Some like it hot..

Plane trip no problem.
Got off plane at 10 pm to 33 deg.
Very different .
There are taxis with women drivers for women who are travelling without a male.
Took about 35 minutes on a network of of new roads to get to our unit.
On 29th floor with great views.

Room with a view

Up at 8 to see a fantastic view of the marina.

Our room is right on the twist edge

Dubai is a bit like Surfers Paradise on Architectural Steroids.The tower is on the Duabi Marina which is only 15 years old. There are lots of very big boats in the marina.
They actually have architectural tours as the buildings are so unusual.
Today's temperature 38 deg
After some problems with the driver of the tour finding the 4, it was off to learn about Dubai. Dubai was very poor until oil was found in late 1960. So boy have they won the lottery.

Original Bedouin House, that is the air conditioning unit, true.

Feel like a coffee, it is only $100 US dollars at this hotel. $2000 a night  for a basic room and it is fully booked every day.

After the city tour it was back to the unit for a  quick swim and then another long wait until the driver found the tower and then off to the desert for some sand dune bashing, dinner in a Bedouin camp, some belly dancing and then back home.

Straw that broke the camel's back

The dunes are actually very steep.

Paradise

Day 4 was the same as the other days.
Plenty of sunshine. Spectacular views.
This is probably the only place in the world where the 4 would sit for 3 days in the one spot and just admire the views.
The only difference today was that the 4 ventured onto the rooftop of the unit and again the views were great.
The photos speak for themselves.
Tuesday morning up at 5:30 plane left Santorini at 9:45 a bit late and landed at Athens.
Emirates flight is due to take off at 4pm and arrives in Dubai at 9:30pm.
The one good thing is that the pool at the Cayan Towers is open 24 hrs a day.
If you google Cayan Towers in Dubai you wil see something very unsusal.

on top of the world, actually our unit.

Practising to be a bride...

Heaven

Day 2 on Santorini
Up at 7am for another amazing photoshoot in front of  Oia
Fresh bread arrives at 9am. Breakkie and then off for a walk around..
At the end of than the walk the 4 realised that the view from their unit is better than most.

That is the unit in Brown. Doesn't look much  but the view from there is to die for, see yesterdays post

A bit more shopping then enjoying a lazy afternoon watching the tourist taking photos.

Even views that kill can't distract these seasoned shoppers

Today saw more brides getting photos taken below the unit than you would see in a week in Melbourne. The photos are taken by newly wed husbands who use a tripod and self timers to professional photographers with light deflectors and specialist flash units. They are often seen standing in ridiculous positions.

To be a bride or not to be a real bride

Michael would love to have a cent for every photo taken on the pathway below the unit.

Went out to dinner and spoke to the waiter who said that about 80% of the weddings are not real. They just come and get their photos taken. You always see a couple in wedding gear,walking up the cobblestones, some with a bridesmaid but most are by themselves.

They now know why Santorini is such a popular place to visit, everywhere you look is a photo opportunity. You often see budding photographers standing on roofs to get the best angle. You see the husband with a fully professional camera, camera bag and a multitude of lenses and the wife trailling behind with a semi professional camera. They buzz around taken photos of house names, flowers on the wall or a cat. Also this must be the place for all would be models to come as women stand in extraordinary poses while their partner using a basic camera takes their photo.

The weather has been absolutely fantastic. Little wind and all sunshine. The temp is around 28 degrees.

Lyndsay is getting a new reputation as a house husband. Aileen can't wait to get home.

Donkeys are used all over the island. From taking tourists to beaches to carrying luggage up the narrow steep streets.

To finish off the day, dinner by moonlight

It just keeps, keeping on

Arrived in Santorini at 10:30pm. A 20 min drive to Oia, sounded eia.

Michael and Lyndsay went and bought some supplies for a well earned drink.

Sitting on balony at midnight enjoying a moonlit horizon.

After a well earned sleep the four woke up to this...

A very relaxing day, enjoying the view.

Lipari catch up

Day 1 in Lipari,

Got up to a beautiful sunny morning. Caught the local bus to Lipari, 5 minute trip, cost 8 euro return for 4.

Explored the cemetery and Colene found Mic hael'sgreat aunt's gravestone. Pictures taken and then off to explore Lipari. While the girls and Lyndsay explored, Michael headed off to the council offices. Here he found some info about his family and the girls found some shops.Off to lunch where we had some of the best seafood pasta and mussels ever. 

The wine was very nice as well. 

