Third Time's a Charm at Bairaktiros, Athens

Backblog: Spetses, Greece

I said I would only backblog after 5 successful new ones. I've gone to some pretty intense places, and what a shame to not relive it once in a while. This was during a summer when I lived in Firenze back in the collegiate days. I found an old blog post I did, and decided to repost because I heard Spetses was one of the places Prince William & Princess Kate thought of spending their honeymoon at. Comparing my early writing style to my current one, I realized I had just as much mental and verbal diarrhea back then as I do now, I just sounded a little more giddy and perky... like a valley girl. HAHAHA!

06.07.05

This is bad. I have, for the past hour, tried unsuccessfully to nap. It is 20:03 and it's not working. I decide to f-it and just go to Liberta to get my Humanities over with so I can at least study for the midterm tomorrow.

Lo and behold... it begins to rain... in Florence... during the summertime.

Ever since my forced return from Greece yesterday.. my body has just been screaming tired. Study hard and party harder is wonderful. I haven't had grades this amazing since I stepped at Pepperdine...and of all subjects... I ace my Religion midterm. Of course, I haven't experience this much fun since... well, I just haven't. But yes... I am making the most out of this experience, without sacrificing my studies... to prove that, indeed, I can self motivate without the help of shopping. I'm just tired.

EuroCruise 2010: Mad for Mykonos

Back to the beautiful Greek Island of Mykonos, home to blue & white homes, hot sunny beaches, and major midnight beachparties.

If there's another thing Mykonos is most remembered for... it's not wide open spaces like the Chola Town Center.

 

But for the tight and tiny alleys and streetways that zigzag like a labyrinth all around town, albeit stunning with its white and blue exteriors. As the mythical town of Troy, Mykonos is one puzzling map of roads.

EuroCruise 2010: Munching on Octopus at Antonini's, Mykonos

Next stop on the EuroCruise lineup is the tourist-favorite Greek island of Mykonos, infamous for its bright Mediterranean sun, endless beach parties, and enigmatic blue & white buildings.

A tiny 33 square miles, Mykonos is one of the smallest islands in the Cyclades group and is inhabited by only 5000 locals, yet gets flocked by over 900,000 visitors a year. Bars, nightclubs, and beaches...  Think Santorini, but not on a mountain. Ahh... ToT Heaven!

As I was walking towards Chora, or center of Mykonos, I spotted a man by the shallow water, literally, spanking a live octopus on the rocks, paralyzing the tentacles and readying it for consumption. Bro and I looked at each other; we knew what we were having for lunch!

EuroCruise 2010: Sweet Sunset in Santorini Part 2

After walking around the towns of Oia and Fira, tasting some sulfur-enriched Santorini wines from Santo Winery, and dining with an awesome view at Sphinx Restaurant, it was time to say goodbye to Arthur, our very animated tourguide who spends half the year in Santorini, and the other half in Australia. 

My family loved him so much, we wanted to come back just so we could bunk in his pink palace of a house! Apparently he landed on some Greek wealth from his father, so he enjoys life showing people around Santorini and also being a videographer on the side. That's where the good pics come from.

With some time on our hands til our boat, the Celebrity Equinox, set sail for Mykonos at 10pm, Bro & I decided to take on Santorini JDOM style. JDOM, short for Junior DOM (ya get it), is my brother's friends take on living the opulent life. To the fullest, all day, everyday. They say I'm JMAT, but let's not go there!

EuroCruise 2010: Wine Tasting at Santo Winery, Santorini

After our walking trip to the town of Oia, our tour guide Arthur took us to Santo Winery for some Greek Wine tasting.

Located at the village of Pyrgos in Santorini, SantoWines sits at the edge of the Caldera. Hence, the awesome view!

I'm all for liquor consumption, and tasting the unique flavors of Santorini wine is more exciting because of the sulfur content in the soil due to the volcanic presence and the eruptions, giving their grape juice extra oomph.

EuroCruise 2010: Sweet Sunset in Santorini Part 1

As promised from EuroCruise Day 2, ToT is sharing one of the most beautiful sceneries and sunsets in the world...

Where even cobblestone shopping feels like a relaxing experience.

Say 'Hello' to Santorini.

Sphinx in Santorini: Resto with a View that Tastes Like Heaven

Let me take you out of Manila and into the gates of heaven, visually.

 

Upon stepping inside the salmon colored doors in the middle of the town of Fira, you enter the restaurant with the best view of Santorini, Greece and the Aegean Sea.

Welcome to Sphinx Restaurant. Welcome to Santorini