Greece – My 33rd Country

Day 1 – The Time Zone Challenge

Our first day in Greece was marked by a significant challenge – the time difference. A seven-hour gap between here and Canada may not seem like much on paper, but in practice it makes a huge difference. We landed in Athens around 10 a.m., which felt like 3 a.m. back in Alexandria. We tried to use the day to adjust, but it wasn’t quite enough. Still, we’re slowly getting used to it!

Another highlight of the day was the food. We had the chance to visit Little Kook and, from a distance, we could already see the Acropolis – a sight that left us in awe.

Little Kook is a themed café in Athens that changes its decor with the seasons. Since we visited Greece in October, the theme was Halloween. The place was fascinating, though I must admit the bathroom was a bit spooky – tiny and full of clowns. I got a rather sinister vibe, but to be fair, I scare easily! Haha.

Initially, we planned to have lunch or dinner at Leonidas, a highly praised restaurant. However, after walking several kilometers to get there, we accidentally entered the place next door. Luckily, it turned out to be amazing as well. There, we enjoyed some Greek delights like Moussaka (which reminded me of a shepherd’s pie with ground beef, potatoes, and eggplant), Pastitsio (similar to a pie, but with pasta), and the best Calamari I’ve ever had (until then, I’d only had it breaded – this one was fried and came with squid ink).

 

Day 2 – Conquering the Acropolis

Our second day was dedicated to the Acropolis. It was breathtaking, and I almost got emotional. Young Carol would have never believed that one day she’d visit all these places she once dreamed of, watching travel shows as a child. It was incredible, and I must say I’ve found in my husband the perfect travel companion. He’s amazing, fun, supportive, and always looking out for me – especially in this new phase of our lives.

Being up there, it’s impossible not to be stunned – first by the grandeur of it all, and then by the destruction and domination of the conquerors. It’s hard to imagine that they made it all the way to the top only to say, “Let’s destroy everything!” And that’s exactly what they did. So sad (I know the Greeks did the same in the territories they conquered, but still, it doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking, does it?).

Besides the Acropolis, we also visited the Ancient Agora – to Athens what the Roman Forum is to Rome.

In the evening, we dined at Thissio, a restaurant on a rooftop with a picture-perfect view of the Acropolis. It was almost magical and incredibly scenic. A lovely visit – though my only suggestion would be to heat up the quinoa next time!

Day 3 – Exploring Athens on Foot

This day was all about exploring! Our friends, Guilherme and Ana, who live in Amsterdam, were in Athens last month and gave us some fresh tips. One of them was to get a combined ticket for multiple attractions, which allowed us to visit all the main sites while saving a lot of money.

One of the highlights of the day was visiting the Acropolis Museum, which houses many original sculptures and parts of the site, as well as ceramics and other artifacts from the civilization that lived there thousands of years ago.

Another striking detail was the number of sculptures missing – many of which are now in the British Museum, in London. I remember being stunned by that when I visited the museum, seeing so many objects from other cultures on display. It’s incredible to think that such a rich and powerful empire was looted by the British the way it was. Diplomatically speaking, it would be appropriate for the English to return everything they took!

Another sad part was once again seeing how conquerors delighted in destroying the culture of those they defeated.

Besides the museum, we visited more ruins, including the Temple of Zeus – which once was gigantic and imposing, but now lies in Roman ruins – and the vast Roman Library.

Throughout this day and the ones that followed, we explored everything on foot, walking an average of 15 to 20 kilometers a day. I’m writing this from Athens airport, my calves aching, but with the certainty that every step was worth it. With no time to waste and so much to see in the city, we even went to a Greek tragedy called “Medeus and the Friends from Atlantis.” Incredible and unforgettable – especially with the Acropolis as a backdrop.

 

Last Day in Athens

Our last day in Athens was all about recharging, strolling around the city center, and spending our last few dollars. A day to relax and pick up a few souvenirs.

We went back to Little Kook and enjoyed a delicious smoothie. We hung out there for a while, and then went to watch the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament – a peculiar and fascinating performance, even in the sweltering 39°C heat. To wrap up our stay in the Greek capital, we had a lovely dinner and a drink with the most beautiful view in town. A fitting finale to our Athens adventure.

Santorini: A Paradise in Greece

Santorini is everything you’ve heard about – and so much more. Get ready for an exhilarating journey through Greece’s stunning landscapes, where every little detail surprises and delights. You won’t want to miss a single wonder of this island, which leaves every traveler completely fulfilled.

When we think of Greece and its tourist appeal, the iconic image of Santorini instantly comes to mind. The whitewashed houses, the blue-domed churches, and the deep, shimmering sea are exactly what you’ll find there – especially in the island’s most famous village, Oia.

There are two typical ways to get from Athens to Santorini: by ferry or by plane. We chose to fly, combining two essentials in our travel style: speed and savings. The flight is surprisingly short – the ticket said 50 minutes, but in reality, just 30 minutes after takeoff we were already landing on Greece’s trendiest island.

In Athens, we did our best to be frugal, but in Santorini, we completely abandoned the concept of budgeting. We embraced the "you only live once" motto and decided to enjoy every second, not knowing when (or if) we’d ever return to Greece. We did everything we felt like doing, diving headfirst into the experience.

On our first day, we met up with our friends AJ and Megan, with whom we shared some of the trip’s best moments. They were honeymooning in Italy, and we had planned to meet in Santorini. Before their arrival, we rented an ATV to explore the island – something I’d been curious about since 2020 when many of my friends traveled to Greece and rented scooters. At the time, I went with a safer option, but now I was ready for the adventure. Driving the quad was incredible, and I’d definitely recommend it. We rode to the stunning Perissa Beach but, of course, got lost along the way and ended up at the Port by accident. The beach was beautiful and filled with stylish people, but what caught my attention most was the sand – or rather, the tiny volcanic stones that covered it. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, and now I feel we should’ve explored it more.

