Our summer started off with a bang as Kent and I had the opportunity to check a dream destination off our travel bucket list—Greece! It was a trip filled with memories we will treasure forever. Kent is an awesome adventure buddy…he is calm, chill and mostly unbothered by disruptions while I have a tendency to be a bit anxious and high strung, haha. He also has an excellent sense of direction while I am perpetually lost and bewildered. But I always know he will get me safely to our destination whether in an international airport, a ferry terminal or getting around in a foreign city. He is the perfect travel companion for me!
Our adventure started out rough…including cancellations, delays, rerouted flights, missed connections, long hours waiting in the airport or sitting on the runway, and an unexpected overnight hotel stay far from our destination. We ended up missing a day and a half of our vacation time (sigh). But even after all that, I can confidently say that our visit to Greece was entirely worth it!
Now on to the good stuff! We loved exploring Athens…one of the world's oldest cities, the birthplace of democracy and Western civilization. Seeing the Acropolis and the Parthenon in person was awe-inspiring! It was incredible to walk where ancient philosophers, artisans and scholars once lived thousands of years ago. We took a guided tour of the ruins that really brought history to life. I’ve always enjoyed Greek mythology and can hardly wait to share the stories with my second grade students now that I have actually been there!
Next, we boarded a ferry and sailed about 80 miles southeast of Athens to the beautiful Greek island of Mykonos. If you've ever seen pictures of narrow, white cobblestone streets, white-washed buildings, colorful doors and bright pink flowers, it was probably Mykonos. This island is so charming! A totally different vibe from Athens.
We stayed in the most beautiful hotel carved into the hillside. It had gorgeous views of the town and the Mediterranean sea. We loved sitting on our balcony gazing at the sunsets each night and watching the cruise ships sail by. We spent four days there and were not ready to leave. If we ever find our way back to the Greek isles we will definitely stay for at least a week in Mykonos.
The next morning we boarded another ferry that sailed us to the spectacular island of Santorini, about 60 miles south of Mykonos. It has dramatic, steep cliffs that overlook the sea. We learned that Santorini was created from a massive, ancient volcano, and it had some of the most breathtaking views we've ever seen!
One of the highlights of our visit to Santorini was a day cruise around the island. We rode a gondola down the steep cliff to the port where we boarded a pirate ship.
As we sailed around the island we were able to gaze at the picturesque villages perched high up on the cliffs. Everywhere we looked were those iconic blue-domed churches and ocean views that seemed almost too beautiful to be real.
Our excursion included a hike over a volcano and a swim in the crystal clear Aegean Sea. We enjoyed a delicious Greek dinner onboard, and later watched the sun dip into the sea.
Other highlights of Santorini included a full day on a black sand beach. We stayed at a beachfront resort with a beautiful private beach. Santorini’s beaches have dark sand and pebbles, the result of ancient volcanic eruptions. The black shore creates a dramatic contrast with the clear blue ocean.
Of course, throughout our trip we enjoyed plenty of authentic Greek cuisine—fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese salads, warm pita breads and gyros, grilled meats, every kind of seafood, and delicious Greek pastries, custards and baklava for dessert. Yummm!
So those are some of the best parts of our journey to Greece! For us it exceeded every expectation. Greece’s rich history and stunning landscapes made it one of the most memorable trips we've ever taken. We're grateful for the opportunity to experience such a beautiful part of the world together—and we're already dreaming about where our next adventure might take us!
And that is the highlight of our summer so far! It is back to school for us one month from today, so we are trying to make the most of the weeks we have left until then. In other news, today I had my first colonoscopy! I’ve been putting it off for over a decade and finally decided to be brave and get it done. Other than the prep day which was unpleasant, the actual exam was easy and painless. I encourage all my siblings over age 45 to go get your colon checked! My public service announcement for today. That’s all, hope everyone is having a great summer!
