I have always dreamed of one day visiting Greece. I became fascinated with Greek mythology when I was younger and told myself that I would visit when I "grew up"
Well I have grown up and yet to cross Greece off my bucket list. My aunt and friends from back home both recently went to Greece (not together, but coincidentally, at the same exact time) so I had a plethora of pictures to gawk at and be envious over.
My handsome uncle Rob and beautiful aunt Susan at the Parthenon.
My gorgeous friend, Emily, in Santorini.
Greece consists of a mountainous, peninsular mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the Balkans, ending at the Peloponnese peninsula. Greece has a highly indented coastline and numerous islands, therefor, it has one of the longest coastlines in the world.
Greece has a vast number of islands, but only 227 of them are inhabited. The largest and most populated is Crete. Crete is mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east. The island also has a number of gorges, such as the Imbros Gorge, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, and the Ha Gorge.
Ha Gorge
Crete straddles two climatic zones, the Mediterranean and the North African. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea, while in winter is fairly mild. Snowfall is common on the mountains between November and May, but very rare in the low areas.
Crete is one of the popular holiday destinations in Greece. The most popular tourist attractions include the archaeological sites of the Minoan civilization, the Venetian old city and the port of Chania, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, the gorge of Samaria, the islands of Chrysi, Elafonisi, and the Palm Beach of Vai.
The Beaches of Vai
Elafonisi
Chania, Crete (Photo taken by my aunt, Susan Hardegen)
My aunt and uncle at Elafonisi Beach. Aren't they gorgeous!
Uncle Rob at the Minoan Museum in Crete
Heraklion Harbor in Crete (Take by my aunt Susan)
Food. One of my FAVORITE things when I travel to new places. Dakos is a common dish in Crete. It is a traditional dried bread that is baked several times and kept for months, is moistened in a bit of water, and topped with grated tomato, olive oil, cheese, and oregano. It is very light and full of flavor! (Or so I have heard!)
Dolmades, or stuffed grape leaves, is also a staple in Crete. Stuffed with rice, herbs, and a ground meat mixture, it makes a WONDERFUL side dish! If you are from Birmingham, Nabeel's Cafe in Homewood serves GREAT grape leaves!!
Where to find these yummy things in Crete? Try the Agreco Farm outside Rethymno. Some other great places to dine at in Crete are Kalliope Kehadiadaki's Tavern in the village of Apostoloi and Seli Ambelou which is a family run taverna near the Venetian windmills on the way to Lassithi Plateau. Great Cretan seafood!
Also do not leave Crete without visiting George Hadziparshos' bakery in Rethymno and grabbing some sweets!
Athens is the capital and largest city in Greece. Athens dominates the Attica regions and is one of the world's oldest cities. My friend Emily who was just in Athens told me you honestly need only 24 hours there. She stayed in a fabulous hotel called the Athenian Callirhoe. Very nice high end hotel but not the high end price! Can we say steal!
GORGEOUS VIEW!
The hotel is close to the Acropolis. It is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the the city of Athens and containing the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance. To see the Acropolis and take everything in takes a little over an hour. There is a museum at the Acropolis, but tends to get very busy with tours. Worth the wait though!
My aunt and uncle in from of the Acropolis
Acropolis as night (Taken my Susan Hardegen)
Museum at the Acropolis (Taken my Susan Hardegen)
On the northeastern slope of the Acropolis is an old historical neighborhood called Plaka. Plaka is build on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens. Plaka is very touristy and has numerous shops and markets to visit.
Food in Athens is very easy to come by, so just walk around and see what you can find. Some restaurants even do a meal and a show, just depends on what you want. The Greeks love to eat. May Americans fear coming to Greece because they are afraid of the food. Nothing to be afraid of. Nothing is too weird or spicy that you cannot stand it. Sadziki is a common dish in Athens. It is yogurt, cucumber and garlic. Usually topped on fresh bread. Yum!
Lamb dishes are a staple in Greece. Try the Fricasse, a stew made with lamb, spinach, lemon, eggs and oil. If you are not a fan of stew, a rack of lamb with potatoes is on almost every menu in Athens. The Funky Gourmet is ranked the top restaurant in Athens. It is a contemporary restaurant in Keramikos, Athens. The food, wine, and atmosphere is amazing!
The night life in Athens is full of Bouzoukia, or night clubs. You just have to ask where they are located. There is typically a raised stage and the performer sings on the stage surrounded by tables. You can buy flowers and throw them up to the dancers as well. If you like to dance, this is where you need to go. A great experience in Greece! It is recommended that you reserve tables a day before since Bouzoukia is very popular in Athens.
Many people say that Athens is not safe. Just like any other city, be careful and smart. I have heard that Greece is very welcoming and love tourists!
Before you leave Greece, you must travel to Santorini. I cannot say this enough! It is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth! Santorini is is a summer only place, so it is open from about April to end of October. My friend Emily stayed in a hotel in Fira called the Atlantis Hotel. Everyone in the hotel spoke English and were welcoming. Not a bad thing to have when you are in a foreign country. Breakfast is also included everyday! If you would like a smaller more local hotel, try the Astarte Suites in Akrotiri, Santorini. It is a family-run, nine-room hotel in the least developed part of the islands. Gorgeous rooms and views!
Astarte Suites
View at the Astarte Suites
Most of the night life is located in Fira, the capital of Santorini.
You can walk just about anywhere for food or to shop and site see, but if you want to go to the beach, a taxi or bus is needed. Emily recommends the taxi, which is not expensive. But if you are feeling adventurous, take the bus! Act like a local! The northern part of the island has gorgeous sun-drenched beaches around Oia. Ammoudi, which is located on the harbor of Oia, is a picturesque beach lined with charming cafes and restaurants.
Riding donkeys is also a must while you are in Santorini. They are part of the native charm of the island. You ride the donkeys to port and is only five euro each way. Worth it! Niki seems to be a popular place to eat since it is right around the corner from where you find the donkey rides.
Photo courtesy of Emily Almonte
Photo courtesy of Susan Hardegen
Photo courtesy of Emily Almonte.
When in Santorini, you must try the grilled Octopus. Sounds nasty, but I have heard it is amazing!
Photo courtesy of Susan Hardegen
Santorini is aslo known for their amazing tomatoes when they are in season. Meatballs are also something that is worth trying. Stuffed vine leaves are also a must! The feta cheese, according to Emily, is different than the Americanized cheese. Much more flavor!
Take a day trip to Oia. It is a little more expensive, but this is where all the blue dome shaped churches and buildings are! When in Oia, try the bakeries and the gelato as well!
You cannot go wrong with exploring Santorini.
Photo courtesy of Susan Hardegen
Photo courtesy of Susan Hardegen
Photo courtesy of Susan Hardegen
Photo courtesy of Susan Hardegen
My wonderful aunt and uncle on a sunset cruise
Photo courtesy of Susan Hardegen. Look at that view!
Can they get any more good looking!
Photo courtesy of Emily Almonte
Photo courtesy of Emily Almonte
Photo courtesy of Emily Almonte
Photo courtesy of Emily Almonte
With all this being said, someone please take me to Greece!
