Greece: Day Sixteen: Chios City

Plans for our last full day in Chios/Greece were initially to spend it by the pool, but Alyssa, Charlie and I headed into Chios City for a bit. I had slept in deciding to skip breakfast for more sleep when Charlie called at 10:45 asking if I wanted to go. When we went in as a large group on Monday, I didn't stay long in part due to the chaos of being in such a large group for shopping. Alyssa and Charlie didn't really have a chance to look in many stores so they too wanted to go back. I quickly got dressed and met them in front of the resort to wait for a cab. 

We spent a few hours wandering around town and it was great. I managed to buy a few souvenirs - mostly jewelry and this awesome Mastic soap. There were some really cute shops, and a lot shoe stores with amazing displays. They would have been tempting If my suitcase wasn't already packed to the brim and my wallet the opposite! 

(Photos: Chios town) 

They had gyros for lunch, and I had souvlaki on a pita from the place we had ordered from the night before. Yet again the souvlaki was excellent, but they have a weird idea of what goes on it! It is supposed to be soulvaki, fries, tomato, lettuce, ketchup and mustard on a pita. I was boring and did mine without fries, ketchup and mustard but added tzaikki. It was amazing! 

We retuned to the resort and a group of us headed to the beach. However it was a bit windy and the water cold, so we didn't stay long. 

(Photos: The beach) 

We instead went back to the pool and lounged around there for a while. 

(Photos: The pool) 

(Photo: this was from a few days ago when Todd was being silly and I couldn't resist posting it)

Everyone sort of scattered as the night went on to rest and and pack, but Alyssa, Brian, Charlie, Mikhali, Alex, Robert and I opted to walk into Karfas and have dinner. The resturant had a beautiful view of the sea but the food was just okay. There were some yummy items and some not so much. 

(Photo: Mikhali and his sardines... Yuck!) 

(Alyssa) 

(Robert and Charlie and Alex) 

(Group photos  - minus me) 

(The man who rented beach chairs - the kids nick-named him "the caveman")

(The boys)

(Me) 

(Karfas town) 

Afterward when we returned to the beach, the boys wanted to go in the pool but were hesitant because it was a bit windy/cool. Brian managed to get them in by throwing some Euro coins in and creating a contest. They went crazy and it turned in to an hour long game with Alex winning. After that we all split up, and Brian and I had our last desert in Greece overlooking the water. 

(Pool area)

(Photos: Evening/Sunset photos) 

Greece: Day Fifteen - Karfas

The plans for today were very up in the air so I decided to sleep in and not set an alarm for once. This decision was also helped in part by Charlie who came to give me back my iPad at 1:00am by pounding on the door and waking us up in a fright. He had borrowed it to watch a movie with his mom and figured I needed it back. It was hard getting back to sleep after that, so sleeping in was needed.

I headed down for breakfast close to 10am where Brian was already up and sitting in the shade using his tablet - he had been nice and didn't wake me up when he got up. I had some breakfast and met up with the group who had decided to visit a cave and a few small villages. While that sounded interesting, staying by the pool, reading and finally catching up on my delayed blog entries sounded appealing. So I chose to stay behind. I saw them off, changed in to my bathing suit and headed for the pool. 

I sat in the sun for about an hour (big mistake) then swam lengths for almost an hour. Then I spent almost 2 hours in the semi-shade working on my blog. By this point I was days behind. I had been writing, but hadn't proof read or added photos. If there were spelling mistakes during the last few days that's why. I ate some pita and dip for lunch, then went back out in the sun (another mistake). 

(Photos: The pool area - heaven!) 

At 3:00 the group returned and I went down to the beach with Alyssa and Charlie. We floated in the water for another hour (yet another mistake). I got back to the room at 5:00 only to realize I was incredibly burnt. Despite putting on sunblock I over did it and I am paying for it now. Hopefully my aloe and the cream Brian bought for sunburns will help. 

Today is Mikhalis 13th birthday so we had a party for him by the pool. His grandparents and Greek family came. Nick and Jenn ordered in souvlaki and pizza from this place in Chios town that they remembered as being amazing - and it was! Pizza was standard pizza but good, but the souvlaki was without a doubt the best I have ever had. The chicken was so tender, and the spices were just perfect.

