That sounds like a wonderful trip and yes, just a weekend in Greece is not enough. I have been to Greece - to Santorini and Athens. Santorini was really crowded but in the area where I was staying there was a beautiful spot to see the sunset away from all the crowds and that was one of the highlights of the trip for me.
Oh yes! I remember you telling me! I can relate to that feeling, I'm not sure I can return to Aix en Provence, where I studied abroad. It was so magical I don't want to pop the bubble.
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.
Hi Chandi! I booked it from Naples. We're pretty lucky here in Naples, the airport is well connected. When we look for places to travel we look for direct routes that are inexpensive. We never book based on where we want to go!
Love your review of Song of Achilles, and completely agree with you. I was so touched by Patroclus himself! And his relationship with Bries. Ugh, the ending tugs at the heartstrings still!
Wow, your trip to Crete sounds epic and adventurous. It's so amazing when you have a set budget all the creative ways you can experience a place.
So funny about your parents too. I did the same thing when I was young. My mom told me not to hitchhike and I did it anyway !!!
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.
Wow Jeanine, I felt like I was there with you and Josef! Isn't it magical when we aren't distracted by phones or cameras, the experiences we can have? That has stayed with you! Loved hearing about your travels to Greece, there is really so much to explore.
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.
I totally agree Claire! Felt similar to the south of Italy in that way. People are chatty and friendly and life is simple with good food. I missed the nude swimming tho!!!
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!
I was supposed to go to Ponza next weekend! Looks beautiful there. I didn't know people called it Eea. I will have to watch Tempest! I agree that Rhodes had similar landscape to the southern italian islands.
I always enjoy stories from people visiting my homeland!
A third person's view, always helps to deepen my understanding of our Greek culture, which is very rich indeed!
On a side note, even though Greece ranks among the top 10 worldwide destinations, meaning many people from around the world visit here, only a few really go deeper and actually touch the Greek spirit, which is deeply philosophical and cosmopolitan together!
Thank God, once here, one can't escape the Greek cuisine which is an initiation on its own! 😋
Thanks for the read! It's been some time since I last visited Rodos (as we call it)!
That sounds like a wonderful trip and yes, just a weekend in Greece is not enough. I have been to Greece - to Santorini and Athens. Santorini was really crowded but in the area where I was staying there was a beautiful spot to see the sunset away from all the crowds and that was one of the highlights of the trip for me.
Our family vacation apartment is in Turkey right across from Symi. It’s a cool little island.
How wonderful!
Rhodes is one of the main islands in my book! Special place in my heart I probably can never revisit.
Oh yes! I remember you telling me! I can relate to that feeling, I'm not sure I can return to Aix en Provence, where I studied abroad. It was so magical I don't want to pop the bubble.
Love it
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.
Hi Chandi! I booked it from Naples. We're pretty lucky here in Naples, the airport is well connected. When we look for places to travel we look for direct routes that are inexpensive. We never book based on where we want to go!
Love your review of Song of Achilles, and completely agree with you. I was so touched by Patroclus himself! And his relationship with Bries. Ugh, the ending tugs at the heartstrings still!
Wow, your trip to Crete sounds epic and adventurous. It's so amazing when you have a set budget all the creative ways you can experience a place.
So funny about your parents too. I did the same thing when I was young. My mom told me not to hitchhike and I did it anyway !!!
Aww, thanks for reading my review of Song of Achilles. Such a gorgeous book.
Sounds like you were the same kind of young traveler I was. I definitely did things back then that I wouldn't do now!
Yeah, you probably have more direct flight options from Naples. Maybe I'll come down there to get a flight to Greece.
If you come down I’d love to meet up ❤️
That would be great😀 I think it would be after Christmas. Will let you know.
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! 😂
thanks Maddie!!! Hope you're soaking in the main character energy in Edinburgh!
Doing my very best! 🥰
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.
Wow Jeanine, I felt like I was there with you and Josef! Isn't it magical when we aren't distracted by phones or cameras, the experiences we can have? That has stayed with you! Loved hearing about your travels to Greece, there is really so much to explore.
Thanks Brenna. I do love those islands, and I forgot to mention Crete, really a charmer too.
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.
I totally agree Claire! Felt similar to the south of Italy in that way. People are chatty and friendly and life is simple with good food. I missed the nude swimming tho!!!
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!
I was supposed to go to Ponza next weekend! Looks beautiful there. I didn't know people called it Eea. I will have to watch Tempest! I agree that Rhodes had similar landscape to the southern italian islands.
I love that island hopelessly and irrationally. I hope you get to Ponza someday soon!
I always enjoy stories from people visiting my homeland!
A third person's view, always helps to deepen my understanding of our Greek culture, which is very rich indeed!
On a side note, even though Greece ranks among the top 10 worldwide destinations, meaning many people from around the world visit here, only a few really go deeper and actually touch the Greek spirit, which is deeply philosophical and cosmopolitan together!
Thank God, once here, one can't escape the Greek cuisine which is an initiation on its own! 😋
Thanks for the read! It's been some time since I last visited Rodos (as we call it)!
Greetings from Chios island, Greece!
Chios looks big!
I would go back to Greece any day, but not in summer! I can't take the Mediterranean heat anymore! I don't know what's happened!
loving the book recommendations at the end!
Aw thanks Barbs! I really went on a Greek kick there. Now I am on a romance kick :) Just finished "writers and lovers". it was so good.