Ammouliani, Near Akti Peninsula (Mount Athos), Blog to follow

Centre Peninsula, Sithonia. Blog to follow. Putting a point on the map.

Lesvos & Limnos, last of the North Aegean Islands, 21st June - 1st July We got back to Mytilene on Lesvos in time for W's birthday on the 22nd and indulgences of all sorts.Lesvos and Limnos are alike in having a multitude of fortresses, castles and monasteries; and that is where the similarities end. Lesvos is a big island (3rd largest Greek island). We toured it by boat and by hire car to see as much as possible. See the pictures for the delights of island ...

Escape to Istanbul 14th-20th June We have always wanted to go to Istanbul. We did not want to take too long and fight the 5kn+ currents, nor dodge the hundreds of tankers that ply the Dardanelles and Sea of Marmara. So we hopped on the 9am ferry from Mytilini on Lesbos for the 1 ½ hr ferry trip to Ayvalik in Turkey. From there it was a taxi 8km up to the Otogar (coach station) to catch the 8 hr bus to Istanbul. It took over 10 ½ hrs (including another ferry)...

Putting a point on the map on lovely Lesbos 14th June And uploading some pictures - we will return to Lesbos with more detail. It is such a big island and lovely, we would ideally like to circumnavigate it as well as hire a car to explore the interior. For now, it is practicalities and planning an excursion to Istanbul. To be continued.....