Evia September 2001 (Eretria, Hotel Miramare)

This year we spend 3 weeks on the island of Evia, the second large island of Greece. Evia is situated about 60 km in the east of Athens. There are not many tourists here yet, so knowing some Greek words is helpful. The area around Eretria is a weekend- and holidayressort for Athens, especially in July and August there is high life on the streets. Eretria is the destination of the ferry from Skala Oropu (mainland, 35 min, every half hour, costs 1 EUR p.P.). There is a bar-/tavernazone next to the water, which is full of people only on Saturday night in September. Besides you can find some shops and a big supermarket in the town. In the back of the village you can visit some ruins of Old-Eretria. For going to town you should use the bus, because the way by foot ist very dangerous. You can also use a taxi, which costs about four times as a bus-ticket (from hotel to town 4 EUR). Every Sunday there is market here next to the roundabout at the harbour office.

Tour tips:

Amarynthos (walking, 1,5 h):

- next town in the south of the hotel
- the same as Eretria, but no ferry
- better use the bus

Kimi (bus, 2h):

- Town in the east of the island with ferry to Skiros
- the way is the aim: nice tour through the mountains of Evia
- in the town itself there are not many sights, a toilet is below the main church

Halkida (bus, 1h):

- Capital of Evia
- here you see why Evia is an island: a 30 m wide channel separates the island from the mainland
- from the castle on the mainlandside (closed) you can take a nice view over the city
- in town there are many opportunities for shopping, tavernas you can find next to the water

Skala Oropu (bus+ferry):

- town at the destination of the ferry from Eretria, the same as Eretria
- on Saturday big market

Athens:

There are many facts to report about the Greek capital, so here is an extra sector:
There are 2 ways to go to Athens from hotel: Every 2 hours you can go by a direct bus (about 2h), this bus ends some kilometers outside the centre, so you have to go by Elektrikos (subway, 0,6 EUR). The other opportunity: with the HalkidaBus to Eretria, by ferry to Skala Oropu and there with the NeaAttikaBus to Athens. This costs you 3h, the bus stops only about 20 minutes to walk from the Plaka. Both ways costs about 12 EUR p.P. two ways. You can take the SAGA-Bus, too, but this costs about 40 EUR p.P.
Athens has many problems with traffic jam. 5 million inhabitants with 1 million cars cause a chaos you haven't seen yet! As a pedestrian you should take extremly care and don't rely on green traffic lights.
But now let's take a look on the sights of the city. As first you should visit the Acropolis, which gives you a good landmark over the city. Admission fee is 6 EUR. From the Acropolis you can take a very nice view over the whole metropole, houses till the horizon. Beside the entrance you can climb the Areopag, a rock from which you can take fine fotos of the Acropolis. Below the Areopag is situated a large archeological area. Behind this you can find the Plaka, the old Athens. Here the tourists can spend all their money, there are many tavernas and souvenir shops. Don't miss the parliament! Every odd hour you can attend the exchange of the guards. Behind the Parliament the National Garden gives you a fine opportunity to relax. On the other side of National Garden you can find the old Olympic Stadium. Athens is not so good for shopping, it is expensive and there are only two warehouses: Marks&Spencer at the Plaka and Hondos-Center at the Omonia-Place.
We also made a trip to Pireus, taking the subway nr. 1. The large ferry harbour is really interesting, every other bay is used as yacht harbour. In the pedestrian area you can find payable restaurants.
Sum: If you are on Evia, you shouldn't miss Athens. But don't spend your holidays there!

food:

The food at hotel is fantastic! In the morning and in the evening there was a large buffet, at the evening with 3 sorts of meat, at least one sort of fish and many salads. You may choose between real Greek food (Moussaka, Stifado) and continental food (Snitsel, Spaghetti). It was the best hotel cuisine we ever had. About 50m away from hotel you find the taverna Romeo, which gives you a big choice of Greek food, but in hotel it tastes better. In town there are many bars and tavernas, but we didn't find a secret hint.

money

2 EC-stations are situated in town next to the bus stop

beach:

narrow sand beach. It is only used by hotel guests and well cleaned.

hotel:

The Miramare is a Best-Western-Hotel. The rooms are small but equiped with aircondition and satellite TV (BBCWorld). We lived in the main house, with a balcony to the pool (besides there is the indoor-swimming pool). So we had the best places on events such as Greek Evening. The hotel guests came from different countries such as Great Britian (SAGA-Tours), France, Netherlands and Germany. The service personal is well trained, especially the waiters are very professional.

sum up:

Eretria is a fine place to spend your holidays.

Our hotel	Athens-bus on the ferry	View from Acropolis to the theater of Dionysos
traffic in Athens	Athens from Acropolis
Entrance of Acropolis from Areopag	old Olympic Stadium
Soldiers in front of Parliament	Miramare Beach