Amoudi Bay

City: Amoudi Bay, Santorini, Greece
Weather: 91°, sunny
Site: Amoudi Bay
Activity: eating octopus, petting donkeys, going for a swim

At the base of Oia is Amoudi Bay, where you can find super fresh (and expensive) seafood, boats of all sizes docked, and places to jump off volcanic rocks into the saltiest water I’ve ever experienced.

The best part was seeing octopus strung up to tenderize in the sun and then stopping at a sea-side restaurant to try some. It’s served thinly sliced with olive oil and herbs. Really tasty, I promise!

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Santorini: Amoudi Bay
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Santorini: Amoudi Bay octopus hanging to dry
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Santorini: Amoudi Bay swimming
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Oia: Amoudi Bay
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Santorini: Amoudi Bay donkey
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Oia By Day

City: Oia, Santorini, Greece
Weather: 91°, sunny
Site: Town of Oia
Activity: scootering around, souvenir shopping, counting cruise ships on the horizon

Day 4: We arrive by plane to Santorini, pick up our scooter and take a rest at our cute hotel outside the town of Oia (yellow building, 2nd photo). Santorini really lives up to its beauty. It’s just like the photos (but better) and along with all that, come literal boat-loads of other tourists. Somehow, it retains most of its charm…especially since we had our own means of transportation to explore the surprisingly large island.

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Santorini: Scooter party
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Santorini: Soulis Apartments, our hotel
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Santorini: Oia from below
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Santorini: Pastel colored church
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Santorini Still Life
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Santorini: Oia in the evening
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Meteora Monasteries

City: Meteora, Greece
Weather: 88°, sunny
Site: Meteora Monasteries
Activity: climbing stairs, learning how the monks and nuns live

Day 3 & 4: A 4 hour drive from Delphi through (sometimes snow covered) mountains, we arrived in Meteora, Greece. Here 9th century hermit monks settled on top of these massive stone outcroppings to escape distraction, and later, Turkish occupation. At its most populated, there were 24(?) active monasteries, each of which were reached by rock climbing or rickety ladders.

The sunset was epic, the rock formations were unlike anything I’ve ever seen. A very interesting place, but I must say, the town Kalambaka at the base was a terribly tourist packed town. Worth it to see these very strange monasteries.

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Meteora: Selfie
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Meteora: Monastery in the distance
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Meteora: Sexy Sunset
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Meteora: City at the Base, Kalambaka
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Meteora: Inside a Monastery
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Meteora: St. Stephen nunnary
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Meteora: Outside the Great Meteoron Monastery
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Oracle of Delphi

City: Delphi, Greece
Weather: 85°, sunny
Site: Oracle of Delphi ruins
Activity: climbing stairs, petting stray cats, trying to find some deep seated interest in ruins

 Day 2: We woke up to an amazing breakfast at our little hotel: figs, yogurt, cheese pastry, cakes, cereal. Then we were off to beat the tour busses at the Delphi Ruins and museum. I’m really not that into ruins, but what makes Delphi so great is its serene mountain setting and the fact that even in its day, it was a remote pilgrimage site.         

Delphi Greece: Bricks

   

Delphi, Greece: columns and mountains
Delphi Greece: Temple of Apollo

 

Delphi Greece: Theater and Mountains
Delphi Greece: Cheese!

 

 

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Hosios Loukas

City: Arachova, Greece
Weather: 85°, sunny
Site: Hosios Loukas Monastery
Activity: church gazing, learning about olive presses, looking at the beautiful Greek landscape

 
Day 1: On our first day of our travels thru Greece we picked up the rental car (an Aygo, real slow) and drove from Athens to Arachova. Along the drive we stopped at Hosios Loukas, a Byzantine monastery from the 10th century. It’s a beautifully preserved walled complex with really great masonry work. Our first of many Greek Orthodox churches.

