The Greek island of Thassos is about 7 hours away from Bulgaria. Last Friday after graduation we packed up our car and started driving to the Greek port town of Kavala. We spent the night in Kavala which I am told was a Bulgarian port during WWII. The next morning we drove about 45 minutes to the ferry and caught the boat to Thassos which apparently was a Bulgarian island during WWII.

[caption id="attachment_5002" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="On the Ferry Boat"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5002" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5002"><img class="size-large wp-image-5002 " title="On the Ferry Boat" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8296-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

I however never confirmed either of these WWII facts but I no reason not to believe the facts. It's just funny that you can say: I am going to Kavala and then on to Thassos and a Bulgarian to tell you a fact like this. Similar things happen if you tell a Bulgarian: I am going to Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, they will ask: why not go to the Black Sea?

Well because I've been before. And now I want to check out Thassos.

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[caption id="attachment_5003" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Wine at Dinner"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5003" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5003"><img class="size-large wp-image-5003 " title="Wine at Dinner" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8312-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Anyhow, back to the ferry boat--it's about a 45 minute long ride. It's really wonderful to watch the island come into view from the ferry boat.

We rented a house on the island close to the beach. It was easy-peasy to check in and then we grabbed lunch and spent all afternoon on the beach.

[caption id="attachment_5004" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Swimming Hole and Sea in one"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5004" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5004"><img class="size-large wp-image-5004 " title="Swimming Hole and Sea in one" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8364-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Sunday was also a beach day. Sun, gobs of sunscreen, sea, sand, lemon fanta, an umbrella, a beach chair and a book. Things really don't get much better than that.  I read, swam, avoided a sunburn and napped on my chair. After six-plus hours, we headed back to our house--ate some snacks (olives and feta cheese), drank some wine and played some cards. That's when I noticed that I managed to sunburn two of my five toes on each foot. Apparently my sunscreen application was sort of haphazard when I got around to my toes.

[caption id="attachment_5005" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Snap Dragons in Thassos"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5005" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5005"><img class="size-large wp-image-5005 " title="Snap Dragons in Thassos" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8351-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Monday we decided to drive around the island. It's about 100km around the island so we started in the morning--we hit up an outdoor market where I snatched up a hat and a sun dress and then we started our adventuring. We hiked to this wonderful little swimming hole that's been cut out of an old quarry right next to the sea. I managed to get stung by a sea urchin which was exciting. It stung a<em> lot</em>.

Don't worry. I am okay. But holy-smokes, sea urchin stings burn. I had no idea.

[caption id="attachment_5006" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Swimming (&amp; getting stung by a sea urchin)"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5006" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5006"><img class="size-large wp-image-5006 " title="Swimming (&amp; getting stung by a sea urchin)" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8452-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Tuesday I went to the beach. It was great. I collected a bag of really white rocks on the beach. Apparently, the rocks are marble. I guess that Thassos has the second whitest marble in the world. And now, I have some of it too.

Wednesday morning I went to the beach. <em>Seeing a pattern?</em> Only on Wednesday I only got an hour at the beach because then we had to leave. That was not so great. I would have loved to say longer. Luckily, Thassos isn't actually so far from Sofia. I think that means that I can return again in the future.

[caption id="attachment_5007" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Flower Boxes"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5007" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5007"><img class="size-large wp-image-5007 " title="Flower Boxes" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8474-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]