2017 Trip to Europe Day 4

It was cloudy and windy, but became fine and warm later.

We attended the half day highlight tour in Santorini which was very nice. There are so many picturesque places in Santorini.
With a wonderful English speaking guide we learned many things about Santorini.

Two big problems of Santorini is water and wind. They use the rain water. Tap water is not drinkable and it is salty.

Their main industry is tourism and the high season is June, July, and August.
At that time the population becomes double. Their only export product is wine.

It costs 50 cents to use public toilet
and used paper should not put into the toilet.

In the afternoon we visited Oia which is another touristic place and very beautiful.I took many pictures. We ate lunch at a seafood restaurant and enjoyed shopping. I bought a very beautiful pendant head of blue opal for my birthday present this year.  I liked the color.  It is reversible and I can enjoy two sides. It is rather expensive but will become a good memory of this trip.

At night there was a farewell dinner. We enjoyed talking with Rumanian participants.

I really enjoyed this first Dream Trips.

2017 Trip to Europe Day 3

It was fine.

I saw the beautiful morning sun over the ocean.

We stayed at the hotel in the morning, and  attended the Catamaran sunset cruise in the afternoon.

Just before going, my suit case was finally delivered so that I could bring the bathing suit with me.
However the water was too cold for me to enjoy swimming and I did not go into the water.

We visited the hot spring place first, Red Beach, White Beach, and Black mountain.
We saw dolphins swimming. They say it is very rare. So we were very lucky.

I talked with the participants from Taiwan, China, Romania, USA, France, Kenya, and South Africa. There was no Japanese besides us.
For many people it seemed this was the first Dream Trips.

The most amazing thing was the bus driver's technique of going down the steep slope backwards.

It was a nice day.

2017 Trip to. Europe Day 2

I flew from Haneda to Beijing by Air China. from Beijin to Istanbul and from Istanbul to Athens by Turkish Airline, from Athens to Santorini by Olympic Air. It took about one day to come to the first destination, Santorini where I have wanted to come to as honeymoon for a long time..

I bought a round ticket beteen Haneda and Istanbul, and one way tickets at other route because if I buy from the beginning till the end, it would cost more than yen 500,000.

I thought I can check in the baggage by the route, so that I only checked in the baggage up to Istanbul, to pick it up at Istanbul once, but I could not.
So the bag was left behind at Istanbul. I was advised to report at Santorini Airport to have my suitcase delivered. I hoped to receive it within today but I could not.

The weather in  Greece was very nice snd hot in the day time but cool at night.

My friend and I came to the hotel by taxi with other passengers. The cost was 20 Euro.

We are staying at El Greco Resort which looks very nice.

In the afternoon we enjoyed walking around town of Fira, got on cable car and donkey. There are many souvenir shops.

The best thing of today was to have seated at the business class and ate very nice breakfast.

2017 Trip to Europe Day 1

From April 29 so-called Golden Week starts in Japan. I take some days off before and after and have a longer vacation to visit Europe, especially Greece and Spain.

First I fly from Haneda to Beijing, then to Istanbul, then to Athens, and finally to Santorini where is the first destination of this whole 10 days trip.

It's  been 20 years since I went to Beijing with my mother, and 15 years since I went to Istanbul and heard the saddest news of my mother's sudden death, and 13 years since I went to Athens to see the Olympic games Athens 2004, and 9 years since I went to Spain last time. Each place must have been changed a lot by such a long time.
I have two destinations but visit five countries, Chia, Turkey, Greece, France, and Spain.

I arrived at Beijing safely.