The flight you got, was it from Naples? Was it direct? Just in the past week I've been looking into what flights might go direct from Florence to Greece. So far I am seeing only Athens, not any islands. On what platform did you find the flight?
I spent four months in Greece in the 1980s when I was on my budget backpacking wanderings around the world. Due to our $10 a day budget, my friend and I slept in caves along the southern coast of Crete. We went to lots of out of the way islands, hitch-hiked across the Peloponnesian peninsula, stayed on a farm outside Thessaloniki, and took a night bus to Istanbul, back when no 19-year-old California girls were going to Istanbul. Our parents told us not to go, so of course we went. LOL.
I love Greece! Have been twice, to a few islands: Hydra, Patmos, Syros, Santorini, day trip Mykonos. Especially loved Hydra for its charm, smallness and lack of vehicles, only donkeys. Santorini though crowded in Fira has hidden gem spots and you just can't deny its beauty. Syros was much more local, few tourists. All the islands, plus Athens, have such good food and love the vibe. We arrived into the airport late late, but as we were dropped off by cab and traversed through side streets to find our hotel, crossed a small intersection that had neat bustling outdoor restaurants and happy customers. I also loved taking the ferries to the islands. My favorite memory of Greece though was in Athens, first visit. It was a full moon and we'd heard of a restaurant with a rooftop bar/dining area. The bottom floor was jam packed and we asked if we could wait for an upstairs table. When we were finally led to the top roof deck, it was filled, but there was our table awaiting us overlooking the empty street below. Our waiter was a neat older gentleman named Josef, silver hair, fun vibe. He took to us, we to him, and as the crowd lessened and we sat there, we all chatted. And the moon rose--over the Acropolis! He stood at the wall on the rooftop and just gazed at it, as did we. It was one of the most breathtaking moments. If only iPhones had existed back then. But alack and alas, I was camera-less. After our trip through a couple islands we came back to Athens and sought out 'our' restaurant. Josef was there, but the crowds were gone, On the roof-deck, it was us, another couple, and Josef. It was September and the season was over.
Greece feels like home to me. Before I began my nomad life, it was my favorite summer holiday. Nude swimming, sitting on rocks, eating feta and eggplants cooked in tomato sauce. Life really does feel more simple there, my needs reduced. It brings me calm.
What a wonderful weekend! I am craving coffee and pastries now.
There was a terrible movie in the 80's (Summer Lovers) and an excellent one (Tempest) both set in Greece when I was a teenager that made me long to dive into dark blue water from a rocky Mediterranean beach. I still haven't made it to Greece but I do spend most of my summers in Ponza, which the Romans called by a Greek name, Eea. Here's to making young adult dreams come true!
Hi Brenna,
The flight you got, was it from Naples? Was it direct? Just in the past week I've been looking into what flights might go direct from Florence to Greece. So far I am seeing only Athens, not any islands. On what platform did you find the flight?
I adored Song of Achilles. I listened to it on audio and it was the most luscious book experience I've ever had. Here's a link to my review of it: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp9DN-ntKee/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I spent four months in Greece in the 1980s when I was on my budget backpacking wanderings around the world. Due to our $10 a day budget, my friend and I slept in caves along the southern coast of Crete. We went to lots of out of the way islands, hitch-hiked across the Peloponnesian peninsula, stayed on a farm outside Thessaloniki, and took a night bus to Istanbul, back when no 19-year-old California girls were going to Istanbul. Our parents told us not to go, so of course we went. LOL.
Brenna, I *live* for your travel updates. Also obsessed with the title of this one…and the gorgeous Main Character Energy photo and its backstory! 😂
I love Greece! Have been twice, to a few islands: Hydra, Patmos, Syros, Santorini, day trip Mykonos. Especially loved Hydra for its charm, smallness and lack of vehicles, only donkeys. Santorini though crowded in Fira has hidden gem spots and you just can't deny its beauty. Syros was much more local, few tourists. All the islands, plus Athens, have such good food and love the vibe. We arrived into the airport late late, but as we were dropped off by cab and traversed through side streets to find our hotel, crossed a small intersection that had neat bustling outdoor restaurants and happy customers. I also loved taking the ferries to the islands. My favorite memory of Greece though was in Athens, first visit. It was a full moon and we'd heard of a restaurant with a rooftop bar/dining area. The bottom floor was jam packed and we asked if we could wait for an upstairs table. When we were finally led to the top roof deck, it was filled, but there was our table awaiting us overlooking the empty street below. Our waiter was a neat older gentleman named Josef, silver hair, fun vibe. He took to us, we to him, and as the crowd lessened and we sat there, we all chatted. And the moon rose--over the Acropolis! He stood at the wall on the rooftop and just gazed at it, as did we. It was one of the most breathtaking moments. If only iPhones had existed back then. But alack and alas, I was camera-less. After our trip through a couple islands we came back to Athens and sought out 'our' restaurant. Josef was there, but the crowds were gone, On the roof-deck, it was us, another couple, and Josef. It was September and the season was over.
Greece feels like home to me. Before I began my nomad life, it was my favorite summer holiday. Nude swimming, sitting on rocks, eating feta and eggplants cooked in tomato sauce. Life really does feel more simple there, my needs reduced. It brings me calm.
What a wonderful weekend! I am craving coffee and pastries now.
There was a terrible movie in the 80's (Summer Lovers) and an excellent one (Tempest) both set in Greece when I was a teenager that made me long to dive into dark blue water from a rocky Mediterranean beach. I still haven't made it to Greece but I do spend most of my summers in Ponza, which the Romans called by a Greek name, Eea. Here's to making young adult dreams come true!