Monday, October 24, 2022

Sunrise walk in Santorini

 The last day in Santorini I decided to walk with the group before sunrise.



I saw...

Cat



Church

Pathway to the sea



Top of the church

Cruise ship coming in



Rock with yellow deposits

Blue dome among white buildings with mountain in the background

Fig

Island 

Cobblestone

Bougainvillea

Hear the sound of the birds

plants grow among the stones

Lands End

Blue dome view point






Friday, October 21, 2022

National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures: Greece

 We arrived Athens couple days before the tour

Day 1 Athens (Kyria Boutique House) Oct 7

Inside an old mansion 1863 next to Plaka neighborhood with a breakfast view of acropolis.



Encounter a friendly cat the first night.

Dinner at a local restaurant ($33 euros) which included 2 dishes, 2 appetizers, drinks, and dessert. Highly recommended.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189400-d938753-Reviews-Scholarchio-Athens_Attica.html


Day 2 Athens (Kyria Boutique House) Oct 8

morning walk around the city

Athens has 2 hills (Acropolis and Lycabettus). We decided to climb Lycabettus to see the Acropolis. Then we looped  around the city where we saw change of guards at Parliament building,

Then walk by National Garden and back.



Food tour (Lunch) with Rachel (Airbnb experience) 3 1/2 hours food tour that’s worth the money. Great way to start our vacation with the understanding of local foods


https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/287271?


Bretto’s (for a drink)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189400-d523153-Reviews-Brettos_Bar-Athens_Attica.html


Hoocut (Souvlaki) for dinner.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189400-d13413365-Reviews-Hoocut_true_pitta-Athens_Attica.html


Day 3 (Jason’s Inn) Oct 9

Check out Kyria Boutique Hotel

Acropolis Museum; where we saw the original porch maidens of the Erechtheion. 



Lunch at tourist trap; we did meet couple ladies from Colorado (80 and 91)


Panathinaic Olympic stadium: Home of Modern Olympic Games; where Paul ran 1 lap and we climbed up to the top and sit in the king and queen chair. *Must do



Meet up with Adventure group

Dinner at Lit Athens: best moussaka and kebab: This is the beginning of getting to know each other as a group.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189400-d24108436-Reviews-Lit_Athens-Athens_Attica.html



Day 4 (Jason’s Inn) Oct 10

Parthenon (Ancient Athens tour): Greek temple built for Goddess Athena in 447 BC


Tour of nonprofit cafe, Shedia Home (Lunch here)


Dinner at 3 mile walk across the town. They give free desserts (octopus risotto and salad)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189400-d10359596-Reviews-MusiqueCafe-Athens_Attica.html



Day 5  Athens to Delphi (Amalia Hotel Delphi) Oct 11

Breakfast at Jason’s Inn

Athens Street Art

Temple of Hephaestus: best preserved temple in Greece

Lunch at Two Door

Drive to Delphi

Visit the village

Dinner with cat and dogs (dolmades, and chicken kebab) eating under trees in greek village of Delphi 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189408-d3375220-Reviews-In_Delphi-Delphi_Phocis_Region_Central_Greece.html


Cocktail drink afterwards: ultimate (best) cocktails with greek twist

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054729349064



Day 6 Delphi to Olympia (Olympia Village Hotel) Oct 12

Delphi: Site at lower central Greece and included Sanctuary of Apollo, the site of ancient Oracle. Center of the planet (universe). Best sunset!




And museum visit.

Drive to Olympia

Surprise small island stop

Then lunch (greek stir fry veggies(Horta), zucchini fries, and best greek yogurt)


Honey Farm: family run honey farm

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189487-d8735631-Reviews-Klio_s_Honey_Farm-Olympia_Elis_Region_West_Greece.html


Dinner here: seabass and gyro

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189487-d2158654-Reviews-Ambrosia_Garden-Olympia_Elis_Region_West_Greece.html



Day 7 Olympia to Nafplio (Amalia Hotel Nafplio) Oct 13

Olympia: Site of the Olympic Games in classical times  (honor Zeus)

Olympia museum 

Wine tasting experience

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189487-d2173252-Reviews-Olympia_Land_Winery-Olympia_Elis_Region_West_Greece.html


Lunch at Kyparissia 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g656609-d4782610-Reviews-Palia_Agora_Restaurant-Kyparissia_Messenia_Region_Peloponnese.html


