19 - 27 Hello Bebe's Parents

On the 19th of July we went to the beach had lunch played on our DS some, and had a good time.


Then we had a late dinner watched Horatio Hornblower and went to bed.  Every night I read a lot before going to sleep.


 
On the 20th of July we headed to Syros for the 2nd time. While at Syros we took  a walk. Then after a short walk we went back to the boat then had dinner and watch M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 21st of July we sat around most of the day. Although we did take a walk around. Then after the walk we headed back to the boat had a good dinner then watched M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 22nd of July we sat around again, but when we went out for dinner we went to the giant hot dog place, and the man there was drunk. What surprised me the most though was that he was able to make french fries in hot oil and cooked hot dogs with no injury of an kind and the hot dog was pretty good.  He wanted to give Papa a free beer but Papa wouldn't take it.  He also wanted to give BeBe and me free ice cream but Tutu said no.  We walked to another place and bought ice cream treats.  Tutu said she was tired of the drunk man.


After all of that we went back to the boat watched M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 23rd we went to Mykonos so we could pick Bebe's parents off of a ferry. when we arrived we ate dinner and just went to bed.  The wind was blowing strong and Papa had a hard time docking the boat.  No one came to help us with the dock lines.


On the 24th of July at 1:05 we met Bebe's parents and the baby.  They came on a ferry.  We all had a good conversation; had dinner and played with the baby; and then went to bed.

On the 25th of July we took a long trip to the town on a bus to find groceries and look around. We never found the grocery store.


 
While I was there I bought a hat and a bracelet that had a symbol on it that meant long life. I also bought some turquoise earrings as a gift for someone. 




We found a place to eat gyros and ice cream.  We walked up a hill to some very old windmills.  

Then we walked all the way back to the bus stop to go home.  Then when we got back from the trip we had dinner and went to bed.

 



On the 26th of July we took a ferry to a sacred island called Delos. When we arrived I thought about going to the ancient amphitheater, and on the way up there we saw the home of the God of the Vine and we saw the home of the God of the Trident.   The mosaic tiles were still on the floors after 2500 years. 







   

After that Bebe's dad and I went  cross - country and then came back down to go to the museum.   We went around the museum, then Bebe's dad and I went up the steepest mountain I had ever climbed, and the mountain old stone stairs made it even harder for me to do it. In the end I made it to the top and I made it to the bottom. Then we went back to a ferry and went back to the boat and ate dinner then went to bed.  I liked being back at this dock because we had electricity and could have air-conditioning and watch as much TV and play on the computers as much as we liked.


On the 27th of July we went back to Syros for the 3rd time. When we were secure to the dock we went to get a little bit of groceries and some drinks. When we stopped to drink Bebe's mom gave her baby some tea and the baby drank it all then cried because he couldn't have anymore. He cried for three blocks and until we got to the boat. After that Tutu made dinner and we then ate dinner then went to bed.

15 - 18th July Rider !!!

1st time getting on Rider

On the 15th of July we sailed really quickly to Kythnos. When we got to Kythnos we sat around and played DS for awhile. Then things started happening. First the wind got a little breezier. Then we got in the dingy, and in the end people started crying (not me).

Just getting started

After the wind died down we got in the dingy and took the float named Rider with us. We then tied Rider to a long rope on the dingy.

And away we go!!!

After that Bebe got on Rider and Papa started towing her around slowly on Rider. Then I got on and I zoomed around extremely quickly, and made a giant wake.



After all of that fun we went in and ate dinner, watched movies and M.A.S.H. then went to bed.

Really fun!  Going fast in giant wake!

On the 16th of July we went to the beach, made sand castles and tried to kill fish. Then we went back to the boat, and had lunch. Then we played DS some and then ate dinner, did the usual night time stuff and went to bed.  I slept in the cockpit and looked at all the stars.



On the 17th of July we went to the beach and only tried to kill fish. Then we went back had lunch and talked to each other. Then we went and had a really fun time on Rider. BeBe went a little faster this time and did not cry when Papa went too fast.  Tutu finally found her swimsuit and she went swimming with us off the boat.  She cleaned the water line on the boat while Papa pulled us on Rider.  We then had dinner, watched Horatio Hornblower, read our books and went to bed.

On the 18th of July we went to the beach and did the same thing as yesterday. Then went back to the boat. While I was on the boat I zoned out for 45 min then shortly after went had a really fun time on Rider again.  Tutu went swimming with us again off the boat.  Then we had dinner, watched the final episode of Horatio Hornblower and went to bed.  I slept in the cockpit again.  BeBe and I took turns sleeping in the cockpit while we were anchored at Kythnos.  Tutu would not let us both sleep in the cockpit at the same time.  There were even more stars this night.  Tutu fell asleep in the cockpit with me, but she later went to her own bed.  I like sleeping in the cockpit.

