27 April 2012

Today: Greece

The Kameni Islands formed after the caldera. 11 eruptions since 197 BC have made the two islands. The most recent eruption at Santorini was in 1950 on Nea Kameni, the northern island. The eruption was phreastic and lasted less than a month.





The island capital of Santorini, Fira clings to the edge of a cliff, which is, in fact, the rim of the crater. It is 900 ft about the landing port and about 800 broad zigzagged steps up from the port. You either take the donkeys or mules up the winding steps or modern-day travellers prefer the cable car. Climbing the steps with a mule had been a tradition on Santorini for years, until 20 years ago when the cable car made its appearance. 





The Castle of Skaros is worth a visit. When Venetian leader Marko Sanouthos conquered the island in 1207, he raised the flag on the castle. It was at this point that Thira became known as Santorini (Santa Irene). The castle guarded the western entrance to the island from attacks. The castle had two portions, one called Rocka and the other where Roman nobles and Catholic bishops had their residence. The castle was never defeated during the 600 years of existence. Because of its proximity with Fira, it is connected with a public road or by the old path, offering tremendous views as you walk along the rim. 





Akrotiri Village is one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. The various imported objects found in the building indicate the wide network of its external relations. Akrotiri was in contact with Crete but also communicated with the Greek mainland, the Dodecanese, Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt. The town's life came to an abrupt end in the last quarter of the 17th century BC when the inhabitants were obliged to abandon it as a result of severe earthquakes. The eruption followed. The volcanic materials covered the entire island and the town itself. These materials however, have protected up to date the buildings and their contents, just like in Pompeii. 




This is what we'll see in a few short hours!




22 April 2012

Picture Overload - Travel Update

Ok. So I have finally uploaded lots of our pictures from the past 6 months to facebook, and I still haven't commented on my family coming for Christmas (it was amazing) or our visit home for Easter (even more amazing).

Christmas 2011


Paris

Portugal

Hungary


Switzerland





Easter Visit - 2012

Lake



Miss this Little Girl

Augusta (Easter 2012)

Mama's Bday (Easter 2012)

Visit with the Hills and the Smiths @ The Holly Bush Pub



To recount, we went to Paris in November, Portugal in February, Hungary and Switzerland in March, and America in April.

In 5 short days we'll be spending a week in Greece. We will have 7 blissful nights and 8 sun-filled days in Santorini on a resort overlooking the caldera. We'll celebrate my birthday (May 3rd) and Cinco de Mayo (margaritas, anyone?) before leaving. This is where we part ways for a bit :*(

Santorini, Greece 

(our resort)

Grant will fly from Greece to Shanghai, China and I will fly back to London. After we both sleep off the jet lag and sadness, he'll start back to school on May 7th and I'll start mine on May 8th. Sad sad sad.

Shanghai, China

Happily for me, Stahler will be flying in on May 10th!! And so the Brother-Sister Summer Adventure begins! I seriously can't wait. It will be epic.

Stahler

I'll fly out to meet Grant in Shanghai probably on May 30th to arrive there on our 4 year wedding anniversary (May 31st). We'll hang around over there for a bit, travel around Asia, hopefully see Tibet and Hong Kong, before taking a week off to celebrate our anniversary in Koh Samui, Thailand!

Tibet

Hong Kong

Koh Samui, Thailand (our resort)


We get back to London on June 22 (Stahler will still be here, having traveled around Europe a bit, visiting friends and family). 

mid-July, Kate Smith (bff here!!) and I are planning a trip to Croatia and Slovenia (and possibly Venice, Italy)!

Kate

Croatia

Slovenia

Venice, Italy

We're also up for at least two more trips that are in the works: one to Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam and a possible trip to Iceland.

Brussels

Antwerp

Amsterdam

Iceland


(both photos of Iceland curtesy of Kate Smith Photography)

Like the title said, picture overload, travel update.