Home » Archive by category 'AT PLAY' (Page 13)

AT PLAY

For the home enhancers, the foodies, the wanderers

All aboard! 

The Le Lyrial. One of the French company Ponant’s fleet, a petite ship carrying maximum 235 passengers plus crew. And a mighty crew it is, 148 to be exact. Photographers, beauticians, cabin attendants and wait staff; Chefs (12), bar tenders, musicians and dancers, excursion managers and engineers; our ship’s captain Olivier Marien and a cluster of crisp white clad officers.

Captain Marien looks way too young but exudes an air of confidence that tells us we’re not likely to do a ‘Costa’ any time soon. Proven as he and his team steer the ship deftly through the Corinth Canal aided by just one small tug-boat, the walls so close you could reach out and caress their rough lime surfaces. A spectacular experience enhanced with champagne and the strains of an accomplished violinist. One classy boat this! Or should I say ‘Tout à fait magnifique!’

But first we board (Athens), settle in, oooh and ahhh, take photos of cabin, ocean, heck anything that doesn’t move, knowing full well post holiday photo audience are already stifling yawns. Attend recon in the ship’s theatre announced in both French and English followed by life vest exercise where voice in head wonders exactly what that bit might be for followed by another exclaiming ‘dragging you back out of the water idiot!’ Note six months worth of French classes flinging themselves overboard…sans vests.

Choose this eve’s restaurant, forward deck? Pool deck? Decisions, decisions. Instead settle on sipping cocktail of the day up top while toning down slightly bogan voice in head screaming ‘Free alcohol? I LOVE this ship!’ Gazing at the French flag wafting gently in a softly muted sunset breeze, accompanied by a jazz singer with thigh gap and slinky Sade moves, I pause to admire the stippled wash of the ship’s wake. Reminds me of Wagu steak, fine dining tonight it is. Pinch self. My trusty travel bud Jen exclaims ‘If a girl’s gotta do a cruise, might as well do it in style yeah?’ A toast to her for choosing this gig. And to the coming days. And to…us…and you.


Now dedicated readers listen up. Dodgy ocean faring wifi will require temporary default to brief Facebook brags for fam and friends keen to enjoy a day by day account of Greek Island and Croatian onshore gigs. For those keen to learn more or contemplating a similar cruise, stay tuned for one biggie blog sharing a tad more detail, straight to you from our disembarking destination (Venice).

Bon voyage to me, love to youuuu! X

Sunsets and shopping the Santorini way..

So what’s a girl to do on the Isl of Santorini after a slog of shopping other than gaze at glorious Sunsets from her eyrie atop the volcanic ridge? Drop on down and view one from sea level of course. And what better way to do so than via a sleek cataramaran huh? So said half the island! I’m talking wall to wall catamarans, though no two the same, our discerning Aneon Villa hosts Alexandra, George and team selecting the best on which to luxuriate. And that’s exactly what we did. Heck why not, that’s what holidays are for yes?

If your popping said jaunt on your Santorini ‘must do’ list, may I suggest jumping on board the brand new 560 semi-private. A 22 person limit ‘spread yourself all over the decks’ wine in hand fest that most other cats don’t afford. Leisurely swims, snorkeling, drinkies and BBQ feasting while moored along side a red beach, a white one and a batch of hot springs for good measure. Oh! And a sail past Indian rock, Acrotiri and Aspronsi as well as the volcano and the Caldera cliffs of Imerogivli (where our home resides) and Oia, the perfect possie from which to watch that imitable sunset. Disembarking at Ammoudi harbour no mean feat as cat upon cat queue obediently to shed their sunburnt and slightly dazed cargo into the chaotic traffic. Not us for we are whisked away in a private van and dropped right on our doorstep. Too civilised by half.  (Sunset Oia Cruises)


Meanwhile, while Jen’s examining the shops or seeking shelter from the relentless sun, I’m climbing to the top of turrets, running down cobbled steps, dodging donkeys and tourists in my path to snap just one more shot. Just one more. Here’s a few faves:


Next stop…the cruise.

Posted in AT PLAY, Explore | Comments Off on Sunsets and shopping the Santorini way..

Santorini – infinity and beyond

Brilliant white villas enhanced with hues of blue and vibrant magenta bougainvillea atop a raw volcanic precipice tumbling into an ocean of the deepest sapphire blue. Santorini. The Greek Islands. You could conclude all that for yourself via Instagram but hey, if your planning on enjoying a vicarious holiday through my blog, gonna have to expect a tad of lyrical waxing.


That infinity pool? Our first day a compulsory relax, cocktail(s) in hand after a speed sleep in Anthens following a manic 140k spin from airport to city via a crazy Greek taxi driver fancying himself a formula one champ. This off the back of a 27 hour flight making for delirious giggling on our part. But I digress, about that pool!


Aenaon villas. A star spot in the Mr & Mrs Smith bible, stunningly simple and elegant, our hosts Alexandra and George and team sensing our every desire and damn they’re good at it. Positioned on the narrowest part of Imerovigli, Santorini, the villas offer the luxury of viewing both sunrise and sunset for which the islands are renowned, the latter from the cool waters of that very pool. And right now? Determining exactly where the ocean intersects with the sky through the shimmering mid summer haze, my new national pastime.

It’s a chaotic island teeming with cruise ship refugees swarming the narrow cobbled lanes lined with the usual jewelry, white linen and vibrant blue souvenirs depicting all things Greek that make up the main thoroughfares of Fira and Oia. The roads cluttered with on shore tourists on quad bikes weaving between buses and wary hire car folk like us. And that brilliant Agean Mediterranean, visible from almost every direction. Our eyrie a welcome respite after a day chanting ‘stay on the right, stay on the right!’




Of course you’re wanting to learn more about the olive tree that changed history. The three wineries where one can saviour ‘the unique volcanic taste and sea aromas’. The natural spring located inside the cave church of Zoodochos Pigi where one can quench one’s thirst after said wine. Nope. Saving that for later. Right now there’s a cataramaran waiting to whisk us away for one of those spectacular sunsets viewed from sea level. And wine! More wine.

1 … 11 12 13 14 15 … 81

close

Enjoy this blog? Please share the love...