by travel2022 | Oct 17, 2025 | Greece
The Greek Riviera
In a fluke, Michael contacted his friend and colleague, whom is Greek and owns a home outside Athens that we were planning on going to Greece and where in need for some best places to stay, things not to be missed and restaurant options. All the usual things you ask a local. We like the local ‘hidden gems’. Are their any more, or have they all been exposed. Any how, ‘Spyro’ right away suggested we stay at his place about 25 minutes outside of Athens on the Greek Riviera? Who knew there was a Greek Riviera? Of course we jumped on the chance— a penthouse on the top-floor with wrap-around decks overlooking the Atlantic? Completely modern and access to a part-time concierge who has a brother as a taxi driver? We were in!
The first few days we spent going into the city— but we had a free day! So Michael and I decided to hob-knob around the ritzy neighborhood. What we learned was that many of the beaches are semi-private in that they are beach clubs where guests pay for the privilege of parking, renting a cabana, have access to chairs, snacks and drinks and of course, swimming in the sea. There is also a small nature spring lake — Lake Vouliagmeni. It’s also private with a beautiful restaurant and cabanas surrounding the perimeter. We elected not to go in the water because Michael forgot his bathing suit and contrary to popular belief, the Greek do where them in public areas. So off we went to the Four Seasons, the crown jewel of this area. The key to resort crashing is you just act like you’re staying there — even though it was probably painfully evident that we weren’t— given our lack of designer shoes and clothes, perfectly coiffed hair and an attitude of arrogance and entitlement. Some how we squeaked by and got a wonderful tour around the property by a delightful employee who assumed we had just checked in. We were wowed by the cyberlike super yachts parked in the inlet, the three pools (one was natural ocean water with sand) and the four restaurants. We walked along the boardwalk that circles the private cove, stopped at the bar for some water and when we tried to pay we were told it was complimentary. Nice. After 6.5 miles we were back to our accommodations and had our last dinner on the Riviera sitting on the sand watching the sun go down. Tomorrow we are off to Delphi and The Meteora.
by travel2022 | Oct 14, 2025 | Greece
The Highest City
Today we did a walking tour of old town Athens, our first stop was the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. From there we walked to the former Royal Palace which has been converted to the Prime Minister’s residence and saw the Evzones guards in their traditional uniform (pictured below). We saw the monuments of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library and Syntagma Square. And then of course, the main reason we were here a visit to the awe-inspiring Acropolis, one of the world’s most prominent sites and a symbol for democracy in the Western world! Interesting to reflect on that now given the state we find ourselves in today. From the Propylaea to the Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and of course the Parthenon, we witnessed the millennia of history that has shaped the world as we know it. Our last stop was the modern Acropolis Museum, with nearly 4,000 exhibits of Hellenism housed inside. We had the most delightful tour guide, she was lovely (inside joke). We learned she had a masters degree in art history and then two years of training to become a guide. After our five-hour tour we relaxed in a very traditional restaurant revisiting some of the delicious food we sampled the night before. I LOVED my Wild Grain Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette, perfectly grilled Dorato and zucchini balls stuffed with feta. Some in our party has room for Greek Gelato. YUM.
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by travel2022 | Oct 13, 2025 | Greece
Athens ~ The Ancient City
Landed in Athens and hit the ground running with a Food Tour, my favorite way to start and trip in a new country and in my mind, what a better activity to do than in Greece. Right? We started with Sheep Gelato right away! Then we began a wine tasting with delicious cheeses from goats and sheep accompanied by assorted meats. The white wine was dry and a little acidic, the red was smooth and velvety. Then it was off to sample some large pretzels covered with sesame seeds, very savory. After that traditional spanakopita, dolmas and savory pastry stuffed with ground chicken and spices. On to the next place for a mixed green salad, moussaka, beef in red sauce. Lastly Loukoumades – golden fried dough balls (we call them doughnut holes) covered in honey or Nutella.
by travel2022 | Oct 9, 2025 | Greece
I want to tell you a story about Greece. My mother who was a fierce Italian woman whose parents’ parents hailed from Ischia Island (my Great Grandfather) and from Sicily (my Grandmother’s family) had her DNA testing done like we all did about 13 years ago. Mine came back as broadly Southern European. But my mother’s came back as 65% Greek. She was livid. All her life she had been a proud Italian proclaiming it to be the best civilization on earth known for food, culture, beauty and many other things. (I could not claim that because my other half is Scotts-Irish)
She demanded that she wasn’t Greek, the DNA testing was wrong! She was going to write to the company and complain. Of course, she never did, but she brought it up all the time. As we all know, or think we know, the Italians most likely came from Greece. And the early DNA testing wasn’t as accurate as it is today.
Thus began my curiosity about Greece. I’ve actually been to Greece one other time with my daughter Alexandra about 12 years ago. We went to Santorini, and it was beautiful, however, we were in a little bit of funk because my son, her brother, had just passed away the month before. One of my most vivid memories was taking a boat ride around the island and scattering his ashes knowing he would have wanted to visit this beautiful place.
Fast forward, my mother passed away 2 ½ years ago and at that time, I vowed to go back to Greece and have a different cultural experience. And here we are, traveling with our wonderful traveling companions and good friends, Bill and Maria Hoffman.
We start our adventure in Athens and from there to the lesser known islands in the Southern Cyclades including Sifnos, Milos and Naxos. I invite you to travel along with us and share in our experiences. If you’re like me, I love it when friends take me along on their adventures so I may live vicariously through their experiences!
PS. Yes, I’m using my blogging website from three years ago because it’s a lot of work and expense to set up a new site. I think I probably need to rename it though . . . 35 countries in 65 years and counting!