Most fun ever!!!!

7 July - 14 July 2011

Town of Hermoupoulis on island of Syros

On the 7th, We took a long bus ride to town, and on the way there we meet some singers from Oklahoma on tour. When we got there in a town called Hermoupoulis we walked around and found a place on the waterfront that sold pizza.  Tutu said," We could eat pizza here after we buy Bebe some earrings and a couple charms." 

Hermoupoulis town

After we bought Bebe some charms and earrings, we walked back to the waterfront and ate pizza and some spaghetti.  Then we walked and ate some ice cream.  Then we went home, ate dinner and went to bed.

Lunch on the waterfront--BIG FERRY!!

On the 8th, 9th, and 10th we took walks.  We saw Marvin and Bob (who were the biggest fish in the Marina waters).  I quacked "Aflac" to the ducks at the Marina.  On the 10th I quacked "Aflac" to a duck and the duck started quacking back at me and we all laughed.

Playing computer games

In all of our spare time on these days we played DS or computers since we were at a dock and had electricity.  We also watched movies.

Waterfront at Hermoupoulis

In the big town of Hermoupoulis I noticed that there were a lot of motorcycles.  I think this is because gasoline is so expensive here in Greece.  It costs about 4 times as much as it does back home in Texas.  So lots of people ride motorcycles instead of driving cars that use more gasoline.

Near Ano Syros village 

On the 11th we rented a car for a day and went to the town to find two churches named ST. Michel's and ST. George's. ST. George's was in a mountain village named Ano Syros.  It was a long way up on the mountain.  This village was settled by people who fled the big town by the sea when Arab pirates attacked them hundreds of years ago.  They could not defend themselves against so many well-armed pirates, so they moved way up in the mountains and built a village with a very thick wall all around it.  

Narrow streets at Ano Syros

Thousands of stone steps

There were 7 huge arched doorways in the wall around the village.  There were heavy doors in these doorways.  They locked the doors at night for security.  Today there are 2 of those doorways left.  We couldn't find either one.   Later, Tutu found one when we stopped to buy some water to drink.  One of those doorways was right next to the store where we stopped.  We saved ourselves a lot of step-climbing because we didn't see this doorway at first.  And we took the car farther up the mountain and entered the village higher up.  

Inside St. George's Cathedral

The village does not have regular streets.  There are no cars or motorcycles here.  There are very narrow alleys all through the village.  And thousands of stone steps to climb up and down.  The church was located on the very top of the mountain.  It is the only Roman Catholic church here.  All the other churches are Greek Orthodox.   I don't really know the difference and don't really care.

Praying in St. George's

Lighting candle

While at ST.George's Catholic church Papa lit a candle.




I pretended to pray.  The inside of the church was pretty. 

Water spigot in St. George's courtyard

Outside there was a water drinking spigot.  The view way down over the town was pretty.

View from St. George's courtyard

On the way back Tutu and Elisabeth went a different way.  Eventually we all met up again at the entrance near where our car was parked.  

Tiny ST. Michel's

Grape arbor at restaurant

While at ST. Michel's settlement we visited the little church and then we went a restaurant.  We waited in a grape arbor while we waiting for the restaurant to open.   There were lots of loud crickets all around us.  Tutu and Papa had traditional Greek  pork dishes and those tasted really good.  My pork chops were all bones and overcooked and dry.  But we all had enough to eat.

walking through San Michalis settlement

 Then we went shopping and went back to the boat, ate dinner, watched a movie, read our books and went to bed.

On our long walk

On the 12th Papa and I went to the top of a tall mountain, and saw a huge building being built. On the way down I picked up what looked like a good rock that could skip on the water. When I saw a good place, I threw the rock. When I threw the rock it hit a metal part of a dingy and brook to pieces.


After awhile we ate dinner and went to bed.  I read each night before we go so sleep.


On the 13th we took a walk and saw Marvin and Bob and the Aflac ducks.  We had a good lunch, ate a dinner; and then went to go get ice cream. After that we read and went to bed.


On  the 14th we bought a float that we could ride on while Papa was driving the dingy. We named the float Rider. We cannot play with Rider until we go somewhere else.

Pull-ups

About a week after I arrived I started doing a pull-up (or trying to do a pull-up) every time I went up or down the companionway.  At first I could not do one full pull-up correctly.  My dad tried to do a pull-up and the whole boat creaked.  My cousin tried to do a pull-up and she can't budge herself upward.  But then she is just a girl and not strong like me.  She does a "hang-up" rather than a pull-up.  


Papa said that if I tried to do one pull-up every time I went down the companionway then I should be able to do 5 pull-up by the time I go home.  


Already I can do 2 pull-ups correctly.


Making progress!   