Our hotel in Santorini was a charming retreat, complete with a pool and a jacuzzi, offering spectacular views. Altamar Suites was the perfect place to unwind and soak in the island’s breathtaking scenery.

That same day, we did a tour of a local winery – Santo Wine. Although I wasn’t drinking for personal reasons, everyone else enjoyed the local wines. Maybe they were just that good, or maybe the generous servings had a heady effect on everyone. Santorini wines are unique due to the island’s climate and the nutrients in its volcanic soil – most of them are white wines. The only downside? We completely underestimated the 4-kilometer walk to get there – the distance, the heat, and the terrain made it a tough trek. My advice: take a taxi. We ended our first day in Santorini with a glass of wine on the hotel balcony, soaking in the magic of this incredible island.

Santorini truly takes your breath away. Our adventure was just beginning, and we couldn’t wait to explore more of this Greek paradise.

 

Day Two – Adventures on the Aegean Sea

Our second day in Santorini started early for Rory and me. I’m pretty sure he was still dealing with the aftereffects of the absurd amount of wine he had the day before – but no complaints, we jumped out of bed and set off for another ATV ride around the island, followed by a hearty breakfast to fuel us for the day ahead.

Remember how I mentioned Rory and I aren’t exactly gifted when it comes to orientation? We get lost easily and often have trouble finding places even when they’re right in front of us. In Santorini, we somehow spent an entire day without discovering the best part of Fira, where we were staying. But that morning, by chance, we decided to explore the other side of the island – and voilà! We found the very best Santorini had to offer.

Cliffside views with whitewashed homes, souvenir stands, donkey rides, cable cars – it was all there. As we moved along, we were charmed by every turn in the path (and there were many). Between laughs and photos, we stumbled upon a restaurant with a tempting menu and decided to wait for AJ and Megan (who were also battling the previous day’s wine indulgence) to join us for lunch. I had already hit the “I’m over Greek food” stage, so I went with a Chicken Souvlaki, while everyone else happily stuck to the local cuisine – especially Rory and AJ, who are seafood enthusiasts.

After lunch came one of the most anticipated moments of the trip: a catamaran cruise across the Aegean Sea. The tour included dinner, unlimited wine, stops to explore the volcanic hot springs, snorkeling with fish, and yet another hypnotic sunset. The boat lived up to every promise. The weather, however, was a challenge. Although the temperature was a pleasant 24°C, the wind was strong, which stopped me from jumping into the Aegean (please forgive me – I’m not a fan of cold water and didn’t feel like spending hours shivering).

The sunset over the sea was epic and will surely live forever in my memory.

That night, it was Chicken Souvlaki for me again, while my friends enjoyed high-end Greek cuisine (in a restaurant that, funnily enough, played Brazilian music). Then it was back to the hotel.

The next day, Rory had to be in London for a work meeting – so that was his last night in Greece, and I would spend my final day with our friends. And once again, the day promised big adventures.

 

Final Day – The Magic of Oia

For our final day, we decided to explore Oia – finally getting to know the island’s most famous village. And it was incredible. If we had already been impressed with the coastal beauty near Fira, I can barely find words to describe how I felt when we reached Oia. It was simply magnificent. I felt like I had been dropped into the pages of a glossy magazine about Greece. Absolutely perfect.

Yes, it was packed with tourists. Of course it was – and I’m not the type to complain. If I know what I’m getting into and go anyway, I’ve got no right to whine. We started the day with a big breakfast, and then I convinced AJ and Megan to do something absolutely ridiculous. As some of you may know, Greece is also famous for using donkeys as transportation. They were originally used to carry goods from the port to the villages, but with the rise of tourism, visitors also started wanting to try it. Donkey rides are quite common in Santorini – and I decided we had to try it.

The moment I sat on that donkey, I was already regretting it. You know that feeling of going downhill on horseback? Now multiply it by 20, and that’s roughly what I felt – trying to balance myself, not fall off, all while descending between a cliff on one side and jagged rocks on the other. I regretted it instantly, and all I could do was scream and laugh like a maniac. Totally unnecessary life experience, right? Anyway, it’s a scene I now retell with lots of laughter – but I’ll never do it again. To top it off, when I got off my donkey, I was hit by another one coming up the path – and the guy riding it didn’t even apologize. (Donkeys don’t follow your commands, but come on, the least he could’ve done was shout a “sorry!”)

After our donkey debacle, we arrived at the port and ran into some very rude Italians – enough to make Megan, who is the definition of a lady, lose her temper and argue back. We wanted to take the cable car back up, but the line was massive, so we decided to catch a boat to Oia, which was our final destination anyway.

From the boat, once again we were mesmerized by the island’s beauty – and the cherry on top was arriving in Oia, which, as I mentioned, looked like it came straight out of a magazine (yes, I’m old-fashioned, and it still makes perfect sense to me). In Oia, we strolled around, explored little shops, and of course found a great place for lunch. We waited a few minutes for a table, but it was worth it. The food was delicious, and the view was out of this world. I truly felt like the star of a prime-time soap opera.

After exploring Oia, we returned to Fira, rested for a bit, and then went out for our last dinner in Santorini. Once again, stunning views and delicious food – the perfect end to our Greek adventure.

(Meanwhile, my poor husband was in London, racing to make it to his meeting on time.)

Our return to mainland Europe couldn’t have been better. Thank you, Greece, for giving us such a fantastic experience – sharing your history and natural beauty with open arms. Who knows, maybe we’ll meet again someday!