Yasas Greece

My first impression of Athens, since it had been 28 years since my last visit, was how westernised it had become, distinctly less Greek with prevalent English signage everywhere and more importantly the influx of european immigrants, particularly from Albania. Wow! They seem to be running the restaurants and businesses there. There is a lot of reconstruction going on in the city. We staggered up to the acropolis in the heat of the day, and marvelled at the pathenon, but its thirsty work looking at artefacts and the Greek beer "mythos" (to Joe the fix factory has closed down!) quenched us in a bar under the grapevines. There is a new part of the city, the Plaka, which is all for the tourists and every business seems to be run and serviced by the immigrants. We flew Aegean Airlines to Santorini on Monday, a non eventful flight took 30 minutes on a 737. We had never imagined for one single minute that it could possibly be raining cold and stormy here in Santorini....it certainly didnt in "Summer Lovers" but boy did we get a lightning show here last night, wow, fork and flash lightning, put the fear of god into Elsie, and we were wearing thick winter woollies....we kid you not! But compensated warmly with a truly delicious Greek meal of Noels favourite (yep you guess it guys, mousakka) and I had keftedes with greek salad (with caper leaves which Id never seen nor tasted and were huge like bayleaves) tasty, great service and atmosphere. The place is riddled with mainly American and Germans, we appear as the only kiwis, and not busy there is abundance of holiday accomodation everywhere. We are on the cliff top in a whitewashed apartment, blue shutters, just north of Fira, our little table overlooks the harbour where the enormous cruise ships anchor! The view is just oh so spectacular, we have toasted to our absent friends who we know just love Greece. A special hi to Les and Judy, we heard bagpipes in Athens whilst walking around the acropolis..."Scotland the Brave" We immediately thought of you! Weather is improving today, we are off to discover Ia (northern part of the island where we think Summer Lovers was filmed) and to enjoy another day of great Greek cuisine and hospitality. Steen eeyiasas!