I have always been interested in Greek and Roman history so when I had a chance to travel there I jumped on it. I took my girlfriend Donna Sue with me so she could experience this as well.

We left Phoenix, AZ on 26 April to Amsterdam via Northwest and KLM airlines. Our flight went fast and soon we were in the land of the tulips. When I booked this trip little did I know we would be in Holland on Queensday which honors Queen Beatrix. Anywhere between 1 to 3 million people jam into Amsterdam for this occasion so finding reasonable accommodation was a task in itself. After 4 online attempts to book a room I finally found the Hotel Di-Ann for $135 a night which is way over what I’m used to paying. The location was great and everything was in walking distance. As we were dropped off at the Di-Ann we were immediately confronted with a vertical staircase. We had to laugh and we trudged ahead. 73 steps in all to our room, a good workout. Our room was very small but we had a view of the street below. We were there for 3 days in which we went to the usual attractions. The Anne Frank museum was interesting, as was the Van Gough Art Museum. We did the mandatory coffeeshop tour as well as sampling all the great food and drink Amsterdam has to offer. Our time there passed quickly and soon we were off to Greece.

After a 3 hr flight we landed in Athens. From my research I knew this city is very crowded and suffers from air pollution. This did not bother me, as there was a lot I wanted to see and do there. Our taxi took us to the Hotel Adams ($49), in the Plaka area which is very centrally located. Actually it’s right below the Acropolis. As soon as we were checked in I headed for the Acropolis. This ruin is very immense and awe inspiring. It was built around 350 BC. by Pericles. As being the number one attraction in Athens it was very crowded but still worth several hours there. The views from there are incredible as all of Athens can be seen. I sat and marveled at the skill and magnificence of this work and wondered what it was like at the height of its glory. The Acropolis Museum is also worth a look. We also walked down to the Theater of Dionysos, which had a seating capacity of 17,000. After the Acropolis we walked to Syntagma. I wanted to see the National Archaeological Museum but it was closed, as it was a public holiday (May 1). The next morning we were on the ferry to the island of Santorini.

The 9 hour ride to Thira (Santorini) was great. The ferry was very comfortable and is like a small cruise ship. We stopped at the islands of Paros, Naxos and Ios. It was overcast and cool when we arrived in the caldera but still it was like no other island I have seen. Around 1450 BC a massive eruption took place and what you see now is what is left. The main part of the island is crescent shaped and all of the houses are built in the edge of the cliff. The views from the top are truly awesome. We checked in to the Hotel Golden Star ($27) in Thira. All the action is close by so the location was great. For the first 3 days the weather was windy and overcast but it was still Santorini. The first part of May can still be cool as summer is just around the corner. After 2 days we changed hotels to the Hotel Keti ($30) on the caldera edge with wonderful views. This place is a real bargain considering the location. The weather slowly started to improve so we rented a car (Avis) to tour the island. The first day we met Jeff at Murphy’s and he joined us for the car ride. We went to the far end of the island, which was so windy we could barely walk. We also stopped by Ancient Akrotiri, which was inhabited around 1600BC. They were quite advanced for their time. Some fantastic wall paintings were discovered there. We also visited the Santo winery (twice) for some wine tasting and a tour of the winery. The beaches were black sand, which can get very hot in the summer. Pumice was evident at one beach, which I had not seen before. Late in the afternoon we always headed to Oia which is on the far north of the island for the incredible sunsets. Many people gather there to see this. Oia to the place to stay for peace and quiet and that’s where I will stay when I return. The nightlife in Thira rocks! We went to the Blue Note several times and really enjoyed ourselves. Donna danced on top of the bar and everyone was wild. These bars stay open until sunrise if you can handle it. A fun time. The food ranged from fair to fantastic. Nicholas Restaurant was the best. The street corners and late night places were also good. I enjoyed the stuffed squid, fried calimari, souvlaki, fresh pizza and of course baklava for dessest. Chocolate banana crepes and spinach pie I will always remember as well. We bought some great souvenirs as Greece has some very unique handicrafts. The shopkeepers were very polite and we talked to several of them for quite a while. We had a couple of days left before our return home so I thought another island to visit would be great. I chose Naxos as it was on the way back to Athens. A good choice it was. Much more quiet and less touristy. We stayed at the Hotel Grotta ($27) the best value yet. The sunsets from the balcony were the best! Very gracious staff and a wonderful breakfast buffet. We relaxed at Agios Georgios beach and met Mike and Juliet from New Zealand. The feeling on this island was soothing and a welcome respite from Santorini. The unfinished Temple of Apollo is on the waterfront and is very striking. We had a wonderful time on Naxos and wish we had more.

To sum up this trip I must say I was very impressed with Greece. The people are wonderful and hospitable. Lots of history everywhere. I only saw a small part of this beautiful country and would like to return someday. After all Greece is the cradle of western civilization.