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HI, I'M RICK STEVES.
FOR 20 SUMMERS I'VE BEEN EXPLORING EUROPE
WITH MY TRAVEL WRITING AND TEACHING IN MIND,
MAKING LOTS OF MISTAKES AND TAKING CAREFUL NOTES
IN HOPES THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES
RATHER THAN YOUR OWN.
IN THIS SERIES WE'RE EXPLORING THE BEST OF EUROPE.
THIS TIME WE'LL TOUR POPULAR SANTORINI --
AN ISLAND ON THE LIP OF A STILL-ACTIVE VOLCANO.
WE'LL ENJOY BEING A TOURIST
IN ITS QUINTESSENTIAL WHITE-WASHED VILLAGES,
VISIT AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG AT ONE OF ITS ANCIENT CITIES,
AND SWIM ON ITS BLACK-SAND BEACH.
THEN WE'LL CRUISE THE AEGEAN TO THE ISLAND OF SAMOS,
WHERE WE'LL TOUR ITS SIGHTS BY MOPED
AND VISIT THE RUINS OF AN ANCIENT TEMPLE
BEFORE RESTING IN A QUIET FISHING VILLAGE.
AND FINALLY WE'LL FEAST AND FROLIC
ON THE REMOTE SHORES OF LIPSI.
GREECE LIES BETWEEN ITALY AND TURKEY
ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.
STARTING IN ATHENS,
WE'LL TAKE AN OVERNIGHT FERRY TO THE ISLAND OF SANTORINI.
THEN WE'LL HEAD EAST TO THE LARGER ISLAND OF SAMOS,
AND FINISH WITH A SIDE TRIP TO TINY LIPSI.
IT'S BY SHIP
THAT PEOPLE HAVE ISLAND-HOPPED THE AEGEAN FOR CENTURIES.
THIS OVERNIGHT BOAT FROM ATHENS TO SANTORINI
OFFERS TICKETS IN SEVERAL CLASSES.
DECK CLASS IS CHEAPEST AND CAN MEAN LITERALLY ON THE DECK.
FOR A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS, AN AIRPLANE-TYPE SEAT
CAN MAKE LIFE CONSIDERABLY MORE COMFORTABLE.
AND FOR EVEN MORE COMFORT, TRY FIRST CLASS.
ALONG WITH SOFT CHAIRS AND TABLES,
YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF SOME SLEEP IN A STATEROOM.
OUR CABIN HAS A WINDOW AND A PRIVATE SHOWER.
CHEAPER CABINS OFFER A SHOWER DOWN THE HALL.
BY THE WAY, EVEN PASSENGERS WITHOUT A STATEROOM
CAN GO DOWN TO THE CHEAP CABIN DECK
AND GRAB A FREE HOT SHOWER.
GREEK FERRIES ARE REASONABLY PRICED.
IN FACT, THIS ALL-NIGHT CRUISE
INCLUDING BEDS IN A COMFORTABLE STATEROOM IS COSTING US LESS
THAN WHAT WE PAID FOR OUR HOTEL IN ATHENS LAST NIGHT.
WHILE SPEEDY TRAVELERS
CAN FLY FROM ATHENS TO THE MAJOR GREEK ISLES,
WE'RE IN THE AEGEAN TO RELAX,
FEEL THE BREEZE,
AND HAVE A LITTLE ADVENTURE.
FOR ME, THAT'S BEST DONE ON THE FERRY BOATS.
SUNRISE AND OUR GREEK ISLAND DREAM COME TRUE -- SANTORINI.
THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, THIS WAS ONE ISLAND,
A VOLCANO NAMED THIRA.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE CHRIST,
A HUGE ERUPTION BLEW AWAY MOST OF THE ISLAND,
LEAVING A FLOODED CRATER
SURROUNDED BY FIVE SMALL ISLANDS.
TODAY, SANTORINI -- ONE OF THE REMAINING ISLANDS --
IS A LIP OF THE CRATER, LINED WITH TOURISTS.