Bought some fresh grapes and peaches, was the best tasting fruit we have had for a long time. Seems food from Sicily is the best around.

The afternoon was spent swimming in the beach across the road from the unit. The water was warm and crystal clear. Dined on local food for dinner, off to bed for an early start to Salina which is a close island  (Barca ancestory)

Cemetery entrance

 Our courtyard

Our unit on the left somewhere

 Street entrance to our alleyway

Great Uncle

Day 2 

Got up and caught the bus, however bus timetables and Italians aren't a good mix. Bus was late, went a different route with the result, a rush to buy tickets and yes too late for the ferry to Salina. Also the ticket seller short changed Michael ( 15 euros) didn't know until we cashed the tickets back in. 

We went for some more exploring and ended up at our unit for a quick lunch an then booked a trip to Panaera and Stromboli.

Trip over was a bit rough with lots of sea spray, however beautiful day, so lots of laughter. At Panarea The boys took a swim off the boat while the girls took the photos.

All aboard and then a hour visit at Panarea. Round of drinks cost 40 euros, expensive.

Then off to Stromboli for dinner. Much cheaper meals and drinks around 30 euros . Then as darkness came the boat cruised off the coast to wait for some volcano eruptions. We saw a few red flashes and then it was time to return to Lipari. The crew said that there would be a lot of sea spray on the return trip so most people chose to go into the cabin below.  Aileen and Lyndsay stuck it out on top whereas Michael and Colene joined the rest below deck. They basically watched the majority use their sea sick bags.  Not a pretty sight!

Back to Canneto around 10:30 pm and off to bed.



Eating like the locals

Swimming on the boat,

 Swimming next to the boat at Panarea

Next to a Volcano

Perfect


Day 3

Having learnt from the previous days events. Tickets purchased and early arrival meant the imbarco was fine. 

Landed on Salina, caught a taxi to the St Lorenzo, a church the Barca family have been trying to get into for years. Everytime a relative arrived the church was always closed. Michael had his fingeres crossed this time. Knock on the door and Father Bernadine from Nigeria appeared. He opened the church and Michael went balistic with the camera. Located the alter his family donated, wasn't easy so phone calls to Christine Buck the family historian and finally the correct alter was photographed. Major relief. 

Then quick look at the museum dedicated to Eolians who emigrated to Australia, then back to San ta Marina port, some refreshments and back to Lipari. Where a fantastic  lunch of fried whitebait, seafood, mussels Sicilian wine and the best Cannoli's ever. Finished off with some desert wine you would die for. The owner took a liking to the 4.

Back to the unit for a swim.

The on;y problem with swimming as seen in photos is trying to negotiate entering the water and walking through the black pebbles, but the experience is worth it.

When you are on the island you have to keep your eye on the weather and today the forecast for Thursday was the storm from hell was coming. So contingency plans were rushed, but the company Michael had used to organise the ferry tickets got back to him late Wednesday afternoon to let him know he had organised a hydrofoil trip back late Thursday afternoon.

 Michael Great Grandfather donated money for this alter.

St Lorenzo Malfa .

Girls on the hunt.

Day 4

All eyes were on the weather.

Some early rain and then sun, no wind and a beautiful day. However Lipari was deserted as most travelers had headed back the day before. The 4 wandered around and the girls were wrapped to have the shop assistants full attention as there was no-one else around. Shopping done, it was back to the unit for a quick swim, light lunch and then to the port for the trip to Milazzo.

Trip was all good all the way back to Catania. Dinner in the hotel restaurant and off to bed.

Sandy beaches. Makes the water very blue, it is difficult getting in and out of the water and a bit tender on the rear end.

One of the best seafood  pasta ever

Off the island safe and sound

Day 5 

Up for breakfast and then a trip to the airport. Even though the 4 arrived about 2 hours before the flight Alitalia decided to have only 2 check in counters open. Worry soon alleviated as they were on their plane and off to Rome.
Flight to Santorini from Rome included a very short transfer at Athen's airport. We had 20 mins from the time we landed to exit the plane, find our departure gate for Santorini, which was about 10 min walk and also negotiate secruity, which just happened to be the most strict of all so far.
Just made the flight.
Day's tally
4 airports including 2 islands, Rome and Athen's airport.
3 flights
started at 9am and arrived in Santorini at 10:30 pm
Didn't lose any luggage
Didn't lose Lyndsay.

That is one big day's achievement.
Everyone tired and a bit stressed.
But now we can relax.