Ellada

Greece is definitely our favorite country when we go on vacation. We have travelled to Greece a least once a year since 1992, and sometimes before 1992 as well. We have visited quite a few islands, and we have been to the mainland as well. Naturally some places have made more of an impression than others, and we have tried to put together our personal impressions from some of the places we have visited. We have also included personal views on food, beverage and other things that are an important part of our holiday.

Helge's Greek debut was a 10 day package tour to Rhodes in 1987. This made him want to see more of Greece, and i 1990 he went to Samos. In 1991 h headed south again, but "far to the north", to the island og Thassos.

Hilde's career as a Greek tourist started in 1990, when she and her mother went to Crete and Aghios Nicolaos. This was a trip purely for relaxation, but the "damage" was done - she had become a fan of Greece and was back the next year with a friend.

In 1992 Helge entered Hilde's life, and luckily he was just as enthusiastic about Greece, so naturally Greece was the destinatio for that summer holiday as well. The next summer we thought it was time to take a step up and become backpackers. And so we did. With airplane tickets in out pockets, our backpacks on our backs (far too heavy of course - beginners' mistake), and a lot of enthusiasm we went to Athens. Our first destination was determined before we left home. Out depature date namely happended to be August 14th. Since the 15th of August is a major religious holiday in Greece, we wanted to go somewhere special on this day, and we chose Tinos, where half the population of Greece appeared to be present! Well, anyways the ferries were full and then some, and streets were crowded as well. Then we went to Paros, Antiparos, Santorini, Egina and Hydra, before spending our last 3 days i Athens.

In 1994 we wanted more islands, and indeed we had another 3 weeks with our backpacks. This time we started at Naxos (having learnt never to repeat last years 8 hours of waiting i Pireus we just hopped on the first ferry that came our way). After Naxos, we went tp Amorgos, Sofnos and Kithnos, before rouding off with a few days in the Geek capital.

The next year we thought - enough Cyclades for a while, and chose the Sporadhes. We started at Skopelos, then went on to Skyros, Alonissos, Skopelos again, and finally Skiathos. And by then we had already spent a week in Crete earlier in summer, we then went to little Kato Doratso near Chania with two friends who had ther debut as tourists to Greece then.

In 1996 another idea was to be tried, now we wanted to see the mainland, starting with a regular package tour to Parga on the west coast. From there we hired a car and took a 3 days long trips on the mainland, in addition to visiting the isles of Lefkas and Paxos.

1997 wasnęt a very good year when it comes to travelling to Greece. We then had started the project of building out own house, and vacation was mainly spent in a large hole - which now luckily has our house on top of it! But we managed to get a quick week i Stalida, Crete. Not quite our type of town, but nice.

1998 was much better. Our friends from 1995 came with us for 2 weeks on the Sporahdhes, and we actually think they enjoyed it. Package tour again, one week at Skopelos and one at Alonissos. It was great to be back after our stay there in 1995, these certainly are  2 of our favorite islands.

The 1999 vacation was only "half" Greek, we had a great trip to Cyprus whre we stayed in Larnaca. Absolute tops was a 3 days long trip around the island with our friends Eva and Knut, who were visiting her family at the same time. With Eva as a guide it was obvious how much easier things are when you are a native, or at least speak the language. We'll never be natives, but we now have finished a beginners' Greek course!

Latest update: 05/05/2000