Greece: Day 6?

I don't even know if 6, is the right number. I've lost track, and even at the time of the trip I don't think I knew what day it was. Anyways, it was our last day in Santorini. Later that night, we were going to take the midnight ferry back to Athens (a whole other story...). We decided that we were just going to wander around Fira, since we didn't have our ATV's. Angela and I really wanted to buy some jewelry and souvenirs since Santorini is known for it. We were told that it was over-priced, but we only noticed maybe a 1 euro difference between the jewelry on Santorini and the mainland.

We went to a grocery store first and loaded up on some food, since we were starving. Yogurt, sandwiches, and oregano chips. Awesome stuff, that. We sat on a ledge in front of a Greek Orthodox church. We got there right when all the cruisers did.

Right above the door was the typical mosaic of Greek Orthodox saints and other important figures. I actually really loved the iconography in Greece. It was beautiful to me.

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the church, and there was a very loud Greek woman reminding all of us not to, but I surreptitiously did it anyways. Hence the crooked picture.

Afterwords, we wondered around Fira looking in stores and just taking it in. Dawn had to leave to go take care of some business with her bank, so Angela and I just kept climbing the stairs. And I'm glad we did. We found the coolest alleyway. This picture is real! Not fake at all. It's crazy how the colors are.

Doorways to random places...that should be the motto for Santorini.

I really loved this courtyard, with it's random olive tree.

I'm so glad that Angela and I walked up this really steep walkway. We had the most amazing view of Fira. I really loved that moment. The wind in your hair, and the colors just so saturated. I wish I could take everyone there to that moment. It's something, everyone should experience.

From our vantage point, you could see Oia. We must have missed the memo about NOT going on the windy, rainy, crazy day.

One last view of Fira....This is when you need a wide angle lens....

And finally, the Greek grandmas. Angela and I were killing time, waiting to meet back up with Dawn, and these Greek grandmas came up to us and basically made us buy these tablecloths. They kept saying that we were rich Americans, and how we needed them. We basically got hustled, though, we did get her down from 60 Euros to 20. I still don't know how that happened. Oh well, souvenir for my Mom!

And finally, a picture of me and Angela and our Ouzo from our last dinner in Santorini. If you look closely, you can see the empty glasses, and the water bottle that is full of ouzo. Thanks anyways Greek brothers who ran that restaurant. You had really good food!

On to Meteora!

Homesick? Tripsick?

Hello, Paris. I miss you.

*picture taken by me, while on the top of the Arc de Triomphe

Greece: Day 4 and 5...

I feel like I'm never going to be done posting about these trips! I swear! So we didn't do a lot during this time in Santorini. One day we went to the Beach at Kamari. It was so beautiful and different! No sand, just black pebbles everywhere. It kind of sucked to walk on, but it gave you a killer pedicure!

 Yes, the Mediterranean is really that blue. It was amazing. Clear, azure blue, and wave-less. It was awesome. I could see the fish swimming all over. They tried to nibble on your toes if you stepped on the ground for too long. I also saw a dead eel at the bottom...kind of gross. This was why I didn't go explore the water near the rocks and cliffs.

 I was so excited. This is Angela and I in our Santorini skirts. We played tourist in Athens and bought them in preparation for our big day at the beach. This was one of my goals on this trip, was to swim in the ocean. I was so paranoid that it would be too cold. And it actually was for two of the days we were in Santorini. But this day was perfect.

Don't you love my Vienna Sausage toes? Jaynie (sister), thought I should post it regardless because the black sand looked so cool. It didn't feel cool.

This is what we got to see on one side of our spot. The two dudes standing up were the lifeguards. They were "sexy Greek men". You have to say it with a Greek accent. They walked around all full of themselves. Forget the fact that they were in speedos. Funny fact, you could always tell the Americans at the beach. They were the only men wearing trunks. The rest wore speedos.

This was the other side. Underneath the green umbrella was a group of Italian women. They sounded like truckers because they smoked so much, and they didn't wear their tops for most the time they were at the beach. Wahoo, Italian boobs! NOT.

This is me after an hour or so in the ocean. I wanted to document my crazy salt water hair. Now that I think of it, I don't really like those sunglasses on me! True fact...it's hard to take pictures of yourself with a huge SLR camera.

One of my favorite pictures from the trip. Weird, I know. But I love the colors.

After the beach, we decided to explore the island on our ATV's. Oh, if you ever decide to go to the Greek Islands. Rent a 4-wheeler. You'll thank me. It's the BEST way to ride around the islands. I was the navigator, but mostly I just wanted to drive fast and in front. It was awesome. Sea breeze in your face, sun on your back. Yeah...I so need to go back to Santorini. Oh, this is Dawn on her's. I actually really like this picture of her.

Angela and I, on our ATVs. We rented them from a smarmy guy named Zachary. He flirted and flirted, but kind of in a creepy way. See above explanation of "Greek Sexy Man". That was Zachary. He tried to get us to go with him to a bar/tavern that all the locals go to. We weren't adventurous enough.

Me, showing off my Santorini skirt (with Angela). I don't know what it was about the sun there. The light was just beautiful.

Me on my hoss. Is that my helmet on the back, you ask? Why yes it is. We were stupid, but I really didn't want a big old helmet that had countless different heads in it. Plus, I wanted the wind in my face, baby!

