Desperate Times

Okay...a little surprising event after returning from Elafonosis.  Over the weekend a boat of 60+ illegal immigrants fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan were rescued from a very small ship next to Monemvasia.  The Turkish captain who was charging ~$1,000 a person was arrested and the passengers are being detained at a building next to my in-laws home which is usually used for a soccer club. Of course I was extremely curious about all of this and wanted to find out what happened so I asked Maria (mother in law) to bring me there so I could snoop.

When we arrived the mayor of the village and police stopped us, however, after some persuasive arguments they said they would allow me to talk to them, but that we should bring something for the 15 children from the boat...like chocolate.  We scurried over to the local grocery store and bought them out of kitkats and twix bars, along with animal crackers and several liters of water.

We were welcomed and the kids set about giving out candies to the kids.  The building they were being housed in was a very small space--about 1,000 square feet, and considering it was about 104 degrees out, the people were sitting outside in the shade hoping to catch some breeze.  I asked if any of them spoke English and they summoned a younger man from Afghanistan who was more than willing to share their story.  Each person had arranged to pay their carrier upon delivery to  Italy and had been on the open watercraft for 6 nights.  The third night on the boat they started having boat problems and ran out of food and water the next morning.  Their captain kept telling them that they would arrive to Italy within hours.  After the 6th night, and with everyone sick, one of the passengers got the captains phone and called the coast guard for help.  They rescued everyone from the ship and brought them to Monemvasia where they were being held, fed and cared for.  CRAZY ordeal!! They were so happy to be safe but obviously worried about what would happen now.  The next day they were being transported to Athens where the decisions would be made.  Their desparation and desire to live where they could be safe is so sad.  One of those 'putting things into perspective moments'.

The three month old baby from Afghanistan that was on the boat...youngest passenger.

 

Desperate Times

Okay...a little surprising event after returning from Elafonosis.  Over the weekend a boat of 60+ illegal immigrants fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan were rescued from a very small ship next to Monemvasia.  The Turkish captain who was charging ~$1,000 a person was arrested and the passengers are being detained at a building next to my in-laws home which is usually used for a soccer club. Of course I was extremely curious about all of this and wanted to find out what happened so I asked Maria (mother in law) to bring me there so I could snoop.

When we arrived the mayor of the village and police stopped us, however, after some persuasive arguments they said they would allow me to talk to them, but that we should bring something for the 15 children from the boat...like chocolate.  We scurried over to the local grocery store and bought them out of kitkats and twix bars, along with animal crackers and several liters of water.

We were welcomed and the kids set about giving out candies to the kids.  The building they were being housed in was a very small space--about 1,000 square feet, and considering it was about 104 degrees out, the people were sitting outside in the shade hoping to catch some breeze.  I asked if any of them spoke English and they summoned a younger man from Afghanistan who was more than willing to share their story.  Each person had arranged to pay their carrier upon delivery to  Italy and had been on the open watercraft for 6 nights.  The third night on the boat they started having boat problems and ran out of food and water the next morning.  Their captain kept telling them that they would arrive to Italy within hours.  After the 6th night, and with everyone sick, one of the passengers got the captains phone and called the coast guard for help.  They rescued everyone from the ship and brought them to Monemvasia where they were being held, fed and cared for.  CRAZY ordeal!! They were so happy to be safe but obviously worried about what would happen now.  The next day they were being transported to Athens where the decisions would be made.  Their desparation and desire to live where they could be safe is so sad.  One of those 'putting things into perspective moments'.

The three month old baby from Afghanistan that was on the boat...youngest passenger.

 

Leaving Monemvasia

As we get ready to leave Monemvasia tomorrow morning, we reflected on the many family moments we have had here.  

The kids meeting their cousins for the first time and our first family dinner together:

The Giovanis men spending some quality time together:

The kids having lunch with their great grandma and her amazing sisters:

We have had such a tremendous time here in Monemvasia.  Although it was not without family drama (after all they ARE Greek!) it has been so nice to spend time with family and enjoy the beach life for a short while.  We are already looking forward to next year!

Island of Elafonisos

After returning to Monemvasia from a short weekend break to Athens (where Angelo and I had an amazing 2 night mini-vacay without the kids!), YaYa took the kids and I to the small island of Elafonisos for the night.

We spent two days enjoying the beach and sun as well as the company of several couples from Austria and their children.  My kids marveled at the 16 year old Austrian boy who drank as much wine as I did for dinner; which is a considerable feat. The boy's parents own a large vineyard in Austria so wine is like water for him; but it didn't stop my kids from openly gaping-the cultural differences make for great amusement!

