Day three in Vatera, Lesvos at the Aphrodite Beach Hotel. Last year we were here for thirty days and since then the hotel has a new, beautiful pool; the weather is considerably warmer than in the Spring, and there is still much tourist activity even though the main vacation season has just passed. Yesterday we swam in the Mediterranean, the water was cool but very refreshing, lots of people still on the beaches and at 90 degrees it is easy to get a tan or sunburn if not careful.

We have been relaxing, trying to get over the jet lag which we have discovered is more difficult than when we were younger, today was our best day, more energy and not so tired. We took a short drive into Polichnitos to the ATM, refueled the car and then went in search of ancient ruins. Lesvos has a history of 3000 plus years of occupancy so there are old ruins throughout the island. Oh, by the way, for those wishing fuel was less expensive in the US, here the cost for a gallon of unleaded is about $10.83.

It has been breezy here the last few days and this evening we are getting some smoke from forest fires burning somewhere close by. In August, forest fires on the island of Chios, just south of here, were devastating. Tomorrow we plan to visit the ancient thermal baths of Polichnitos, the hottest natural spas in Europe for a therapeutic soak. According to legend this is where the Roman legions came to heal their battle wounds.

After some 25 hours, three airports, and a one hour drive in the dark through narrow, winding mountain roads, we arrived at our destination, The Aphrodite Beach Hotel, in Vatera, Lesvos, Greece.  Although it was past midnight, George and Yiannis were still busy with the myriad tasks necessary to keep the hotel running. This year a beautiful pool was added to the property and early this morning, after a nice breakfast of Greek yogurt, local olives, just picked figs, fresh coffee and pastries, we went to the local grocery in Polichnitos to purchase a few essentials. The vegetables come from local farms, cheeses are cut to order and the bread shelves are stocked with a variety of hard toast such as rye husks, originally a staple of Crete. Really good, locally produced Ouzo is only 10 Euros, a lesser quality Ouzo in Seattle is about $30 so of course we had to purchase a bottle for taste testing.

Last year when we were here in April, the tourist season had not started so few hotels and restaurants were open, now the island is quite different with restaurants open late, many people out walking, sitting at cafes, outside enjoying the weather and friends. Our plan for the next few days here is just to enjoy the weather, sit around the pool and relax, no work! After all, we are retired!

After 241 days of planning, thinking, and waiting, we are finally on our way to Greece. Delta flight 615, a Boeing 767-300ER, took off to the North from SeaTac airport on a polar flight track to Paris, 4998 miles away. With a planned flight time of 9 hours and 43 minutes we should be in to Charles De Gaul airport about 30 minutes early, somewhere in the neighborhood of 8:35 AM CEST. Mz Barbara is napping while I stay awake to assure the plane stays on course, although I do plan to try and sleep since we lose 10 hours traveling east to Paris which means we will arrive bright and early in Paris while it will only be 11:00 PM is Seattle. After a one hour and forty-five minute layover we Paris we depart on Air France for Athens, Greece, a three hour 20 minute flight, then after a five hour wait in the Athens airport, we leave for Mytillini, Lesvos on a 50 minute Aegean Air flight, arriving at 11:00 PM, then a 40 minute car ride to Vatera through the mountains, past the former home of the  well known Greek folk painter, Theodolfilos, who lived in a tree, through Polichnitos, Vrisa and finally Vatera. All together about 24 hours of travel. After all that, we can sit by the pool, wade in the Mediterranean and enjoy some great Greek food and hospitality.

Today, we are exactly one week away from departing for Greece, seven days until we board the plane for an eternity of flying. Our itinerary starts with a Delta 10 hour 20 minute flight from Seattle to Paris, then a 3 hour,15 minute Air France flight from Paris to Athens. The final leg is a 50 minute flight on Aegean Air Lines from Athens to Mytelene, Lesvos.  In a nutshell, we depart at 1:15 PM from Seattle arriving in Lesvos at 10:00PM; just about 24 hours of travel. Who says getting there is half the fun?

Barb here.....I'm starting to stress about what to pack!  The hubby keeps saying...let's pack light! Not going to happen..

I have a 3 step process to packing. First I take out EVERYTHING I want to take and put them in the spare room.  A few days later, I try on some of them and easily eliminate a few. Now I try packing everything that's left and of course even sitting on the suitcase doesn't help close it so, I go to step 1 - my final step and take just what I need and not what I dream of taking with me. I still have nightmares of being the only woman in Italy without knee boots!!

Not many days left (12 days 6 hours I've been told). Better start packing!!

Time flies when you are having fun! 12 days until we depart, time to start preparing for leaving on a jet plane, so much to do, so little time, good thing we are retired and not pestered with work!

39 days, 6 hours until we depart from SEATAC International airport on the first leg of our 2012 adventure to Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Gibraltar.  Due to the financial crisis in Europe, the Euro is trading about $1.21 US which is about 25% better than last year. This will be a shorter trip  but we will spend time with our friends on Lesvos and see Southern Spain and Portugal , plus a quick stop in Gibraltar.