Xerxes the untrustful.

At Aiginia Town;, Peloponnese behind us; our boat at right

On July 1 while we were at Aigina Tutu told Bebe and me about this island. She told us abut how Xerxes betrayed the mainland twice, and that after he surrendered to the mainland for the first time he was given a reward for having the quickest navy on the seas. Xerxes army attacked Athens in 491BC which started the Persian Wars. Xerxes second attack on Athens was with Sparta (which is now a Turkish city called Izmir); this was in 459BC.

Tutu also told us about how women rarely get credit from the Greeks, and how there was a Greek women that took a Turkish city by tricking the Turks into giving her 20 massive ships. This was in the early 1800s. The Greeks never honored her, but the Russians were so impressed that the Russian government gave her title of  The Lady Admiral.  This lady came from an island called Spetses or Spetsopoula which is not too far from Aigina.  She was the first person to raise a Greek flag on Spetses in 1821.  Her name was Laskarina Bouboulina.  Then after telling us about Aigina`s history Tutu told us about Hydra`s history.  We want to go to Hydra.  They have only 3 vehicles on that island.  Then Tutu told us that we would have to explain to Papa what she just told us because he doesn't know this either.  Papa said he loves the lady's name -- Bouboulina.

Paddling the dinghy

Then later that day we went paddling in the dingy.  It was easy except that Bebe wouldn`t paddle.  She would just splash the water. When Papa took Bebe`s spot we actually got somewhere.  

BeBe cooked dinner

That night Bebe made her first meal with us. The meal was pasta with a meat sauce. It was good.

Aigina Town little harbor

Aigina Town

On July 2 we took a 30min trip to town for food. When we got to town we saw a lady on the sidewalk selling fruits and veggies she gave us 4 cherries for free. We tried them and they were delicious. So we went to the market and got what we needed and went back to the same lady and and bought some nectarines,apricots and lots of cherries. Then we went to the boat and sailed back to the same anchorage.  Tutu cooked hot dogs and we ate hot dogs and cherries while sailing back to the anchorage.

Buying cherries

Then later some of Tutu and Papa`s friends came. They came over and brought snacks and talked to us. Then after they left Tutu made a small dinner for her and Papa. BeBe and I had eaten too much popcorn and were not hungry for dinner.  Then we watched M.A.S.H., read our books and went to bed.

Sleeping in cockpit sailing

Swimming at Sounion

On July 3 we sailed to Sounion. I slept in the cockpit most of the way. Then when we arrived I jumped off the back of the boat so I could go swimming. While I was swimming I noticed that the water is extremely cold. Bebe did`t go swimming because she can't swim very well. The reason we didn't go to the beach is because there were hundreds of people on the beach for a Sunday swim.

My turn to cook dinner

Hot Milk Cake & fresh nectarines

Then later Tutu and I cooked dinner. I made a hot milk cake and peeled and cut some eggplant and potatoes.  I had cleaned green beans earlier.  Papa grilled steak while I cooked the vegetables. When the meal was done and we ate our dinner and then we got out the hot milk cake. I peeled some nectarines and Tutu made Dream Whip, which is like Cool Whip.  We put the Dream Whip on top of each slice of cake and then topped it with the nectarines.  It was great!  Bebe looked at it with disgust so Papa took it from her. Then Bebe started to cry and went to bed. Then we tried to cheer her up then she said, "Go away I hate you" Then out of all the sudden she came out and said, " Give me some cake". So then after her eating the cake we watched Titanic and went to bed.  We didn't get to read this night because the movie was so long and it was too late.

Poseidon's Temple

Playing on beach

On July 4 Bebe and I went to the beach while Tutu and Papa went up the hill to Poseidon Temple. When they came back we sailed 4 hours to Kythnos and went to the beach. Then we ate dinner watched Legend of the Falls, read our books and went to bed.

Building sandcastles at Sounion

On July 5 Bebe and I went to the beach again but this time I got a small sunburn. Also we made sand castles and tried to catch some fish. Then we went back to the boat and tried to fish again.

At beach on Sounioin

Then after that Tutu and I looked at goats on the mountain and spoiled American teenagers riding a jet ski very fast. The American teenagers were with their family on a very large blue motor yacht.  Then we ate dinner and watched How To Train A Dragon, read our books and went to bed.

Baiting hook to fish

Fishing off our boat

Girlie style fishing

Huge hot dogs!!!!!

On July 6 we took a long sail to a new marina in a place called Finicke or Finikas on the island of Sythos. At the marina we went out to look for something to eat and we found a restaurant that sold the biggest hotdogs ever.   They looked like they were longer than a 5 dollar foot long. Then after eating a huge amount of hotdog we went back to the boat and watched Leather Heads.  It was a really funny movie. Then I read with Tutu and went to bed.

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