Holiday time is upon us

Hi Guys

Just back from Santorini, quite a beautiful place, although it was very quiet. People we spoke to who live and work over there say trade is down 50% on last year, and many businesses have not opened for this season as they cannot afford to. The recession has hit hard where places rely on the tourist trade it seems.
Over on the east side of the island, I was paying as little as 2,50 euros for a pint. However, in Fira or Oia you can expect to pay upwards of 10 euros in many places.

We drove over to Imerovigli to watch the famous sunset, and found a well priced and superbly situated restaurant from where to see it. I have prepared a small selection of photos, and have tried to be creative with them too, not that I am much of a photographer with a small Kodak digital camera!

The weather was superb, not at all like it has been in mainland Greece, Corfu, Zante and Kefalonia recently. 30-35c each day, a welcome breeze, and a couple of days where it topped 40c in the first week. Our hotel provided sunbeds on the beach, but where you had to pay it was 6 euros for the day.
Food was excellent everywhere we ate, and well priced too. 15 euros for grilled shrimps, 8 euros for swordfish steak, 7 euros for Lamb Kleftico and Souvlaki, 11 euros for T bone steak, and 4 euros for half a litre of house rose, which was lovely.

So, thats summer over for me now. This morning its misty and dull, such a contrast.


Our modest hotel



Red Beach



Church in Pyrgos



Mrs H at Imerovigli overlooking the Caldera



Sun beginning to set over the Caldera



Private balcony for fantastic views



Alleyways through the cliffs



Not sure why but I really like this



My take on Imerovigli



The most photographed bell tower in Greece



Sunset from the restaurant



Lighting up time



Hidden church in the rocks near Ancient Thira



A place to reflect



Hope you like them. Next holiday Jan 2010 :cry:

Hi guys, it's been a while. A couple of reasons, I've been busy cavorting and also, more importantly, the fact that I was on a bit of a downer about my skiing after Tignes. Having now visited the snow centre in Hemel I can confirm that the passion is reignited!

Nice photos Tony. We're winging it this year. We've got three weeks in August booked off work and will wait until as late as poss to try and grab something last minute. I love planning, I love being spontaneous but I can confirm that I hate planning to be spontaneous!

I've also got a weekend in Brussels in October with the girls to celebrate my 40th. I don't like all the whispering going on I can tell you!

I'm excited though :D

Santorini looks lovely Tony. Great photos. I have been looking for next years Summer holiday, the prices seem way up hope they drop a bit nearer the time.

Tony, you deny your talent, your photos have great character. You have a good eye for composition, and the colours are stunning.

I rarely paint from photos, but a couple of yours, and one of Ise's could prove tempting.

I really like Greece, but since taking on our GD commitment, we only ever take a week in summer, and Greece needs a couple of weeks to do the journey justice.

Does leave more weeks for the winter though!

Just a few pics from Lefkas although not as arty as Tony's

That is nice accomodation Rose. You proved your point about the snake though.

Have once seen a sea snake, ((I have met a few swimming in Australian rivers!), but this was just after jumping off a tourist boat off the Turkish coast, and swimming for a mile or so alongside the boat, then climbing back on board. The snake then appeared.