| | | | Sameera on her way from Izmir to Antalya | Sameera Reddy has just returned from Greece and Turkey. And though she didn't have her heart stolen on foreign shores, the same cannot be said about her camera.
The actress returned with some wonderful memories of her trip. Here, she shares her experiences of her trip and spending New Year's at Greece with her sister… Tell us about the trip.
I had gone to Turkey for a film shoot and went to Athens in Greece after the shoot got over to stay with my sister, Meghna, who lives there. I spent two days with her and brought in the New Year with her. Define the experience?
It was so beautiful! These experiences have topped my other ones all over the world. In America there are lots of commercial aspects to holidaying, but Greece and Turkey are like heaven on earth… Which places did you visit?
Turkey and Greece have lots to offer in terms of history. Nothing matches the experience of standing in a 2500-year-old colosseum in Antalya, which is a beach town in Turkey; it's an amazing experience! We also went to Ephesus, which is where Mother Mary is said to have lived. The church, mostly in ruins, is still there.
We went to the Ottoman Empire ruins at Pamullake where the King had built his empire city for his queen. It was an unreal experience to go to this 5000-year-old, city. We walked around where the kings used to sit.
| | | At the Colosseum in Antalya at Turkey | We also went to Cappagocia where they have 3000-year-old little houses on the mountain and 350 churches in them. We visited Palmula where there were more hot springs. They had built it there because the water is hot and has lots of health value so people who bathe in it live longer and have no diseases. What about New Year?
On New Year, the Greeks celebrate by all assembling together at a huge hall where they all sit and drink till 6 am and have a Greek singer entertaining them. To show their appreciation for the singing, they jump on table, break plates and throw flowers on the singers. I threw a plate, too; and then felt guilty about it. Relive a sweet memory?
I was shooting outside the Colosseum in Turkey where an old Turkish lady was selling evil eyes. She touched my face and said some thing in Turkish. Then she took out an evil eye and blessed me. She started crying and wanted to give me all the evil eyes in her cart. I found it very sweet.
The Greek made me feel very welcome in totally Indian style. All the aunties came to meet me at my sister's home bearing gifts, food, pies, necklaces. They are very family-oriented like us. How was the shopping?
I bought a lot of antiques and stonework for my house. In Istanbul, there is a lot of shopping to be done on the road. Hand-painted tiles and coasters with very pretty work, lamps etc. I bought a lovely candle stand with a little mountain where the candle shone through the mountains.
The clothes in Greece are amazing, the styles are very Victorian, lots of lace and elegance. You get all the brands of clothing there. I picked up a beautiful pink leather jacket from Tommy Hilfiger in Turkey. It never left me till I reached India. Any bad memories?
My camera got stolen in Greece at the restaurant when I had gone to the restroom. | 
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