Season 1, Ep. 03

   Keep Calm, Greek Summer Not In Crisis

   I am SO not used to spending August in the middle the friggin' winter and I am certainly not ready to spend Christmas in the heat. Dear Californians and everyone on the south hemisphere, how do you do it. Christmas is supposed to be white, I can't even wear my fat granddad jersey this year. But then again remembering the last 9 'summers' in London that I spent, minus the previous two which somehow turned to be the biggest heatwaves-careful what you wish for-, I certainly recall holding on tight to an umbrella in the middle of July and cracking on that leather jacket. Uh, first world problems. So how are you today?
   Hey, HEY, I am turning 27 in almost a week. No turning back now, one way ticket till the 30s. Yay. 27 years ago today, mom was heavily pregnant during a standard hot summer in Greece. I'll take this opportunity to talk about my time in Greece for all you travellers out there who are keen on visiting. So I was born in Thessaloniki. The co-capital. Funny how Greece is the only country in the world with a co-capital. You don't hear New Yorkers complaining about not being the capital of the  USA. Thessaloniki is awesome. Honestly awesome. Minus the recession effect, where heaps of stores have shut down, and minus the dicks out there who pay no respect and vandalise anything with spray paint. No, not graffiti, not the good, talented graffiti artists, I'm talking about the idiots who will buy a black can and spray their last girlfriend's name, who dumped them because they are idiots, on brand new buildings. Other than that, awesome. No really, the theatres, the cafes, the brand new seaside walkway, the White Tower, the OTE Tower, the Old Castle, the Panorama Hill, the statue of Alexander The Great. But most importantly everything is by the sea. Follow your nose around the city and you'll find the seaside. Mmmm. I grew up in a flat by the seaside. Pas mal. Obviously my 17 year stay in Thessaloniki was my school years so basically all I did was school-homework-ballet-drama club and repeat. And a few teenager flings. Just a few. Our usual Saturday night for us teenagers would turn out to be the cheapest nights ever because somehow all we did was meeting outside this massive church 'Metropolis', which is right at the heart of the city and socialise. That's it. From 8pm to 10.30pm. Curfew. Pretty sure, teenagers are rolling a little different these days.
    But summers for us from Thessaloniki, were just meant to be in Halkidiki. This magical place, that heaps of Europeans know of, especially my fellow Brits. We have to thank our Brits for their love for Greece. Halkidiki is famous for its beaches, that green-blue sea water and the sexy resorts all around. But you probably know more than I do, or for more details just ask an English person. LOL. My summers start at a beautiful place called Siviri and end up at the super beautiful Sani Resort area. Google Map them, I'm not gonna spoonfeed you everything. My early summers involved innocent bicycle rides, swimming lessons, paddle boarding and A LOT of playing Hide and Seek at night with the local kids. Like a lot.Honestly, I'm an expert. Later summers, closer to my teenage years switched from those bicycle rides and Hide and seek games, to laying at the beach bar aaaaaall day, and going to the local disco at nights, dancing to The Pussycat Dolls and mingling with the British tourists. What can I say, Sani was flooded by Brits back then. Probably still is. So yeah, at summers I had more of a life.
    Then, there's Athens. I lived in Greece for 17 years and I visited Athens 17 times as part of my family lives there. Athens being the capital, means Athens is where the stress is. Athens is where the craze with the stress is. Thessaloniki is known for being the city where the craze without the stress is. Maybe not anymore, but that was our notorious nature for years. But I love Athens. I could visit again and again. Amazing streets, artistic cafes and restaurants, the most amazing area of Plaka where they have thankfully kept everything the way it looked 65 years ago, and the sight of the Acropolis and Lycabetus never fail to give you the chills. Now trust me on that. And if you need to look at the sea again, just take a drive down to Glyfada, which has become such a hot area for the same reasons.
     Last but not least, the islands. Can't chose one, can't chose two, every single island is different and equally awesome. AWESOME. From the fancy, Kardashian visiting ones, like Santorini and Myconos to the more alternative and natural beauties like Folegandros, Thasos, and Koufonisia they are all amazing. They all have that hot golden sand and the green-blue water surrounding them. And right now they are buzzing. And for you my loves, yes you Aussies and Kiwis, visiting Lemnos island will give you a chance to see where the brave ANZAC used to rest during their Gallipoli battles. So whether you want a party holiday or a quiet one they have it all. Just stay away from Kavos in Corfu, it's the Magaluf of Corfu. Unless that's what you're after. No judgement. And remember, whatever happens in Kavos, stays in Kavos. Ta.

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