.Fiendish$$Banker$$.
.Perfectionist.
.Garrulous.
.Love Me Not.
*Hearts*.Green.&.Black.
17 May, Athens (η Αθήνα), Greece - We had to rush to the airport and almost missed our afternoon flight to Athens. We were there 5 mins before they closed the gate! *Phew* 
The metro system in Athens is really cool! You can travel around without paying a single fare...
There's NO GANTRY to prevent you from entering the station! Cool-ness! Of course you have to get a subway ticket....You should take the initiative to slot your train tickets into those metel boxes and get the tickets scanned before entering the train station.
Apparently, if you were caught without a train ticket by the conductor, you will be fined 60 times the normal fare. (For example, $5 Euros x 60 = EU$300!)
Go on; take a gamble, just try walking thru' these gantry to catch the train. ;)
Our first night in Athens! The hotels here are much more expensive than those in Turkey, and you should choose your hotels wisely as you could end up staying in one full of drug addicts and call-girls roaming around. *heh* (Our hotel was clean but the breakfast was horrendous!)
One thing I found particularly intriging about Greece is how all the clouds hover super-low amidst the numerous hills and mountains!
It's as if I could easily gain access to heaven and come into contact with Zeus, Apollo and all the Greek muses by climbing to the top of the hill and disappearing into one huge cloud.
I could teach them chinese mahjong, sing KTV and play Big Two! *muah haha* All the vices...
18 -19 May, Delphi (δελφός), Greece: We left Delphi at 8am, 6 hours away from Athens. Delphi is an archaeological site on the south-western spur of Mount ParnassusMount in a valley of Phocis. In ancient times, it was the site of the most important oracle (A priestess named Pythia).
It is a popular misconception that the oracle predicted the future, based on the lapping water and leaves rustling in the trees; the oracle of Delphi never predicted the future, but gave guarded advice on how impiety might be cleansed and incumbent disaster avoided
The place was later converted to the Temple of Apollo, filled with opulent marble, artistry and numerous fine Greek statues.
Breathtaking view of the Phocis valley.
The famous bronze statue of a charioteer in the Delphi Museum; and a very bored museum staff at the back of the picture. *haha*
Travelling around modern town of Delphi in a Tram is such a joy! This quaint little town of Delphi sits on the edge of a cliff (Mount Parnassos) and the view from the top is simply amazing!
This is the exact spot where I sat down cross-legged, to write my postcards! =)
The picturesque view that took my breathe away while writing the cards. ;)
DAY 4 IN GREECE!
20 May, Meteora (Μετέωρα), Greece:
The Metéora is one of the largest and most important complex of monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos.
The monasteriess are located in Central Greece and are built by hermit monks in the 16th century. They are built high up on spectacular natural sandstone rock pillars, with NO bridges, stairs or any form of access into these monastries.
The only way to get into a monastry is by climbing vertically up a rock pillars! Really dangerous!
These gave the hermit monks the ideal refuge they needed and till this day, it is still an enigma to how these monastries were being built!
Amazing right?
The Metéora is home to six monasteries and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Can you spot the monastry on top of the rock pillar?
In the 1920s, steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau. Of the six monasteries now inhabited, five are occupied by monks and one for nuns.
The church has really gorgeous frescos depicting the life of Jesus Christ. It's a pity that tourists are not allowed to take any photographs inside the church.
It's really windy up here! You could be blown off the cliff if you're not careful!
Back in the Greek capital, Athens!
Liang Mei shopping for our breakfast! =)
At Super Paradise beach, it's a PARTY BEACH and it's really called "Super Paradise"!
COULD SOMEONE GET ME THIS GORGEOUS LAMP??????????
The bar and breakfast area is so gorgeous! Simple and cosy. I like. ;)
In the evening, we flew back to Istanbul to spend our last night in Europe and enjoy more cheap shopping at the Spice Bazzar. Home sweet home at last!
~Love, Jacq & Rach~