FOR 3,500 YEARS,
THE VOLCANO HAS DESTROYED A SERIES OF ISLAND SETTLEMENTS,
THE LATEST IN 1956 WHEN IT TOPPLED 2,000 HOUSES.
YET, LOCALS STILL BUILD AND TOURISTS STILL COME.
WHY?
THOSE WHO VISIT WILL UNDERSTAND.
LUCKILY, WE'RE ARRIVING HERE IN MID-SEPTEMBER,
JUST AFTER THE PEAK SUMMER MONTHS.
ALTHOUGH THIS LOOKS PRETTY BUSY,
MOST OF THE STUDENTS HAVE GONE HOME.
AND HUNGRY LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS
ARE EAGER TO TALK US INTO FOLLOWING THEM
TO THEIR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE PENSION.
[ talking indistinctly ]
Rick: YES.
SHOWER IN ROOM. TWO BED.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE OUR ROOMS.
WITH MINIBUSES AND MINI-PICKUPS, PENSION OPERATORS
SHUTTLE NEW ARRIVALS TO THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS.
UPSCALE TRAVELERS GENERALLY ARRIVE BY AIR
AND STAY AT ONE OF THE MANY RENTAL VILLAS OR POSH HOTELS.
SANTORINI'S MAIN TOWN, THIRA, IS AN EXOTIC WHITE-WASHED TOWN
OFFERING THE QUINTESSENTIAL GREEK ISLAND EXPERIENCE.
TOURISTS COME YEAR AFTER YEAR TO SOAK UP THE SUN
AND STROLL THE TINY LANES OF THIS TOWN
PERCHED 700 HUNDRED FEET ABOVE THE SEA.
SO WHAT IF SANTORINI'S A LITTLE TOURISTY?
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY BAD.
THERE'S LOTS OF SHOPPING, ENGLISH MENUS, FRUITY DRINKS,
AND PLENTY OF BRITISH AND SCANDINAVIAN FELLOW TRAVELERS.
WE ALL ENJOY THE SPECTACULAR PHYSICAL SETTING
AND UNMATCHED VIEWS IRONICALLY CREATED BY THE VOLCANO.
BUT DON'T LET BEING A TOURIST
GET IN THE WAY OF ENJOYING SOME AUTHENTIC GREEK TREATS.
YOGURT AND HONEY IS A WONDERFUL LOCAL TRADITION.
GREEK YOGURT COMES PLAIN AND SUPER CREAMY.
MIX IN A LITTLE HONEY AND I'M ONE HAPPY HEDONIST.
MMM.
[ moped putting ]
ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF A TOURIST HOT SPOT,
CAN BE THE VERY CONVENIENT TOURS.
EVEN FOR THE MOST INDEPENDENT-MINDED TRAVELERS,
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN AN ORGANIZED BUS TOUR
IS A FINE WAY TO SPEND HALF A DAY.
AT NOON OUR BUS LEAVES FOR THE FIVE-HOUR TOUR
OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF SANTORINI.
Tour guide: Kalimera.
Kalimera IS THE GREEK WORD FOR "GOOD MORNING."
THIS IS YOUR GUIDE SPEAKING, AND MY NAME IS EVIE.
NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHERE WE GO
AND WHAT WE'LL SEE TODAY.
THIS TOUR INCLUDES A VISIT TO THE ANCIENT RUINS OF AKROTIRI,
A LITTLE FREE TIME
ON ONE OF THE ISLAND'S BEST BLACK-SAND BEACHES,
PLENTY OF INFORMATION,
AND A RIDE TO THE SUMMIT OF THE ISLAND FOR A GRAND VIEW.
UP HERE, BEGINNING IN THE 18th CENTURY,
THE MONKS IN THE MONASTERY
PRESERVED AND TAUGHT THE GREEK LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
DURING CENTURIES OF TURKISH OCCUPATION.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN, ON OUR WAY TO AKROTIRI.
