Off to Hawaii ...

It has been quiet on the travel front since our return from Las Vegas.  Jan was very surprised on Christmas morning when she opened up her gift of pajamas and inside were tickets to Hawaii.  Mele Kalikimaka and Aloha … we will be in Waikiki from December 27 to January 8.

China?

Jan and I went to a presentation last night sponsored by the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce for a trip to China next year.  Who knows ...

Off to Vegas ... August 15, 2013

We are off to Vegas today for some trade shows and a little R and R ...

Our Trek Home - August 5-8, 2013

On August 5, we start our trek home at 6 am by taking the ferry to Skiathos (1.5 hours).  We had breakfast in Skiathos and then hopped on our 2:30 pm flight to Athens (45 minutes).  Too late to get a connecting flight out to Rome so we stayed at the nearby Holiday Inn Airport Hotel.

On August 6, we had a 4:15 pm flight out to Rome.  We arrived about 6 pm and went to stay at the nearby Courtyard Marriot Airport Hotel.

On August 7, we had a 9:50 am flight from Rome to NYC.  we arrived at the airport at 7 am.  At 9:30, we were informed that the flight was delayed because the arriving plane had to stop in Geneva due to a medical emergency.  We were told it would leave about 1 pm.  At around 1 pm, the departure board showed a 3:30 pm departure but no announcements so we had to rebook our connection from NYC to Edmonton to leave the next morning as there would no longer be any flights out when we arrived in NYC.  At 3:30, we were told the flight was cancelled as the plane arrived from Geneva but the defibrillator had been used and no spare was available and the plane could not fly without it - but it apparently could fly from Geneva to Rome without it.  They shuttled us to a hotel where we spent the night. I spend an hour on the phone with United trying to rebook our connections.

On August 8, up at 4:30 am to catch a 5:30 am shuttle to the airport for our 8:30 am flight.  Utter chaos as 250 people try to get on the first bus that arrives.  We ended up on the second bus.  Our flight eventually leaves at 10 am.  Flight time: 9 and one half hours.  We arrive in NYC to find out our NYC to Toronto flight has been delayed.  No problem, we still have an hour to make our connection.  No such luck, storms in the Northeast US and we sit on the tarmac for one hour to obtain alternate flight route and then take an extra one half hour flying an alternate route.  Can't make our Toronto to Edmonton connection.  We arrive in Toronto and have to rebook to Edmonton.  We finally arrive home at about 10:30 pm.  So glad to be home!

Alonissos, Greece - August 2-4, 2013

Last few days of our trip had us relaxing by the pool and swimming in the Aegean Sea.  We did a little bit of snorkeling.  We got up late, had lunch at the pool bar and had a nap in the afternoons.  We went for dinner at Archipelagos (our favourite restaurant) each night and got big hugs as we were leaving from our new friends at the restaurant.  After dinner, we would go back to the pool bar and sit until the early hours of the morning with Kosta and Bessie.  This was the perfect ending to our Great European Adventure.

Alonissos, Greece July 29 - Aug 1, 2013

July 29, 2013 - Sat around the pool.  Had a sandwich, greek salad and beer at the pool bar.  Sat around the pool some more.  Went for dinner to town.  Had a drink with Bessie and Kosta.  Went to Bed.

July 30, 2013 - We rented a car and drove around the island.  We first drove to Agios Dimitrios beach.  Beautiful - the water is crystal clear amazing.  We then drove to Leftos Gialos beach and had some lunch and swam a little bit - saw a jelly fish and we decided to move on.  We then drove to Tsoukalia beach which had very few people but the water was a bit dirty so we drove all the way back to Agios Dimitrios and relaxed for a while.  We then drove to the Old Town in the hills and explored for awhile - what a view!  Went for dinner at Ostria Restaurant (Kosta's sister's place) and then back to the hotel for a drink with Bessie and Kosta - turned into several drinks and 4 am.  These Greeks ...

Crystal Clear Water

Agios Dimitrios Beach

Leftos Gialos Beach

Old Town

Old Town View

July 31, 2013 - Sat around the pool.  Had a sandwich, greek salad and beer at the pool bar.  Sat around the pool some more.  Went for a swim in the ocean.  Went for dinner to town.  Had a drink with Bessie and Kosta.  Went to Bed relatively early - midnight.  Big day tomorrow ...

Sunrise

August 1, 2013 - We went scuba diving today.  Jan and I took a Discovery Dive which gives you a basic lesson and then a dive.  So proud of Jan for doing the dive - yesterday she put her ears in the water for the first time in a long time - today scuba diving.  It was fantastic!  We dove to a depth of 6.6 metres.  The other 2 participants bailed - one at the beginning and the other about 1/2 way through.  Vaggeli was our instructor and he was OUTSTANDING.  Had lunch in town - lamb chops and fried feta cheese.  Back to our hotel for a nap and woke up at 9:30 pm.  Still full from lunch so we just went to the pool bar for a drink or 2.  To bed at 12:30.

Alonissos, Greece - July 28, 2013

July 28, 2013 - we were up at 9:00 am (yes we were a bit surprised after being out late night) and had breakfast downstairs at the included buffet.  We then spent the day at the pool and had a short dip in the crystal clear waters of the ocean.  Had a nap in the afternoon and a drink at the pool bar in the early evening.  Then it was time for dinner around 9:45 pm.  Bessie and Kostas took us out for a dinner the way Greeks eat!  You start out by ordering Tsipouro (an ouzo like drink but better) and they will bring you food.  You order more Tsipouro and they bring more food.  We had baby squid, tuna salad (made with the best tuna in the world from Alonissos), anchovies, shrimp and cheese, prawns, a few kinds of fish, grilled octopus, baby crab and some other seafood.  We drank a lot of Tsipouro.  We then wandered down the row of bars on the waterfront and settled on the old people's bar when we could talk to and hear each other.  Had a couple of drinks there and ... holy smokes 3:45 am!  Bessie and Kostas have to work in the morning.  Yikes.  We felt bad.  Thanks to our hosts, Bessie and Kostas, for a great evening!

Greek Dinner with Bessie and Kostas

Jan with her fish - check out the teeth on the fish

Empty Tsipouro Bottles