On Greece not Too long ago

Having visited many european cities long ago, this post shall serve to remind me of the major stops of my trip, and my thoughts on each of them.

Athens
Athens was the first major stop of the journey. Well, technically, I reached rome before athens, but our first day in rome was just restricted to the airport anyway, which wasnt very eventful, except for the fact that a new card game was born. Athens was... in my opinion, the worst stop of the trip. Not that it was horrible, but the others were simply better. Athens was just a normal city, sprinkled with pieces of archeological remains. Nothing spectacular though; the major landmark, acropolis was decent, but marred by the crowd and the rather hideous scaffolding. Worthwhile to visit once in your life, but nothing I've seen that will see you coming back for seconds. Oh wait, maybe the anchovies we tasted were enough. That's about it.
Rating: 6/10

Hania
Charming Hania was the second stop on the greece trip. Hania may be a small town, and it may not even feature on most traveller's plans, but it is one of my favourite places in greece. It has a certain quiet charm about it, a place far away from the hustle bustle of city life. It reminded me of Hallstatt (even though i still prefer hallstatt), picturesque, peaceful, and it resonates strongly with me. Other than the main town itself, the surroundings are also splendidly beautiful. Who could forget the nearby spendid beaches of kassimos and falarsarna; and of course the breathtaking samaria gorges? A real gem, in my opinion.
Rating: 9.5/10

Heraklion
Iraklios looks modern, but an interesting mix of industries, modern roads, and an ancient venetian harbour makes this a compulsory stop for anyone going to crete. I don't fancy the nearby overhyped minoan remains (not a fan of ruins), but the town itsel boost a harbour with a charm that can only be experienced if you go there yourself. A pretty decent place, in my opinion.
Rating: 7.5/10

Santorini
Tourist-packed Santorini enjoyed numerous good reviews and raves about its beauty and it is for a good reason - this place is a compulsory visit for anyone doing the tour of Greek Islands. True enough, you must share the place with swarms of tourists, but these are not sufficient to take away the wonders of the caldera. A sunset here is a must; this place is a wonder for photographic enthusiasists. Do remember to take a trip up Ancient Thira though; the ruins up there are decent and gives a nice view of the black beaches below, which are pretty good in any way. Otherwise, just relax around the island and have fun being a tourist, just for the time you are there.
Rating: 8/10

Meteora
Another touristy place, but well worth the effort to go there. The cliffs and the monasteries perched precariously on the rocks are a sight to behold, and who could forget the classic sight of seeing the whole town of kalambaka flanked by two gigantic rocks from way above? It just makes you want to shout down and hear the welcoming echo ricochet off the cliff. The visit to the monasteries is pleasant too; it gives you a serene feeling inside their holy adobe. This place just edges up Santorini, in my own opinion.
Rating: 8.5/10

Thessaloniki
This place, well known for its deserts, has a few worthwhile sights, like the white tower, sea promenade view, and the castle wall view from above. It has lots of ruins and old structures (rotunda etc) sprinkled within the city too, but these are not particularly appealing imho. The deserts are still better. =p
Rating: 7.5/10