WITHOUT WHEELS WE'D STILL BE BACK IN THIRA.
THE TOUR GIVES THE ISLAND
AN AIR-CONDITIONED ONCE-OVER-LIGHTLY
AND GETS US HOME IN TIME FOR DINNER.
AND HERE IT IS, AKROTIRI, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS TOUR.
AKROTIRI IS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE DIG I'VE SEEN
IN THE ENTIRE AEGEAN, INCLUDING ANYTHING ON CRETE.
THIS WAS A LARGE CITY.
WITH ONLY ABOUT 1/30th OF THE CITY UNEARTHED,
MUCH ARCHEOLOGICAL WORK REMAINS.
AN ADVANCED CIVILIZATION THRIVED HERE
FROM 2,000 B.C. UNTIL ABOUT 1,500 B.C.,
WHEN THE ISLAND EXPLODED
IN ONE OF THE LARGEST VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
IN THE HISTORY OF OUR PLANET.
THE BOOM FROM THE ERUPTION WAS HEARD IN SCANDINAVIA
AND WAS FOLLOWED BY MONTHS OF DARKNESS.
THE CITY REVEALED BENEATH THE THICK LAYERS OF ASH AND PUMICE
SHOWS A PLAN NOT TOO DIFFERENT
FROM PRESENT-DAY VILLAGES ON SANTORINI.
NARROW STREETS WIDEN HERE AND THERE INTO SQUARES.
HOUSES LINE THE STREETS,
SOME THREE, POSSIBLY FOUR STORIES HIGH.
Guide: THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT THIS WAS A PUBLIC BUILDING.
IN FACT, SOME ARCHEOLOGISTS ARE CONVINCED
THAT THIS WAS THE ADMINISTRATION CENTER OF THE TOWN.
ON THE GROUND FLOOR THERE ARE SOME 20 ROOMS,
NOT ALL OF THEM INVESTIGATED.
A WEALTH OF POTTERY CONTINUES TO BE UNEARTHED.
AND MOST EXCITING, PERHAPS,
HAS BEEN THE DISCOVERY OF BEAUTIFULLY PAINTED WALLS.
THE FRESCOES, NOW REMOVED TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM IN ATHENS,
TELL US MUCH ABOUT THE LIFE OF THESE ANCIENT PEOPLE.
TO DATE, THE ONLY INTACT ROOM TO BE UNCOVERED
CONTAINED THIS FRESCO OF LILIES OR PAPYRUS AND SWALLOWS.
IT'S AN IDYLLIC SPRING SCENE
OF FLIRTING BIRDS AND SPRING BLOSSOMS EXPLAINED BY THE GUIDE
WITH THE HELP OF COLOR PHOTOS OF THE ORIGINALS.
ONE MURAL DETAILS A GREAT SEA BATTLE.
THESE YOUNG BOXERS EVIDENTLY SHAVED THEIR HEADS
AND SPORTED LONG LOCKS OF CURLS.
Guide: IT SEEMS THAT SHAVED HEADS WAS AN INDICATION OF YOUTH.
YOUNG PEOPLE OF BOTH SEXES -- THEY USED TO HAVE THEM --
THAT HAIRCUT.
AND THE FISHING MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD.
Guide: HE'S NAKED.
HE'S A FISHERMAN CARRYING HIS FISH.
THEY LOOK TO BE TUNA FISH.
SOME BELIEVE THIS MAY HAVE BEEN
THE LOST CIVILIZATION OF ATLANTIS.
AND MANY FIGURE IT WAS A TIDAL WAVE CREATED BY THIS ERUPTION
THAT SWEPT AWAY THE MINOAN CIVILIZATION
ON THE ISLAND OF CRETE, JUST 75 MILES SOUTH OF HERE.
PROBABLY THE TIDAL WAVE DISRUPTED THEIR MERCHANT FLEET
AND WITH IT THE MINOAN ECONOMY.