 

Adventure at the beach

Incredible day at a petrified forest beach...a complete ecological experience as well as some an incredible fun jumping into the ocean!

Sophia was a bit hesitant at first..but ended up taking a jump.

Greece....finally!!

We finally arrived in Monemvasia (Greece) late last night after a very long drive.  We are situated in the most beautiful area to swim and enjoy the sea--but the girls prefer working in their grandparent's restaurant.  So as Michael is jumping from cliffs into the sea with with Angelo, the girls are waiting tables and hanging out with Grandma who is making me laugh with her continuing critique of the people around her....so funny..she's like a sitcom to me!

Caribou Coffee

Went to Asia side today!  Of all surprises....it was loaded with Caribou Coffees....so random.

Spice Market...

The Turkish spice market really knows how to 'spice' things up!  No prescription needed.

Touring Istanbul

Having an amazing time in Istanbul!  The calvary (I.e. Angelo) arrived a couple of days ago...we've had packed days seeing all the sites before our departure to Greece this week.  One day we hired a Turkish tour guide....a very opinionated young woman who my Greek husband found entertaining but factually wrong on many topics...especially about the country Macedonia which Angelo considers a province of Greece.  For two cultures with a tumultuous history, they are so similar in personalities and tastes.

We really enjoyed visiting Hagia Sofie--the original Constantine Orthodox church that was later converted to a mosque after the Ottoman invasion--this place has been a restoration in progress for several decades which has included stripping the plaster away that was used to hide the Orthodox iconic decor. It's fascinating to see the mosque details alongside the Christian/Orthodox icons. 

Istanbul-Flower Power

Well, apparently you aren't allowed to show cigarettes on tv here in Turkey, so they put a brightly covered flower over it instead. They also don't allow you to see the names of beer companies, and the apple symbol on apple computers is blurred out....a lot of flowers on TV.~Michael

Sophia's Backpacking Summary-Will Continue to Blog On Rest of Trip

Sophia's Backpacking Trip Summary

This trip was a total adventure and a great experience! From getting stuck in traffic with a horse to having a hotel/hostel next to a strip club, this trip was always interesting and fun! I think I liked the whole trip but I do have my top 3. This blog is about my top 3 favorite things that have happend and what I have seen throughout this trip!

#3: Taking my brother and his friend out for dinner in Barcelona and being able to see my brother for the first time in a while.

#2: Going to St. Stevens church in Vienna, it was so beautiful inside I could have sat there all day just looking at the stain glass windows and ornate decor.

And last but not least........  #1: I have a lot, like I said, but one of my favorite things was going to the tallest swing carousel in the world! We were so high up that i could see everything, it was the best view ever!!!!!!

Coming to the end of this trip is sad but I am ready to go to Greece and relax with my family away from all the butt showing men :) (hopefully)! Thanks for following us and reading our  blogs each day!!! 

Best Regards,

Sophia

Michael's Backpacking Summary-Will Continue to Blog On Rest of Trip

Michael's Backpacking Trip Summary 

I found the trip very fun and exciting. I enjoyed experiencing new places, and always meeting new people and immersing in new cultures. But I was also very tired and felt worn out after a while!

My favorite place was Dracula's castle; I liked how there were very few people other then Romanians. I am interested in the history of Vlad the Impaler so it was great to go there and experience the real Dracula's home.

I also liked experiencing Budapest culture with Peter and Zsolt, they have a beautiful and interesting culture.

My favorite memory was camp, I know it wasn't part of my family's vacation but I had a ton of fun there; I met great people and made good friends.

Melina's Backpacking Summary-Will Continue to Blog On Rest of Trip

Melina's Backpacking Trip Summary

I loved this trip.  When I get older I will probably do this again with my friends or maybe even my kids! These are the things I will always remember.

Our adventures at airports.  Examples include us almost missing our plane from Minneapolis to Barcelona and Michael farting in mommys face at the Bucharest airport.

Seeing Michael for the first time in Barcelona. It made me really happy because I missed him so much.

I really liked the ghost tour in Prague.  I liked how late it was done at night (until after midnight!). I liked the creepy stories and going underground,

I know I am suppose to only have three but I have an extra one.  I liked going to the hotel in Brasov because Sophia and I got our own upstairs with our own sitting area. It was wonderful!

I can't wait to see you all when we get home!

