Greece is my favorite place on Earth!!
Ever since I landed in Athens
that beautiful day in mid-June 2017, I knew that I had arrived at a place I had
been looking for my whole life. Everything about it tickled my senses. It
distributed a sensation of marvel that I hadn’t felt since...probably ever. Since that day I have only felt that hunger once, in Rome, where my pores
opened up and tried to take in every molecule. But Rome, to me, still is not Athens.
I was to spend 3 weeks in Greece that summer, the first
week experiencing Athens and all its ruins, graffiti subway cars and gyro’s.
The last 2 weeks in Mykonos and Santorini, respectively. I was told beforehand
that a week in Athens was more than I needed and was given the advice of
cutting my stay short and heading for Mykonos early. I was offended. Why would I
do such a thing?! I had done my research (as I always do prior to visiting a new
place) and knew that there were several sites that I wanted to visit and
restaurants I had marked down that were a must! Plus I had a day trip to
Zakynthos island scheduled to the famed shipwreck beach, so I was not
about to adjust my plans, thank you very much.
And I’m so glad I didn’t. In fact, I could’ve stayed
another full week in Athens because I didn’t even make it to Peloponnese or
Thessaloniki which are just a few hours South or North East of Athens. Just as
an ancient capital city itself, Athens has so much to take in and experience.
Hence why I’m always talking about going back. And I haven’t even talked about
the islands yet! Oh Greece, how I long for you and those little lamb ribs...
Athens:
We stayed at O&B Hotel in downtown Athens https://www.oandbhotel.com/ about a 5-minute walk to
the Monastiraki neighborhood and a short distance to the Acropolis, the
Acropolis Museum and the theater of Dionysos. This area is known for its many
restaurants and shops and the market and Syntagma Square where everyone loves to hang out. Great service and centrally
located. Free daily breakfast.
Take a full-day tour of (3)
beautiful islands around Athens.
Hydra,
Poros & Egina
Eat:
Thanassis (Monasteraki Sq) *best
souvlaki platters
God’s restaurant (behind the
Acropolis Museum)
Stanis
Dairy Bar (the best greek yogurt)
me in the hotel lobby
part of the Acropolis
sitting on the ruined steps of the Theater of Dionysos
First meal in Athens!
Horiatiki salad and stuffed peppers w fries and chicken gyro and of course a Nissos beer.
My boyfriend really wanted to try the stuffed peppers in Greece!
Acropolis up top..me strolling through the Monastiraki
I just love cats....
A quick photo pause
A few days after wandering and eating our way around Athens, a quick 45-minute flight from Athens to Zakynthos
island awarded us an amazing day of multi-colored blue waters, a delicious
lunch and a cruise on a yacht to ship-wreck beach.
Zakynthos/Shipwreck Beach:
45 minute flight & 20 minutes
cab ride from airport to Zakynthos Town.
½ Day tour of shipwreck beach and
tour of the Blue Caves.
Mykonos:
Manulos Beach Resort
After 6 days in Athens, we sadly finally left the
city and headed for the island of Mykonos where we stayed at the gorgeous
Manoulas Beach Resort http://www.hotelmanoulas.gr/
We fell in love with their salt water pool!
Little
Venice in Mykonos is right by the water and is a town with tons of wonderful
restaurants. It is a must see. Basically any restaurant in that town is going
to be good. Traditional Greek fare. Little Venice is where you’ll find the small cobblestone streets
that wind through white washed shops and restaurants. You just can’t go wrong with any food there.
I highly
recommend having lunch or dinner at this traditional Greek home with a Greek
host. Her name is Teta and she gave us the most memorable meal we had in
Mykonos. I found her on TripAdvisor and they pick you up from any location you
tell them.
It is a
group lunch or dinner in her home and she cooks the most wonderful food and
gives great conversation. It lasts about 2 hours. She was
a lovely host. Here is the link:
We also
loved the Sunset Bar in little Venice right by the water. Everyone gathers there
for a cocktail at sunset which is around 8pm
If you
have time for beach, then Super Paradise Beach is the place to be! Hang out in
the water and lunch at Jackie O’s
beach club and restaurant. It is an experience to be had! A quick taxi ride
there.
Full-day
cruise around the south coast of Mykonos to different beaches and islands.
Santorini:
After 5 days enjoying Mykonos we hoped on another ferry 2.5 hours over to Santorini, where the temperature was significantly warmer. Santorini isn't far from Egypt and you definitely felt the difference! We lazed around the resort and beach for next 5 days and just slept in and relaxed. Our trip winding down. The resort was situated right on the black sand beach and strip with tons of shops and restaurants.
This was one of the BEST vacations I've ever been on and this was just the tip of the Greece iceberg for me! A few years later we'd travel to Corfu and was equally captivated by its beauty and scenery. I'll be sure to post about that trip in the coming months.
All in all, Greece is my home away from home and I vow to return soon.
YA SU!
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