Hosios Loukas

  

Hosios Loukas: Buttresses
Hosios Loukas
Alex in route to Delphi, Greece

 
  

Hosios Loukas: Church Interior

  

Hosios Loukas

   

Hosios Loukas

  

 

 

 

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Willett Kentucky Bourbon

City: Bardstown, Kentucky
Weather: 85°, sunny
Site: Willet Distillery
Activity: Willet Bourbon tour and tasting

 

Willet Distillery was our second bourbon tour of the day. The site was rural and beautiful. We got to see the corn mash fermenting with yeast and even taste a bit of that sour mess. The Rackhouses had an amazing light quality and smell with all the sitting barrels of whiskey.

Willett Distillery bourbon barrel. Bardstown, Kentucky

 

Willett Distillery bourbon barrels and lifting hook. Bardstown, Kentucky

 

Alex sittin on a Willett Distillery bourbon barrel. Bardstown, Kentucky

 

 

Beautiful copper distiller. Bardstown, Kentucky

 

Metals and bourbon

 

Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky

 

Alex in front of the rackhouses at Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky

 

Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky

 

Sour corn mash fermenting at Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky

 

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Bulleit Bourbon Distillery

City: Louisville, Kentucky
Weather: 85°, sunny
Site: Bulleit Distillery
Activity: Bourbon tasting and touring

 

On the drive back up to NYC we went farther west through Kentucky to explore the Bourbon Trail and a few states we’ve never explored. I actually loved Kentucky and its smallish family farms and hilly landscape.

The Bulleit Distillery was very pretty with its old brick and weathering steel Rackhouses.

Some facts I found interesting:

-The barrels are handmade with no glue, after bourbon they go on to be used for rum

-The bourbon actually seeps deeply into the charred barrel gaining its flavor

-Whiskey begins as a “Beer” first before being distilled

Beautiful old brick distillery where Bulleit Whiskey is made. Louisville, Kentucky

 

Metal barrel rings at Louisville, Kentucky

 

Barrel repair room at Bulleit Distillery. Louisville, Kentucky

 

Old Corten Rackhouse at Bulleit Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

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Cairo Streets and Drinks

City: Cairo, Egypt
Weather: 95°, sunny
Site: Cairo walking
Activity: Drinking sugar cane, snooping

 

Our taxi driver took us around at 4:30am before our flight. We had a drink of pure sugar cane juice and saw this family of 6 on a scooter.

Alley, alley cat, and old car in Cairo, Egypt.

 

Juice stand in Cairo, Egypt.

 

Alexander and his pure sugar cane drank. Cairo, Egypt

 

Sakara egyptian beer in Cairo Airport.

 

Sakara egyptian beer in Cairo Airport.

 

Street life as viewed from a rooftop in Cairo, Egypt.

 

Entire family on a motorcycle. There’s 2 adults and 4 kids. There’s another baby on her other knee. Cairo, Egypt

 

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Around Cairo

City: Cairo, Egypt
Weather: 95°, sunny
Site: Downtown Cairo
Activity: Rushing around by cab

 

Our 12 hours in Cairo was a whirlwind. Also bitter sweet because I desperately wanted to stay but was so glad we got to see what we did. The pollution was terrible though. So thick and smoggy my nose and eyes burned the whole time we were there.

We just so happened to come on a very celebratory day. 8/6/15 was the opening of th New Suez Canal. Egyptians were literally dancing in the streets. Egyptian flags waved from most cars. But it also made the traffic gnarly.

Cairo, Egypt as viewed from an airplane.

 

Cairo, Egypt signage.

 

Market, Egyptian flag in Cairo, Egypt.

 

Cairo al Hussein Mosque in Cairo, Egypt.

 

Driving over the Nile in Cairo, Egypt.

 

Horse carts for tourists in Cairo, Egypt.

 

Mosque and blue sky in Cairo, Egypt.

