Greece

The European leg of my journey kicks off in the ancient country of Greece.The first thing I learned here is that the terms pre and post war, which are used to describe the age of a building or landmark, takes on an entirely new meaning as it's used to describe pre or post Trojan War and not WWI or II.
I started out at the port city of Piraeus. The city has a great feel to it. The streets are dotted with newsstands and cafes. Of course, the epicenter of the town is the ferry station. People come into Piraeus from all over the world as a stopover to the enchanting Greek Islands, as did I..
I make my way to Mykonos Island, which is in the middle of the off-season. I kind of like the fact that the crowds havent arrived yet. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that before the crowds arrive, the island itself is on vacation. My first day on Paradise Beach brought on quite a shock, as I discovered that I have arrived the day before the beach comes back to work. Now I know why the room at the hostel was so cheap....
My timing is interesting, since I've heard that I should avoid Greece and the Islands during summer. During that time the crowds and the heat are simply unrelenting. I realize that it's true that you should avoid the summer as long as you arrive after Easter...Talk about a window of opportunity.
Finally, I took the ferry to the very important Island of Syros, which for the longest time has actually been a more significant port to Greece than Piraeus. Its ideal location in the Aegean Sea has lent itself to being the epicenter of trade between the islands and the mainland..
The city itself is so beautiful with a certain Parisian feel to it. Gentlemen in suits linger over backgammon tables as young bohemians sip espresso.
Next up for me is the Italian dynamic duo of Naples and Rome....