CARBON DATING SHOWS THE MINOANS SURVIVED THE TIDAL WAVE,
BUT STEADILY DECLINED
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL CENTURIES.
SINCE ARCHEOLOGISTS FOUND NO BONES AND NO JEWELRY,
THEY FIGURED THAT THE INHABITANTS OF AKROTIRI
EXPECTED THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION
AND FLED THE ISLAND BEFORE IT BLEW.
THE ASH- AND MUD-COVERED REMAINS
OF A ONCE BUSY COMMUNITY ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT.
OUR LAST STOP IS THE BEACH.
A REMINDER OF ITS VOLCANIC PAST,
SANTORINI HAS A GREAT BLACK-SAND BEACH.
ONE OF THE BEST SWIMMING SPOTS ON THE ISLAND.
YOU CAN GET GOOD SWIMMING AND SUNBATHING
ON THE GREEK ISLES THROUGH OCTOBER.
THAT GIVES US ABOUT... SEVEN MORE WEEKS.
BUT WE WON'T SPEND IT ALL HERE.
TEMPTING AS IT MIGHT BE TO BECOME A RUNAWAY BEACH BUM,
WE'VE GOT OTHER FISH TO FRY AND OTHER ISLANDS TO HOP.
TOURIST MONEY KEEPS THE GREEK ISLANDS AFLOAT.
GREEK ISLAND TRAVEL AGENCIES
ARE EAGER TO HELP YOU WITH TOURS, MOPED RENTALS,
BOAT TICKETS, AND FLIGHTS.
WE NEED TO LINE UP OUR BOAT RIDE TO SAMOS.
SINCE THERE ARE MANY COMPETING BOAT COMPANIES,
AGENCIES SELLING ONE LINE CAN'T GIVE US ALL OUR OPTIONS.
FOR ALL THE INFORMATION UNDER ONE ROOF,
WE'RE GOING TO THE PORT AUTHORITY.
THE MAN IN THE PORT OFFICE HAS ALL THE SCHEDULES --
THAT'S HIS JOB.
HE TELLS ME THE BEST BOAT FOR US LEAVES TOMORROW AT 4:00.
...AT 4:00 BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY...
HELLO.
TOMORROW I'D LIKE TO BUY A TICKET
FROM SANTORINI TO PAROS TO SAMOS.
AND I THINK WE WANT TO LEAVE AT 4:00
IN THE AFTERNOON.
OKAY!
OUR TRAVEL CHORES ARE FINISHED; NOW WE CAN RELAX.
ON SANTORINI, ITINERARIES ARE TOSSED INTO THE SEA
AND COUPLES HAVE ONLY ONE APPOINTMENT TO KEEP:
THE SUN'S DAILY REMINDER THAT THE GREEK ISLANDS
ARE A PLACE FOR ROMANCE.
YOUR EXPERIENCE IN GREECE IS SHAPED BY WHEN YOU VISIT.
[ bell clanging ]
BEER TIME.
SUMMER BREAK IS ONE LONG COLLEGE PARTY:
CROWDED, EXPENSIVE AND HOT.
A CRUISE TODAY CUTS THROUGH THE SAME WATERS
THAT GREAT GALLEYS PATROLLED DURING GREECE'S GOLDEN AGE.
IN THE 5th CENTURY B.C.,
ATHENS EXPANDED ITS CONTROL THROUGHOUT THE AEGEAN,
UNITING CITIES AND ISLANDS INTO THE SHORT-LIVED DELIAN LEAGUE.
AT ITS PEAK, 300 WARSHIPS, MANNED BY 60,000 OARSMEN
PLIED THESE WATERS, TAKING SLAVES, AND COLLECTING TAXES
THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND-DOTTED AEGEAN.
SINCE THERE'S NO DIRECT CONNECTION
FROM SANTORINI TO SAMOS,
WE'RE SAILING FROM SANTORINI TO PAROS,
A HUB IN THE GREEK ISLAND FERRY SYSTEM,
AND CONNECTING TO SAMOS.
