It's all Greek to me!

January was cold and snowy here in NC, and my mind has been drifting to warmer, sunnier places. And when a good friend of mine recently told me she booked her plane ticket to Greece for her upcoming honeymoon…memories of my own Greek honeymoon flooded my mind with visions of winding cobblestone streets and delicious gelato around each corner, towering ancient structures and crumbling remains of history, crepe shops tucked inside painted doorways and romantic moonlit dinners with an unobstructed view of the Parthenon.  I thought of the deep blue Mediterranean Sea and the salty breeze off the water, the windmill-dotted Greek islands and walking in the footsteps of ancient Biblical figures. And, ohhh, Santorini! The bright white domes and vibrant blue rooftops, the ornately adorned donkeys climbing the 500 stairs, the windmills of Oia and the island's famous lighthouse, black sand beaches and cliffside villages. And most of all, the sunsets…

Should you ever find yourself in Greece, here my favorite places/things in a sample itinerary that will not disappoint!

ATHENS: A modernized, bustling city with many Western influences in the midst of living ancient history.  Down one cobblestone street, you may find upscale modern designer stores and just around the corner, a clearing where you find the remains of an ancient agora (marketplace).  From almost anywhere in the city, you can view the Acropolis, which sits atop a hill and features The Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and other well-known structures.

Day 1: Relax on the rooftop cafe of your hotel and get your first glimpse of the Parthenon while you sip a coffee and enjoy a Greek pastry.  Get your bearings of the city and make sure your camera is charged…you won't want to go anywhere without it!

Rooftop cafe with Parthenon in the back view 

Then, set out to see the impressive ancient columns from the Temple of Zeus (small entry fee to see this attraction).  Stroll along the cobblestone streets and wind through the marketplace until you find a cafe to stop for a delicious light lunch of Greek salad, fresh pita bread, and homemade tzatziki sauce.  After lunch, explore the city on foot, but be sure to take a break for some afternoon gelato and some people-watching!

Amazingly preserved pillars of the Temple of Zeus

Temple of Zeus

Typical ornate balcony on a side street

Roman Agora

After a late afternoon siesta back at your hotel, enjoy cocktails at a rooftop bar, and then set out for a late 3-course dinner at any one of the authentic Greek restaurants that offer incredible al fresco dining with an unobstructed view of the moonlit Parthenon. (People in Greece, like many other European countries, dine late compared to our American dinner hours…expect to eat dinner around 8-10pm.)

Day 2: Make reservations for an evening show at a local outdoor theatre.  Then, head out early to the Athens city market, where you will find everything from colorful clothing to unique souvenirs for sale.  Wander through the food market and buy a fresh loaf of bread, some olives, fruit, and fresh feta cheese (cut straight from the barrel). Then, find a grassy spot and spread out your picnic.

Marketplace

Take a bus or taxi (but beware of taxi strikes!) back towards the Acropolis and spend the afternoon hiking up to the top, where you will have incredible views of the city and endless photo-ops next to the Parthenon.  To escape the sun, stop into the air-conditioned Acropolis Museum (admission fee required) and immerse yourself in the history behind the artifacts.

Hike up to the Acropolis 

The Parthenon

Greek flag atop the Acropolis

View of Athens from the Acropolis

Grab a gyro for a late lunch from any roadside stand. Then, relax at your hotel until its time for dinner and an open air theatre show!

Theatre of Dionysus

Local open air theatre

Traditional Greek dancers in the theatre

Other favorite Athenian attractions: the first Olympic stadium (admission fee required for a tour), Olympic park, watching the changing of the guards at the capitol building.

GREEK/TURKISH ISLES: Include such well-known destinations as Crete, Mykonos, Patmos, and Santorini, among many others! A great way to see the islands is via a Mediterranean cruise (sometimes cheaper than a flight to/from the mainland.)

The Louis Majesty

Kusadasi, Turkey: Join a tour and drive up the mountains to visit the place that locals claim was the last home of the Virgin Mary, just before her death.  

First stop, the Turkish island Kusadasi

Road to Virgin Mary's home

Then, travel back down the mountain to walk through ancient Ephesus (as in, the commonly-referenced Church of Ephesus in the New Testament) and marvel at the history around you.

Amphitheater in Ephesus where the Apostle Paul preached

Ornate ruins in ancient Ephesus

Back at the port, stop into a Turkish carpet store and watch the women weave intricate designs into colorful loomed threads.

Coastline of Kusadasi

Patmos: Stroll through quaint side streets and stumble across vibrant flowers overhanging hidden doorways.

Patmos

Patmos

Naturally, we had to check this out.

Look out over picturesque windmills that dot the island on your way up to see the place where John wrote the book of Revelations, as it was revealed to him (See Revelation 1:9).  Then, walk through St. John's grotto, a monastery where he spent some of his later years.  Pictures don't do these locations justice…there's nothing like standing in some of the places where Scripture was written.



(Warning: These two attractions are VERY touristy and highly crowded sites.)

Tourist trap!

Next stop…Santorini! My favorite. Stay tuned for an entirely separate blog post about this picturesque island in paradise.


Opa!
-L