 

 

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Pyramids of Giza

City: Giza, Egypt
Weather: 100°, sunny
Site: Pyramids of Giza
Activity: Viewing from rooftops

 

We had a 12 hour layover in Cairo on our flight back to the states. We missed the tour times so we borrowed someone’s rooftop to view the pyramids in the morning and at night.

Me and Alex on a rooftop in Giza overlooking the Pyramids.
Me and Alex on a rooftop in Giza overlooking the Pyramids.

 

Portrait of me in front of the Pyramids of Giza.
Portrait of me in front of the Pyramids of Giza.

 

Light show on the Pyramids of Giza.
Light show on the Pyramids of Giza.

 

Rooftop, painted Egyptian flag, Pyramids of Giza.
Rooftop, painted Egyptian flag, Pyramids of Giza.

 

Pyramid and ruins as seen from airplane.
Pyramid and ruins as seen from airplane.

 

Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.
Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

 

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Mumbai Airport

City: Mumbai, India
Weather: 86°, cloudy
Site: Mumbai Airport
Activity: Architect:SOM

 

We arrived at the airport at 6am to the beautiful glowing columns of the departures terminal. It made the early flight bareable. We watched the sun rise and the lights change on the swoopy-droopy columns. Probably the prettiest airport I’ve ever visited.

Drop off area at Mumbai Airport by SOM. It was very beautiful glowing in the dusk. Mumbai, India

 

Column at the Mumbai Airport in Mumbai, India. By SOM architects.

 

Natural morning light at Mumbai, Airport in Mumbai, India.

 

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Train trip to Lonavala

City: Lonavala to Mumbai, India
Weather: 72°, cloudy
Site: Train riding – sleeper class
Activity: Taking selfies with kids

 

We had some of the best views from the train windows in between chatting with the kids in the bunk above us.

Grass so neon green and soft I wanted to roll in it. Lonavala, India

 

Boy on train to Mumbai, India

 

Concrete storage units? View from train outside of Lonavala, India
Concrete storage units? View from train outside of Lonavala, India

 

Little houses on a bright green hill outside Lonavala, India
Little houses on a bright green hill outside Lonavala, India

 

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Caves of Lonavala

City: Lonavala, India
Weather: 72°, cloudy
Site: Karla Caves and Bhaja Caves
Activity: Tourist spelunking

 

We took a day trip from Mumbai up to the hill town of Lonavala. It seemed like a weekend Indian tourist destination. Lots of college kids hanging out, listening to music. O and there was the only wax museum in all of India. The area was very green, misty, and cool compared to Mumbai.

 

Exploring Bhaja Caves in Lonavala, India. Multiple stories in this rock face.

 

Outside the main temple at Karla Caves in Lonavala, India

 

Alex looking annoyed. People throw coins in this amazing temple cave. Not cool. Karla Caves in Lonavala, India

 

Climbed up to the second story at Bhaja Caves in Lonavala, India

 

Cave  plants in Lonavala, Indi

 

 

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To Market

City: Mumbai, India
Weather: 92°, cloudy
Site: Various market wandering
Activity: Buying

 

Mumbai Market boy with drillbits
Mumbai market boy with drill bits

 

Mumbai market potatoes, onions, smiles
Mumbai market potatoes, onions, smiles

 

Mumbai market man with fruit stand
Mumbai market man with fruit stand

 

Mumbai market chicken feet in basket
Mumbai market chicken feet in basket

 

Mumbai market chickens in cages about to be butchered
Mumbai market chickens in cages about to be butchered

 

Mumbai market butcher with freshly butchered chickens
Mumbai market butcher with freshly butchered chickens

 

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Elephanta

City: Mumbai, India
Weather: 92°, cloudy
Site: Elephanta Island and caves
Activity: Tourist spelunking

 