Day 17 -- Istanbul Flooding

We arrived in Istanbul early this morning.  We are officially off of our 'backpacking' trip, so we taxied to the airport--it really felt luxurios not having to find the nearest train/bus schedule and navigate through public transportation; however, it was the first thing Michael brought up...it would have been much less expensive, but I think we were ready to splurge!  We arrived at the Hilton with dirty backpacks and looking a bit worn out.  Let's just say that I felt a bit looked down upon! Our rooms were not ready so we retreated to the Executive Lounge to relax until they were available.  Walking into that lounge looking the way we did with out over-stuffed backpacks resulted in some obvious stares to say the least. Sophia was horrified, Michael was oblivious, Melina was excited about the food, and I couldn't have cared less.  

The Hilton itself is fine, but this lounge is wonderful.  The food and the views over the Bosphorus are absolutely amazing. We watched as a massive storm rolled in-at some points the downpour was so hard we barely had visibility. A few hours later we checked got into our rooms where we quickly unpacked and decided to venture out, thinking the storm was over, to the spice market.  

We were in the market for less than 5 minutes when another storm hit--this one worst than the last.  We were trying to find refuge when a man from one of the stalls took pity on us and called us over to his stall to take shelter.  We stood looking out at this rain that was quickly causing a flood situation a bit in awe--there was so much rain that it was creating a river down the middle of the market.  

We stood chatting with the man (who was so funny and cute!) and his colleagues, who were incredibly gracious (we ended up buying some salami and cheese for a snack...I just wished there had been wine).  When the rain started to lighten up we ran for the cab station.  We jumped in the first cab and the driver was clear that he wasn't going anywhere unless we paid him double.  I haggled a bit and got him to reduce it, but truth be known I would have paid triple.  

On the way back the hotel we witnessed unbelievable flooding--roads were completely unaccessible and we were in at least 1-2 feet of water several times.  The tunnels were closed and much of the city was at a standstill.  The strangest thing is that I think this happens on a somewhat frequent basis.  The taxi driver just laughed, turned up his music and pointed out where people were stuck in the water.  I really like this city.

Day 16 -- Seriously?!??

Seriously...I had no clue what today had in store until we were well into it. The drive to Vlad the Imapaler's castle was horrendous.  It took almost 4 hours on roads that clutched the side of the mountain with guard rails that looked insufficient at best.  They were wooden picket fences that looked like they had previously penned bunnies. The road was absolutely decrepit and with every unmarked sharp curve I feared what was ahead.  After 2 hours, a car sick kid, a crabby mom, and seriously unhappy children, we reached the halfway point where we tried to find breakfast in a small village.  We wandered into a bar/taverna where the owner smiled a lot but had no clue what I was trying to accomplish (breakfast).  I pulled up babblefish web based translation on my IPhone and asked her through the translated Romanian if we could order eggs, coffees and hot chocolate.  Huge success....we got all!

The rest of the drive was more of the same.  Twisting roads, horses everywhere, random wild dogs, broken down cars (we saw 6 in 1 minute) and loads of random cow and horse shit piles, we finally arrived at the castle.  When I saw the sign that read 1480 stairs to the top I about shit myself.  I knew it was a climb...but amost 1500 steps?!?!?!  The kids were in heaven and decided to skip the stairs and just climb the mountain on their own...1/10 th up I didn't have the breath to argue anymore.  The girls came rushing down at one point and assurrred me they had found a short cut that would reduce the climb...I will have a hard time trusting them again.  It was a climb up the hill where I was literally on my hands and kness grabbing at roots.  Seriously??!?!?!?!? 

When I finally got to the top I was out of breath and so dizzy I'm sure the people behind me thought I was drunk.  We climbed over a suspended bridge (for anyone who knows me....you know I was literally almost dying at that point) and arrived at the castle.  The views were stunning and words could never give it justice...if I wasn't worried about the shit that was sure to appear in  my underwear if I continued to look down, I would have appreciated the views much more.

We finally made our way down the mountain, with Michael, bless his little heart, by my side the whole way.  We then drove to Bucharest in extremely harsh rain that was literally flooding the highway.  After hydraplaning for the 4th time, I swore I would never rent another broken down piece of shit from 'Dollar Car' rental again.  The name should say enough.

We finally got to the the hotel in Bucharest where my intention was to explore the city a bit before our flight to Bucharent tomorrow.  Well...forget that.  We stayed in and hung at the hotel.  I declared that we all needed a little break from each other and we went to our corners.  I had a glass of wine. Michael found WIFI and facebook. The girls played on thier kindles.  Shortly after, we came together again, and now sit ready for dinner as a family...less Daddy...who we all can not wait to see in 2 days!