We drove up to the highest point in Santorini. It had a satellite/military building on it. But we had the best view!

Here I am! The white marks on my shirt are salt. Turns out the Mediterranean is saltier than the average ocean. I had it dried on my arm hairs, even. It was kind of cool. So is this view.

Sunset! and lens flare...

Dawn took this picture, and it has to be one of my favorites of me.

So we went back to Fira, and I slept like a baby. Even on my cardboard bed. I spent most of the day swimming, and it totally caught up with me. I was exhausted. While we were at the beach, we saw this really steep road going up the side of a mountain. And when I say steep, I'm not exaggerating. It was insane. We decided to explore it the next day. It was A LOT of fun to drive up it. Angela might disagree. We stopped and hiked a little. It's kind of cool how much Greece looks like Utah.

Well, except for this AWESOMELY BLUE WATER!!! That's the beach we were at the day before.

This was the ancient kitty of Thira. She was cute, and I really wanted to pet her. I didn't because who knows where these strays come from! So at the top of the mountain we drove up, was Ancient Thira. It's a bunch of ancient ruins from the people who lived on Santorini before the volcano. Turns out Thira is closed on Monday. So the one day it's closed, we came to see it. Awesome.

The kitty really wanted to be my friend!

Here is the view of the other side of Santorini. You can see some ruins in the bottom right hand side. It's kind of amazing to think that people lived up this high and carved simple things like stairs out of the stone.

Here I am walking down the other side of the entrance. We decided to explore a little, even if it was closed.

Yeah, that blue bit? Not the sky, it's the water!

Here are a few more ruins. I was really sad that we didn't get to see the real ones. Oh well, NEXT TIME!

The rest of our day, we hung out in Perissa. I was really sad that we didn't bring our swim stuff. The beach was awesome. It was this ledge of rock. Kind of cool. Oh well. Funny story about this place. It served the most random food. Like Thai and pizza, plus it was out of everything because it was the end of the season. But we wanted to just sit and hang. So here is the funny story. The owner liked us so much that he gave us shots of Ouzo. It's like Greek vodka that tastes like black licorice. This wasn't the only time we had gotten it for free. For some reason they loved us in Greece and we got all kinds of free stuff. But mostly the Ouzo. It's their way of saying, thanks for patronizing our establishment! We like you! Well, the first time we were able to get away without drinking it, but this time there was no way. I have never drank alcohol in my life, and I didn't want to start in Greece. But the guy was sitting right there! So I took the shot, and pretended to like it, and then spit it out in my water bottle, while pretending to drink water. I felt bad, but I really didn't want to offend the guy. It's not like they come up to you and ask if you want it, and then you can say "no thanks, it's against my religion," They just give it to you! Well, it was an experience, that's for sure. Dawn thought it was hilarious. She's not Mormon, so she didn't have a problem with it. I on the other hand, felt like I was going to go to Hell.*

*disclaimer: I know I'm not going to Hell, and this wasn't meant to be offensive to my friends who do drink. I realize it's normally not a big deal, and I honestly don't care if other people drink. Just to this BYU honor code Mormon girl, it kind of was, lol.

Solitude...

So, I'm not much of a hiker. It just has never really done anything for me. Though, I have always wanted to be one of those people. Well, I hiked and walked so much in Greece, that I think I kind of (almost) like it! I was missing the sun and the outdoors, so on Wednesday, I went and hiked up Ensign Peak. This was a big deal for me, since I'm normally a lazy person that would rather read a book. I'm a little out of shape, and I had to take a few scenery breaks, (this is what I call the catching my breath moments), but over all it was a really nice hour. I had the mountain all to myself. Just me and my camera. It was nice.

Also, I just bought a 50mm 1.4 lens. I'm freaking out a little because it was kind of pricey and I could have bought a cheaper version of it. But I want to do this photography thing, right? So I should invest in lenses that I can use once I upgrade my camera in a few years, right? That's what I keep on telling myself...urgh...why did I have to choose such an expensive hobby/future-profession?

Urie Family Pictures and Stephanie's 1 year pictures...

So back before I went to Thailand, I took the Urie's family pictures. They were a lot of fun. Plus, I love Mindy, Scott, and Stephanie. Mindy and I go way back. We worked together at the Foundation, plus we had classes at BYU together. She actually was one of the people who read my major Genealogy paper and critiqued it. I totally didn't remember that until I was going through old school papers and saw her copy of it. Anyways, I digress...I also took Stephanie's one year pictures. Poor Mindy has been waiting for 3 months. What with Thailand, Holidays, and no computer, this has made me a very poor photographer. Thankfully, she has been so patient with me.

So here are some of Stephanie. She was teething, so she had a bit of a drool problem, and alas, I'm not so proficient with photoshop that I know how to get rid of it post-shoot. But I still think they are beautiful pictures. There aren't a whole lot, since it was freezing outside and the inside ones aren't as great since that was pre-SB 600 flash.

 

 

And here are some of the Family Shoot! They were so fun! I get such a thrill out of seeing all the love and joy people share. It's really great to be able to see that with Mindy's family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you love them, Mindy! Because I would love to take pictures of your family again! I had so much fun! I have several shoots lined up this spring/early summer. I can't wait to show you all!