Sunday, June 04, 2006

Sleazy Rider rides the range


Mykonos is a labyrinth of lanes it is easy to lose your bearing and discover you are back where you started from. It is a beautiful place built around the harbour, different from Santorini not only in the architecture but in the nature in the nature of the Island. Santorini is built on a volcanic rim Mykonos is a traditional island with hills in the centre. Lots of white wash, chapels and Brick Red shutters and domes.

We had a delightful time with the people, they are very friendly and it confirms my suspicions that we have more in common than differences. Everyone seems willing to have a chat and it is often accompanied by an invitation to share Ouzo!

I have the leather jacket so Sleazy Rider and his moll needed a motor cycle to complete the picture! I must say that this was not an adventure that Kerry was keen. Persistence and some unseemly begging saw her unwillingly concede. I started my search for my Harley but soon learnt that by law Tourists are not allowed more than a 50cc hog. I have noted that your average European and Mediterranean are not as big as us but I had noted the way they had zipped through the streets with almost suicidal ease and thought this can’t be hard. Obviously the power to weight ratio was against us, going up hill was an effort for our little beast but down hill, oh the power. The brakes did well to cope which they did but only just. We zipped around Mykonos and had a ball.

The ferry trip to Athens was not one I was looking forward too but it was great w stopped along the way and saw a number of different Islands they all had distinct personalities and I look forward to doing a we explore some time soon.

Wellington harbour has one of the most visible ports in the world. We see ships and ferries leaving regularly but it has nothing on Athens! I stood on the stern (a nautical term) of the ferry and saw lines and lines of ships coming and going from the port. It reminded me of those films of the Atlantic Convoys of the WW2. Man that is one busy place and there were lots of slings and cranes in evidence so it would that this is still an option there where we seem to have far more containerisation.

Athens on the way home, lots of people, lots of noise and activity a contrast to the Islands. Shopping buying gifts, after travelling and hearing virtually nothing about and from New Zealand we walked into a Department Store and OMC’s “How Bizarre” was playing; I could sing along and I knew the words, I was not discouraged by Kerry’s dig in the ribs, the penguin look and a hasty departure toward another department, I entertained the natives with a spirited rendition complete with unintended harmonies!

Towards home; with an over night in Dubai, a long time in an Aluminium tube and airline food to look forward too. I was ready for home enough culture to last a fortnight. I wanted to sit in a coffee bar and understand the surrounding chatter. Kerry and I spent over four weeks alone together in 30 years of marriage this was a record. We hardly fought, we spent about 40% of our time lost, we laughed at everyone, everything and especially ourselves and had a ball.
Last word to the Australians I love your lack of self confidence and belief that you are in danger from a group returning home from Europe en-route to that hot bed of international intrigue, New Zealand. We obviously scare the shit out of them; again greeted by those fine ambassadors of Australia the airport security guards! We were forced to proceed through security prior to sitting in their Melbourne transit lounge. We had come from one of the most secure airports around, Dubai, and we were on our way to Auckland but such is their fear we had to go through those bloody cattle races and metal detectors! Thanks Australia for your warm welcome!

To those that have followed the Blog thanks; Kerry and I hope you have enjoyed it. It has been a great way to share our experiences with you all and we could do it while it was still fresh in our minds. We look forward to enthralling you all now with our spicy adventure in the wilds of Upper Hutt, just kidding.

Mike