Day 16 - Longest Hike..ever~Michael

Today we decided to go to the top of a mountain to visit Dracula's castle. It turns out it was more of a hike then expected.

I climbed the mountain without using the stairs on the way up, but then I took the stairs down. I fell and slid a few feet on my butt so it looked like i pooped my pants (:!

Day 16 Romanian People-Scroll to bottom for favorite! ~ Sophia

Today was a fun filled day with a lot of driving. We were in the car for about 7 hours! From Bosov to Dracula's castle to the JW Marriott in Bucharest. In those long hours of driving I realized that it's the people here in Romania that make the stay here such a pleasure!

Such as this guy, he was one of the guys riding a horse that my mom was stuck in traffic with; literally, in the middle of a small city! Apparently here in Romania they like to ride their horses in the middle of the street no matter how busy!

And this man, driving his was around the mountains with a truck full of logs that weren't even tied up! Only a car peice on top! That was so fun driving behind....

Oh, and this guy.  He likes to share himself with the world.  He made us, and the people driving behind us, laugh out loud! 

I love the people here in Romania; so much fun to be around with!!!

-Sophia

Day 16 - Dracula's REAL Castle ~ Melina

Today was one of our most interesting days! We started the day by waking up at 6 am  and driving several hours to Dracula's real castle. When we got there we climbed over 1 thousand stairs (which Michael will tell you abut later).  At the top I saw an amazing view of the whole entire mountain.  We saw an example of how Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) killed people. By impaling them on sticks or hanging them.

~Melina

Day 15 - Brasov

We have really enjoyed our stay in Brasov. The hotel is incredible (great find) and the town is so quaint nestled in the Carpathian mountains--it's stunning!  We went to the top of the closest peak today and the pictures just don't do it justice.  This is one of the more beautiful places I have yet to see.....however, it's also incredibly sad with the extreme levels of poverty.  The street children and handicapped are everywhere--it really puts things in perspective.  

Day 15 - Almost killed

While I was enjoying my meal I almost became one. Turns out he was mad because I was eating his cousin. ~Michael

Hotel recap

One of our greatest challenges on this trip was finding accommodations within the budget we had allotted for ourselves.  We had some hits and misses along the way; the following is our recap.

Barcelona: Hotel U232 - Location was great.  It was situated within a neighborhood with local bakeries and small restaurants close by.  The service and facilities were great.  The drawback was that the room was extremely small, sheets were stiff and the temperature was kept really cool (the cold one) it was about 19 degrees Celsius. Brrrr!!!! 

Melina: Doesn't recommend it.

Sophia: Even though it's cold, the service was great and it was homely.

Michael: Was at camp.  Which I preferred.

Berlin: Winters Hotel - The room was huge with a ton of storage.  The location was close to many tourist sites and there was a supermarket next door.  The staff wasn't very helpful or accommodating.  We weren't very successful finding and using the public transportation--it was way too complex for us so we walked....a lot. The hotel itself was fine; clean & comfortable.  Just a bit sterile.

Sophia: It wasn't anything special.

Melina: It was okay.  Well, maybe.

Michael: The radiator was in a terrible spot.

Prague: Pure White - This hotel was great; a huge surprise!  It was a boutique hotel located in a residential neighborhood; a bit off the beaten path with many local grocery stores and restaurants within a couple of blocks.   The room was small but they were able to accommodate 4 separate beds--we rejoiced not having to share with each other.  Due to it being fairly new and slow we secured an unbelievable rate for the class of hotel which included breakfast. The staff was incredibly helpful and we would highly recommend this...until the rates go up, which it surely will.

Michael: Their Harvey Wallbangers were great.

Sophia: It was really pretty, and surprisingly white.

Melina: The beds and sheet were really comfy. Well designed space.

Vienna: Meinenger Hostel - The best thing about this place was the staff; incredibly helpful and nice.  The pros stop there.  The cons: located next to strip bars, horrible location, very dirty, no air conditioning on the hottest day of the year in Vienna, loud, did not feel safe (street fight the one night we were there).  We bailed early and went to the Marriott.

Sophia: No comment.

Melina: Left me speechless.

Michael: Great location, I liked the neighborhood..

Vienna: Marriot - What you would expect. Used points so we could justify it within our budget :)!

Budapest: Mamaison Izabella - Actually a residence/apartment building instead of a hotel.  We were very lucky to secure our accommodations last minute because they are at 99% occupancy in August--for good reason.  The apartments have full kitchens, living rooms, gardens/balconies and washers/dryers.  After staying in one room for the previous weeks it really felt spacious.  

