets).
Also visit the Topkapi museum to see the hair & footprint of Mohammad and watch the endless prayer.
I spent a lot of time on the Bosphorus, on boats or in outdoor cafes talking to the locals and playing music - I met some great people. Blend in and get lost. Also make sure you go over to the asian side of the city at night (go to someplace high) and look back over the straits at the lights of the sprawled city - beautiful.
I haven’t been to Egypt, but I hear the terrorists are really nice and will take your picture for you. Also, camels are pretty nasty creatures.
This is all so cool! Thanks everyone for the comments. I will check out the book, Atrael. Ephesus is now on my list of things to do.
Sake Samurai, we will probably end up travelling the same way you do. I think you see more when you keep a low profile. Never been to Thessaloniki (well, at least not outside the airport!) but you’re one of many who tell me it’s a neat city. I also had a good friend who spent a lot of time in Chalkidiki… I remember her talking about the tourists calling it “challkey-dicky”!
There was an article in either Smithsonian or National Geo about Athos a few months ago. They don’t even allow female animals there, so I doubt I’ll be going. But it looked pretty neat.
Man-o-man, I can’t wait to get to Istanbul. I wanted to go there badly when I was living in Greece, but could never get anyone to go with me. Mosques, the Bosphorus… sigh… I’m so excited about this trip!