These were our first cave temples. You reach them by ferry from Mumbai, as they are on their very own island. The main cave had some really impressive stone carvings. Lots of depth and detail. I believe they are from the 4th century. Some Hindu temples and some Buddhist temples. I could write a whole post on the overlapping and western confusion regarding Hinduism and Buddhism.

carved statue at Elephanta Caves
carved statue at Elephanta Caves Mumbai, India

 

entrance to Elephanta Caves Mumbai, India
entrance to Elephanta Caves Mumbai, India

 

Alexander walking through Elephanta Caves Mumbai, India
Alexander walking through Elephanta Caves Mumbai, India

 

view of Mumbai, India from Elephanta Caves
view of Mumbai, India from Elephanta Caves

 

men on boats outside Mumbai, India
men on boats outside Mumbai, India

 

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Border

City: Amritsar, India
Weather: 100°, sunny
Site: India/Pakistan Border
Activity: Watching closing of the border ceremony

 

Watching this daily ceremony for the closing of the Indian/Pakistan was definitely a unique experience but no, I did not enjoy it. It was over 100 degrees in direct sun. Waiting. Loud music and marching we could barely see. The Indians and Pakistanis took turns yelling at each other and doing high kicks from across the gate. And then we got back into a hot van with two tourists per seat and went back to town at sunset.

India/Pakistan border closing ceremony
India/Pakistan border closing ceremony

 

Alexander in his India hat
Alexander in his India hat

 

Indian guards perform at border closing ceremony
Indian guards perform at border closing ceremony

 

Alexander meeting an Indian guard
Alexander meeting an Indian guard

 

Indian guards at border closing ceremony
Indian guards at border closing ceremony

 

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Golden Temple Copy Cat

City: Amritsar, India
Weather: 95°, sunny
Site: Durgiana
Activity: Comparing to Golden Temple
This temple was a direct copy of the Sikh Golden Temple but with Hindu iconography and different alter design. Also, not all the people.
Durgiana temple in Amritsar, India
Durgiana temple in Amritsar, India

 

Alexander is sick of the sun at Durgiana Temple

 

Durgiana temple in Amritsar, India
Durgiana temple in Amritsar, India

 

Ducks? Geese? Swans? at Durgiana Temple
Ducks? Geese? Swans? at Durgiana Temple

 

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Surreal Hinduism

City: Amritsar, India
Weather: 98°, sunny
Site: Mandir Mata lal Devi
Activity: Confusion

 

This strange Hindu temple is the mother of all eccentric, sacred places. People are directed through this multi story labarynth of hindu iconography. We climbed through mouths, walked through tunnels and bridges. Lots of mirror and gold and neon light. The whole time their is chanting rising up from the main space below. It’s not a pretty place but it’s one of the stranger, more trippy places I’ve been to.

In the mouth of a Hindu Temple
In the mouth of a Hindu Temple

 

little blue baby god
little blue baby god

 

Hinduism
Hinduism

 

praying, singing, neon lights
praying, singing, neon lights

 

Hindu temple. Lots of mirrored tile.
Hindu temple. Lots of mirrored tile.

 

Alexander and the mirrored tile
Alexander and the mirrored tile

 

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Golden Temple

City: Amritsar, India
Weather: 98°, sunny
Site: Golden Temple
Activity: Getting blinded

 

Honestly, this temple wasn’t as big, or gold as I hoped it would be as it’s the main site in Amritsar. On the up side though, it has such a charitable feel with the free food and shelter it provides for hundreds of people. I’m glad to know more about the Sikhs.

bright white marble at The Golden Temple
bright white marble at The Golden Temple

 

bright white marble at The Golden Temple
bright white marble at The Golden Temple

 

The Golden Temple Amritsar, India
The Golden Temple Amritsar, India

 

The Golden Temple Amritsar, India
The Golden Temple Amritsar, India

 

Orange bandana, orange koi at The Golden Temple
Orange bandana, orange koi at The Golden Temple

 

The Golden Temple at night
The Golden Temple at night

 

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