Michael: The people at the main desk played computer games too much.

Melina: I would live there.  It was a perfect apartment.

Sophia: It was perfect for backpacking. Just what I had hoped for!

Brasov: BellaMuzik - This hotel is really unique -an all around favorite for us all!  It is a historical building situated in the town square with an incredible ambience.  Although there are drawbacks due to the age (i.e. SMALL bathrooms!), we all fell in love with the room.  It was a 2 bedroom unit with a lofted lounge and bedroom with its own garden--really beautiful and special. 

Michael: Absolutely loved it.  Only problem was one TV didn't work.

Melina: I love it.  I loved that Sophia and I got the upstairs with the lounge.

Sophia: I liked how Melina and I had our own space and patio.

Day 14 - Romania ...love it!

We arrived in Romania this morning, rented a car and drove almost 4 hours to Bran's Castle (the home of Bram Stoker's Dracula).  The drive through the mountains was not without incident; I felt like I was in a video game, my manual compact rental shifting through winding roads cluttered with old junker cars, fast race cars, donkeys, horses with wagons, fruit stands, and people just milling around ...all through a 2 lane highway that in any other country would make an efficient journey.  We were finally lured into stopping at a fruit stand where we bought some amazing peaches...and chips they were selling too.  Completely random.

On the way we stopped at this amazing Romanian restaurant in a small village where the waitress convinced us into trying the local wild meat; we were not disappointed.  

When we finally arrived at Bran's castle, we were quite underwhelmed.  Sure, it was beautiful and castle-like with turrests on a sprawling property, but we weren't there for that.  

We wanted blood and gore but the castle's history was more like butterflies and kittens.  It housed royalty who were loved by their people...yada yada yada.  We were much more interested in learning about Vlad the Impaler.  Dracula's charater was inspired by Vlad who was a brutal ruler who impaled thousands of people and was feared by the locals as well as those trying to invade at the time...his history is shocking and great reading. Anyway, it turns out Vlad never lived at Bran Castle..so a bit of a let down but the journey there was splendid!

Day 14 - Romania ...love it!

We arrived in Romania this morning, rented a car and drove almost 4 hours to Bran's Castle (the home of Bram Stoker's Dracula).  The drive through the mountains was not without incident; I felt like I was in a video game, my manual compact rental shifting through winding roads cluttered with old junker cars, fast race cars, donkeys, horses with wagons, fruit stands, and people just milling around ...all through a 2 lane highway that in any other country would make an efficient journey.  We were finally lured into stopping at a fruit stand where we bought some amazing peaches...and chips they were selling too.  Completely random.

On the way we stopped at this amazing Romanian restaurant in a small village where the waitress convinced us into trying the local wild meat; we were not disappointed.  

When we finally arrived at Bran's castle, we were quite underwhelmed.  Sure, it was beautiful and castle-like with turrests on a sprawling property, but we weren't there for that.  

We wanted blood and gore but the castle's history was more like butterflies and kittens.  It housed royalty who were loved by their people...yada yada yada.  We were much more interested in learning about Vlad the Impaler.  Dracula's charater was inspired by Vlad who was a brutal ruler who impaled thousands of people and was feared by the locals as well as those trying to invade at the time...his history is shocking and great reading. Anyway, it turns out Vlad never lived at Bran Castle..so a bit of a let down but the journey there was splendid!

Day 13 - Bobsledding in Hungary

Today we went bob-sledding and a go-cart type thing for my moms birthday! It was really fun!!!! At first I was really tired but once I got on and went like 30 mph I woke up right away! I have to say it was one of my favorite things I have done here in Hungary! In the pic below I was on the go-cart.  

Not only bob-sleds and the go-carts but we also went to a castle in the mountains and it had an amazing view of the mountains and of the Danube River! The picture was pretty but not as good in real life. (but I guess that is how it is.)

Thanks for reading!!!!!

Day 13 - Celebrating Moms Bday

Today was a great day!! It was my mom's 26th birthday (ha! ha!) and to celebrate her colleagues took us out!

I hung out with my family and also made a couple of new friends ;)

To end the day (which was my favorite part) we got a huge ice cream!

Well, see you next time Melina 

Day 12 - Lucky Horse Parts

That guy looks annoyed because of the way I'm grabbing his horse. People say its good luck to rub his "parts" - they were the only parts that were still bronze. ~ Michael