For the dinner portion it was mostly just us, then the Greeks arrived. There were his grandparents, some aunts and uncles as well as cousins. The Greek family remind me very much of my Italian grandparents who passed away a few years ago. First, Katina (his grandmother) had wanted to make all the food for the party but Jenn didn't want her to go to all that work. When she came in and saw the takeout boxes she had a look that my Nonna would have had.  She's also been bringing food to the resort all week, to the point Jenn and Nicks fridge is full. It made me think of "operation throw out" a strategy my parents, brother and I employed while on road trip with Nonno and Nonna where we were trying to get rid of her food after having it for two weeks straight on the way back from Nova Scotia. Despite it being  a few days to get back home, Nonna spent hours cooking meals for the road so we wouldn't have to stop. Don't get me wrong, her food was great but at that point we wanted a restaurant! 

Nicks mom did bring these beef patty things which were delicious as well as the cake. They also reminded me of my family in terms of how welcoming they were. Despite having never met me or being able to speak English, all of the aunts, uncles and cousins rushed over to give us all hugs and kisses -on both cheeks. 

They had a cake for Mikalki and we all sang happy birthday about 4 times. Then he opened presents. Brian and I had given him his gift (consisting of euros for the trip) when we first arrived so he could use it. One of the best gifts was from John and Erin and was a "man kit" which included a various assortment of products. 

(Photos: Birthday Celebration)

(Charlie, Alyssa and Robert) 

(Mikhali and his cake) 

 (Pam, Jenn and Erin) 

After dinner we all went back down to the pool where the kids - and Brian - went swimming. I also appointed myself the offical photograher (which will not be a surprise to my family) and made sure to get photos of Mikhali with everyone. There was a bit of a divide as Nick and Jenn sat with the Chios relatives and were speaking Greek, but it was a fun night and a great way to spend Mikhalis 13th birthday

(Photo: Mikhali with Jenn, Nick, Pam and Erin) 

 

(Greek family!) 

(Mikhali with his grandfather and John) 

(Me and Alex) 

(Me and Mikhali) 

(Me and Brian) 

(Kids - and Brian - posing in the pool) 

(I have this "fish bowl" function in my camera and its hilarious!!! Brian hopefully doesn't read my blog because he won't be impressed to see this one. Hehehehe!) 

(Mikhali and Alex) 

(Alyssa and Charlie being silly) 

(Cousins posing nice - Charlie, Alex, Mikhali and Eva) 

(Cousins being normal and fighting) 

Greece: Day Fourteen - Chios Town

As I mentioned before we are on the island of Chios. Within the island is the city of Chios which is the largest city on the island. This morning most of us went into town to see the city and see where Nicks mother was from. There was a bit of confusion over this outing. Initially it was going to be just the women to visit a jewellery shop that Katina knew of. Then it was going to be that, but also a visit to a fort Nicks grandmother and mother lived. Then it was a whole group shopping trip. 

Based on the size of the island and what we have seen thus far in terms of villages, I was expecting a small city. I was shocked when we pulled in and it was packed. There were people, streets, shops and cars everywhere. It looked like a busy area of Toronto. We had trouble finding parking spot at first (seeing as we had all 4 cars with us) but we eventually found a lot near the fort. 

The fort looks like any other - very large built in stone. As we walked around it, I was further back from Nick walking with Brian so I didn't hear the history. When we went inside I was a little wary, figuring it was just another stone fort interior - much like what I saw in Ireland or Scotland. As we walked through the first part it was exactly that, and then we came into the main area which was surprising. 

(Photo: The outside of the Fort) 

(Photo: Pretty flowers) 

(Photo: Brian)

(Photo: Todd and Ally) 

(Photo: Brian) 

(Photo: Leah and Ally) 

Within this fort is a actual, operational village. There are homes, stores and restaurants all within its walls. Whatever I was expecting, it wasn't that. 