FROM SAMOS WE'LL SIDE-TRIP TO THE TINY ISLAND OF LIPSI,
WHICH DOESN'T EVEN SHOW ON MOST MAPS.
ANY TIME OF YEAR, ISLAND-HOPPING IS EASIEST
IF YOU STICK TO A SERIES OF ISLANDS
SERVED DAILY FROM ATHENS.
GOING AGAINST THE FLOW --
LIKE CONNECTING SANTORINI AND SAMOS --
CAN CAUSE NEEDLESS FRUSTRATIONS.
WE HAVE A FEW HOURS TO KILL HERE ON PAROS
BEFORE CATCHING OUR NIGHT BOAT TO SAMOS.
IT'S MORNING AND WE'VE ARRIVED ON SAMOS,
ONE OF THE LARGER GREEK ISLANDS.
BY AEGEAN STANDARDS, IT'S LUSH, HISTORIC, AND NOT TOO TOURISTY.
THE ISLAND IS A SHORT HOP TO THE TURKISH MAINLAND.
SAMOS TOWN, THE MAIN CITY, IS EASY.
SEVERAL DECENT HOTELS LINE THE HARBOR FRONT.
FROM HERE IT'S EASY TO PLAN
A VARIETY OF ISLAND EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES.
AND A PUBLIC PHONE
MAKES IT EASY TO TAKE CARE OF SOME TRAVEL DETAILS.
OFTENTIMES, A PAY PHONE IS MORE CONVENIENT
THAN RENTING OR BUYING A CELL PHONE WHILE IN EUROPE.
AND LIKE THE REST OF THE CONTINENT,
GREECE HAS PHASED OUT COIN-OPERATED TELEPHONES
IN FAVOR OF VANDAL-RESISTANT CARD-OPERATED BOOTHS.
THESE CARDS HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE VARIOUS AMERICAN PHONE CARDS.
YOU BUY THESE LOCALLY, USUALLY AT A KIOSK OR THE POST OFFICE.
SMART TRAVELERS DO LOTS OF CHORES BY TELEPHONE.
ALL RIGHT, THE TEMPLE OF HERA'S OPEN UNTIL 3:00.
AND WITH A PHONE CALL,
WE LINED UP OUR TRANSPORTATION FOR TODAY: MOPEDS.
IF YOU CAN RIDE, THIS IS A CHEAP AND BREEZY --
IF A BIT DANGEROUS -- WAY TO EXPLORE SAMOS.
YOU'LL FIND MOPEDS FOR RENT ON NEARLY EVERY GREEK ISLAND.
MY WIFE AND I USUALLY SHARE ONE,
BUT WITH THESE GUTLESS WONDERS,
OUR PRODUCER JOHN AND I EACH GOT ONE.
WE'LL BE CHECKING A MONASTERY...
AN ANCIENT TEMPLE...
AND A GREAT BEACH TOWN, BEFORE RETURNING TO SAMOS TOWN.
THAT'S ABOUT 25 MILES.
WITH A MOPED WE CAN GET A FEEL FOR LIFE OUTSIDE THE TOWN.
THESE MOPEDS ARE LIKE BIKES WITH A MOTOR.
THEY SEEM SIMPLE, BUT TAKE IT EASY --
TRAVELERS TAKE A LOT OF SPILLS.
HELMETS AREN'T REQUIRED IN THIS COUNTRY.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN AVAILABLE.
SO WE'RE BEING EXTRA CAREFUL ON THESE BIKES.
BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THIS TINY FAMILY CHAPEL
REMINDS US HOW RELIGION PERMEATES THE CREEK CULTURE.
IN THE GREEK ORTHODOX RELIGION, ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH --
LAYMEN, PRIESTS, BISHOPS -- ARE CONSIDERED EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE.
THE FAMILY CHAPEL IS A SANCTUARY
WHERE GOD'S LOVE OF MAN AND MAN'S LOVE OF GOD
CAN BE EXPRESSED ON A DAILY BASIS.
