homesick...

This time last year I finally set eyes on Kalymnos, and I tell you, it looked nothing like I'd imagined. For one, it was massive! Everyone of my family had been telling me that it was a tiny island with not much to do. Another lie! There was plenty to do!


I cant even describe the awesomeness that was those first few days in Kalymnos, and Greece in general. It was awesome to spend some time with family touring around places i'd been hearing about since i was a kid.

And the beaches! Beautiful clear water, no waves and no sand! Life couldn''t get any better! But it did...the food, oh the food. Words cannot describe the deliciousness of the food we ate that week. Nathan in particular fell in love with gyros...yum!


I miss you Kalymnos...


♥ M

the sun rises (and never sets) in Athens...

This time last year we had arrived in Athens, somewhere i'd been dreaming of for years.

From the moment I stepped off the plane I could feel the heat seeping into my bones. I don't know whether you've ever been to Athens, but Athens airport has the worst customs section. No sniffer dogs, no xray machines, no body scans. Get your passport stamped and off you go! It was just too easy!
First impressions of Greece - drier than expected. No lush greenery covering the countryside, in fact it was more like a gentle scattering of dry green plants. And rocky!

I must admit, at 730am, almost dying in a taxi was not what i had expected. And within those first few minutes, i realised that we had definately entered into another world. I couldn't even imagine driving the way that they consider normal. Blinkers? Optional extras... Lanes? Merely guidelines! Add all of this onto the terror I already felt (i was sitting in the drivers seat AND NOT DRIVING!!!)
Anyway we spent that first day drinking frappes and fresh lemonade (yum!), getting to know the lay of the land, applying numerous coats of sunscreen and failing to stay out of the sun.

We managed to fight the jetlag and heat until about 5 in the arvo when we eventually crashed onto the bed in our beautifully cool and rather tiny hotel room, both of us thinking the same thing... thank god for AIR CONDITIONING!!!



♥ M

one year plane-a-versary...

This time last year I was boarding a plane, dreaming of Europe and ready for an adventure.

sad panda

♥ M

Operation; Think Happy (pt 3)

"I pledge to list 7 things that makes me happy, that makes me thankful, that makes me love life!"

1. Seeing many familiar faces and catching up on the in's and out's

2. Graduation!

3. Feeling all special and grown up...well kinda

4. Galaktoboureko - and if you don't know what that is, you're missing out on the best cake ever!

5. Knowing that we are over half way in booking Europe accommodation...

6. Dancing and all kinds of night time craziness

7. Spending hours lounging in front of the TV watching cooking shows and then spending the next 2 hours craving whatever food they were cooking!

♥ M

going strong...

Well look at this, this is the second day (in a row mind you) that I am blogging...

Maybe this exercise will actually work after all! Mind you I don't really have anything to write about :)

The heat is sweltering in Sydney's south western suburbs today, and when you don't have the luxury of air conditioning it's just...hmm whats that word I'm looking for...bleh. And what better thing to do on such a day? Attend a baby shower! BINGO! I got to dress up and play baby games whilst not uttering the word baby otherwise I would forfeit my pin...Seriously guys who comes up with these games?

Perhaps the key is to get some mimosas going whilst you play them...I know that would make them a lot better for the guests!

Europe update: We missed out on the beautiful penthouse in Rome that we were going to rent for 5 nights :( but we have most likely booked another nice apartment for us to stay. AND we have found our accomodation in Santorini. It's just gorgeous! Right in Fira with views of the caldera.

Well I must depart as I did say this post was going to be a whole lot of nothing, so I can finish guzzling down the rest of my cool now warm bottle of lemon, lime and bitters and start dreaming of Santorini...

♥ M

we're going in...

Welcome to the world of panda-marnie-um where things are not always as they seem, but most of the time it's safe to assume they are.

I've decided that 2010 is THE year.

THE year to start working...though this is not of choice. I recently finished my degrees and so I'm entering into the big wide world of full time employment.

THE year I'm finally going to travel to Europe. Yes ladies and gentlemen, in August this year (and I can finally say THIS year) I will be embarking on a 9 week adventure through the countries of Europe. Sadly I still don't think it's long enough but it is longer than some people will ever have, and hey I'm finally going so I don't think I can really complain too much.

And most importantly it's THE year I am going to start writing more. I've realised over the last year that I miss writing so much but with uni and assessments and working 3 jobs, it kinda got pushed too far down the list for me to care anymore. Well now I have no more excuses (no matter what I say from here on in).

It's going to be interesting for all of us, that i'm quite sure of.

until next time...

♥ M