Apparently it was a fort thousands of years ago. But much more recently it became housing. Nicks grandmother used to live in the part of Turkey that is right across from Chios (close enough that as I write I can see it). At that point it was not Turkey, it was Greece. However it soon was taken over and became Turkey and all the Greeks were kicked out. This fort is where many of them were moved to. So Nicks grandmother was given a small home in this area and this is also where Nicks mother Katina lived. Life wasn't easy for them and it was sad to hear the stories of the time. But it was fascinating to walk through and see how people lived, and the way in which is still is used with various houses. Apparently it's been developed even more since Nick and Jenn were here last. 

Photo: Inside the fort 

(Photo: A cemetery inside) 

(Photo: Brian)

(Photo: Todd and Alyssa) 

(Photo: Group Shot) 

(Photo: Sydney and Ally) 

We wandered through the fort for a while and then went into the town square to meet up with Mik and Katina who were going to take us around town for shopping. Now normally I love shopping a lot, but it was very hot and super crowded and I wasn't in the mood. Bob was heading back as he, Irene, Leah, Todd, Sydney and Ally were all leaving Chios that afternoon. They wanted to spend a few extra days in Athens and see more of the sights, so he wanted to get back to pack. Robert who isn't much of a shopper was going with him, so at the last minute I tagged along. I got back to the resort and laid down for a bit as I haven't been sleeping the greatest. 

(Photo: Chios town square)

About an hour later Brian returned having come back with Leah, Todd, Sydney and Ally. Brian and I decided to wander into Karfas (where we are staying) and had a nice lunch right next to the beach. What a beautiful view to see while you dine, definitely not something you get to do often when you live in Toronto. 

(Photos: The beach near our hotel)

As we walked back we passed this boarded up hotel right on the beach. What an awesome piece of property that needs a lot of work. I imagine the right person could make a huge success with that place.

(Photo: the boarded up hotel)

We popped into the local market so I could get some postcards (now I just need to find stamps!). I bought a few bars of this awesome Greek chocolate Jenn introduced me too. I also saw more of their weird chip flavours. Paprika and Oregano are the two most popular chip flavours here - both of which are gross in my opinion. Others in the group seem to love the Oregano ones. We have also see hot dog flavoured chips on this trip which led Chris to tell me Canada no longer had the weirdest chip flavour with Ketchup. And we did also see Ketchup being sold here as well. 

When we got back to the resort I worked on my blog for a bit - I had fallen behind. Then I joined a bunch of people down at the pool. In Canada today was Canada Day, so I refused to let the boys make fun of Canada or sing Blame Canada which for whatever reason seems to be their go-to song this trip. But it was okay, since the night before I introduced them to Team America World Police and they were busy singing those songs much to the joy of their parents as you can imagine. 

Rather then order food, we all made platters of stuff we had in our fridges and just munched on that. Some of Nicks family came later in the evening, and a bunch if us non-Greek speakers started playing around on YouTube. I finally watched "Cat, I'm a Kitty Cat" a video that Charlie and Mikhali had been trying to get me to watch for days (They had gone as far to write it on my arm back on the cruise). It was very addicting and now I can't stop singing the song - Cat, I'm a kitty cat. meow meow meow mew..." 

(Photo: Robert)

Eva, Josie and Charlotte started putting on performances and getting us to watch. They were hilarious, especially the ones where they started fighting over the singing and dancing. It reminded me of me and  my cousin when we were little and the shows we did. They also often ended up with screaming matches so it much be a typical girl thing. 

I never ended up going in the pool as it was very windy and a bit chilly. Once it got dark I sat and put my feet in the water, with my dress over top my bathing suit. Being the wonderful husband he is, Brian couldn't resist the opportunity to come up and push me in. I naturally screamed and fell into the water. Then the most hilarious event of this trip occurred. Once I fell in, Charlie screamed "I'll save you Aunt Chantal" and drove in lifeguard style with his clothes on to "save me". It had all of us in hysterics - me to the point I choked on water and was struggling to get to the side because I was laughing so hard. 

Charlie and Mikhali have been spending a lot of time with me which seems to surprise people on this trip. I don't mind it, they are hilarious and it's been a great chance to get to know them better. Tomorrow is Mikhalis birthday so there will be some big group/family thing later in the day at the pool, which should be fun. 

Once I was out of the water, the group started to break up and head in for the night which was fine with me since I was now freezing!