AS YOU RIDE,
YOU'LL NOTICE YOUR MAP LISTS AS MANY MONASTERIES AS TOWNS --
LIKE THE SPILIANI MONASTERY, WHICH WELCOMES GUESTS.
THE ORIGINAL MONASTERY, IN A CAVE AT THIS SITE,
DATES TO THE 11th CENTURY.
[ monks chanting ]
THE CAVE IS COOL AND QUIET,
REFRESHING AFTER THE HOT AND NOISY ROAD.
LIFE IN A GREEK ORTHODOX MONASTERY
IS SIMPLE AND ASCETIC.
THE MONKS ARE MOSTLY LAYMEN, NOT CLERICS,
WHO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO MEDITATION AND PRAYER
TO ACHIEVE A UNION WITH CHRIST.
[ chanting continues ]
MONASTERIES DOT THE ISLAND LANDSCAPES.
IN A CAVE MUCH LIKE THIS ONE, ON THE NEXT ISLAND, PATMOS,
THE EVANGELIST JOHN WROTE THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS,
THE LAST BOOK IN THE BIBLE.
BELOW THE MONASTERY LIES THE TOWN OF PYTHAGORIO,
WHICH SITS ON TOP OF THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF THE ISLAND.
THIS WAS CALLED TIGANI UNTIL 1956, WHEN THE NAME WAS CHANGED
TO HONOR THE ISLAND'S MOST FAMOUS SON:
THE PRE-SOCRATIC PHILOSOPHER PYTHAGORAS.
[ calls greeting ]
BEST REMEMBERED TODAY FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO MATHEMATICS,
HIS DISCIPLES SPREAD BELIEFS
THAT ALSO TREATED SLAVES HUMANELY,
THE SEXES AS EQUAL,
AND ANIMALS WITH RESPECT.
[ meows ]
SAMOS WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISLANDS
IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, A CENTER OF LEARNING.
BUT ONLY A FEW REMNANTS OF PAST GREATNESS REMAIN.
OUTSIDE OF PYTHAGORIO IS THE TEMPLE OF HERA.
NOT MUCH IS LEFT.
ORIGINALLY A LARGE TEMPLE WITH TWO ROWS OF COLUMNS,
133 IN ALL, ONLY ONE STILL STANDS.
EARLY GREEKS BELIEVED THAT HERA,
QUEEN OF THE GODS AND WIFE AND SISTER TO ZEUS,
WAS BORN NEAR HERE.
TWICE A YEAR IN ANCIENT TIMES,
LARGE NUMBERS OF CELEBRANTS CAME FROM THE SEA
BY THE SACRED WAY, PASSING HUGE STATUES,
AS THEY CAME TO WORSHIP THE POWERFUL GODDESS.
ON TO THE BEACH!
THE TOWN OF KOKKARI IS IDEAL FOR TWO SADDLE-SORE EASY RIDERS
OR ANY WEARY TRAVELER.
THIS LAID-BACK BEACH ALMOST REQUIRES RELAXATION.
[ waves hissing ]
THE TOWN IS A GREAT PLACE TO SETTLE IN: PLENTY OF dhomatio,
THAT'S GREEK FOR BED AND BREAKFAST,
THE BEST SKIPPING ROCKS I'VE SEEN IN AGES,
AND NO SHORTAGE OF FISHERMAN WHO'VE GRADUATED
FROM MENDING NETS TO FLIPPING WORRY BEADS.
WHAT A FINE PLACE TO END OUR EXPLORATION OF SAMOS.
DAWN AND WE'RE REALLY HEADING OFF THE BEATEN PATH.
WE'RE ON A HYDROFOIL TO LIPSI.
LATELY, HYDROFOILS ARE OFFERING A SPEEDY ALTERNATIVE
FOR ISLAND HOPPING.
THEY'RE HALF AS RELAXING, TWICE AS FAST, AND DOUBLE THE COST.
WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING A UN-TOURISTY ISLAND,
THE TRICK IS TO FIND ONE JUST BIG ENOUGH
TO HAVE REGULAR BOAT SERVICE,
BUT NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE A PROMOTIONAL BUDGET.
LIPSI FILLS THE BILL.
MOST VISITORS DON'T SPEND THE NIGHT,
BUT LIPSI HAS JUST ENOUGH COMMERCE
TO KEEP US FED AND WATERED.
AND THERE'S OUR ISLAND HOME.
HELLO.
HELLO.
Kalimera.
[ laughs ]
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?
MY BEST GREEK MEMORIES ARE IN TOWNS WITH NO HOTELS.
NO HOTELS?
THAT'S OKAY.
WE'RE STAYING IN AN EXTRA ROOM AT ANNA'S HOUSE,
SORT OF A GREEK B&B.
THIS dhomatio IS SIMPLE, CHEAP, AND VERY REAL.
[ lively folk music plays ]
ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISE REACHES EVEN THE SMALL ISLANDS.
DAY-TRIPPERS FROM A TOUR BOAT BRING OUT THE LOCAL DANCERS.
IN A PLACE LIKE LIPSI, YOU WON'T FIND A MENU.
THIS IS A FUN OPPORTUNITY
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FRIENDLY GREEK TRADITION
OF WELCOMING CUSTOMERS INTO THE KITCHEN
TO SEE WHAT'S COOKING.
HAVE SOME FUN.
SAMPLE WHAT YOU LIKE.
ORDERING THIS WAY, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.
TSATZIKI IS A REFRESHING CUCUMBER, GARLIC, YOGURT DIP
FOR YOUR BREAD.
THIS COULD BE A MEAL IN ITSELF.
BUT WITH SO MUCH LOOKING SO GOOD,
LET'S CALL THAT AN APPETIZER.
GREEK COOKING HAS CHANGED LITTLE SINCE THE TIME OF PLATO,
WHO GRAVELY DISCUSSED SUCH QUESTIONS AS
WHAT KINDS OF FISH SHOULD BE BAKED AND WHAT KINDS BOILED.
OTHER CLASSICAL WRITERS DESCRIBE THE ADDITION OF HERBS,
LIKE OREGANO, BASIL, DILL, AND MINT,
TO LAMB AND VEGETABLE DISHES STILL POPULAR TODAY.
AND THEN AS NOW,
A MEAL WAS A SOCIAL OCCASION --
EATING ALONE ONLY TO BE TOLERATED
IF NO OTHER OPTION EXISTED.
RESIDENTS LIKE TO RELAX ON THE SMALL, PRIVATE TOWN SQUARE.
YOU'LL FIND A SLEEPY TAVERNA AND A LOCAL PARTNER
READY AND WILLING TO PLAY YOU A GAME OF BACKGAMMON:
THE NATIONAL PASTIME.
[ Rick groans ]
LIPSI'S MORE REMOTE BEACHES ARE AN HOUR'S HIKE AWAY.
NORMALLY, THESE PICK-UPS ARE HAPPY TO BE YOUR TAXI.
LOCAL LEGEND HAS IT THAT THIS ISLAND IS WHERE CALYPSO
HELD ODYSSEUS AS A LOVE CAPTIVE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
HMMM.
I SUPPOSE THESE ROMANTIC BEACHES
ESTABLISH THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE FOR THE LEGEND.
THIS IS PURE GREEK PARADISE.
WELL, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE GREEK ISLES.
FROM THE ROMANTIC WHITE-WASHED VILLAGES OF SANTORINI,
TO THE SLEEPY FISHING VILLAGES OF SAMOS,
TO THESE REMOTE BEACHES OF LIPSI,
AND WITH SOME OF THE MOST RELAXING CRUISING IN BETWEEN,
WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE TRUE JEWELS OF THE AEGEAN SEA.
I'M RICK STEVES AND THIS IS HAPPY TRAVELS.