I had the best octopus salad with the best view

Climbed to the top with Jay for the view






Travel to Nafplio

Dinner here fish soup and pasta: old part of the city

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g319780-d1098976-Reviews-Arapakos-Nafplio_Argolis_Region_Peloponnese.html


Day 8 Nafplio (Amalia Hotel Nafplio) Oct 14

Tombs in Mycenae (remains of royal families buried with gold funeral masks, inside Cyclopean walls) in the rain

Cheese and cold cuts tasting (Not worth $20)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g319780-d6628599-Reviews-T_Anapliotiko_Bakaliko-Nafplio_Argolis_Region_Peloponnese.html


Got poncho next door…

Matching poncho with group :)

Climb to the castle with the group.

Then Climb 999 steps to Palamidi Fortress with Paul, Jay and Niko and walk back by the beach in heavy rain…it was worth every minute!





Dinner here with whole seabass and pasta!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g319780-d2268237-Reviews-Kastro_Karima-Nafplio_Argolis_Region_Peloponnese.html



Day 9 Nafplio to Athens to Naxos (Naxos Palace Hotel) Oct 15

The theatre of Epidaurus : best preserved of all ancient theaters in Greece

With a dog



Museum and archaeological site (used to be healing center): This is where Apostle Paul came.

Corinth canal (connect mainland to Peloponnese peninsula)




Lunch at seaside restaurant with a cat (walk to church)

https://restaurantguru.com/Pahaki-restaurant-Pachi





Ferry ride to Naxos (Very windy) most memorable disembark ever (we were the last few people on the ferry)


Day 10 Naxos. (Naxos Palace Hotel) Oct 16

Naxos: Beautiful beaches, olive trees! Beach with Caitlyn




Stroll and get lost in Chora (main town of Naxos) with the girls: love the white wash sugar cube houses with colorful doors and bougainvilleas.



Ice cream here

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g580192-d2325679-Reviews-Waffle_House-Naxos_Town_Naxos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html


Lunch here

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g580192-d1553507-Reviews-Maro_s_Taverna-Naxos_Town_Naxos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html


We find the Castle, most preserved Venetian castle of the Cyclades

Here we find a place for drinks with the best view of Naxos

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g580192-d10638760-Reviews-Avaton_1739_Coffee_Wine_Roof-Naxos_Town_Naxos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html


Walk to Portara (ancient marble doorway) aka Poseidon’s gate aka Temple of Apollo at sunset. *Must do!!!






Dinner at Musique Cafe.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g580192-d17655092-Reviews-Musique_Cafe-Naxos_Town_Naxos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html



Day 11 stuck at Naxos due to wind (Naxos Palace Hotel) Oct 17

Rent a car with Nikos to visit villages! Pottery, Distillery, church and forage grapes. ( Chalki village).

Best experience with the locals restaurant


Feels like you’re going to someone’s home for lunch at Matina’s Tavern

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g2208266-d4590419-Reviews-Matina_Stavros_Platsa-Koronos_Naxos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html


Saw donkey



Finally; Hike to see Kouros



Day 12 Naxos to Santorini (Santorini Palace) Oct 18

Got the news we can go to Santorini!!! Yay!!!

Beach walk in Naxos with a cat :)

Santorini: Village of Oia, popular tourist destination and home to a large, dormant, caldera volcano. (Erupt 3,600 years ago.)

Lolita Gelato

Sunset at Oia

Walk/Hike to Finikia Restaurant (Best Baklava)


Day 13 Santorini to Athens (Jason’s Inn) Oct 19

Sunrise hike at Fira



Athens (Last full day)

Soul Athens (Lunch)

Mokka coffee (Greek coffee heated in sand) with Turkish delight (sweets)

Fish spa



The Greek Kitchen (Mezze experience)

https://www.greekkitchenathens.com

Kataifi with custard dessert. (Bonus)


With drink afterwards (guitar moment)


Day 14 Depart to go home. (Oct 20)









































Monday, August 8, 2022

Maui 2022

 Eat:

Nalu- Poke bowl is the best


Maui brewing company- excellent food and beer!


Banana bread and shaved ice- everywhere!


Maui Dragon fruit farm- seasonal fruits!


Miso Phat- great poke and sushi!


Stay:

Dancing Turtle (airbnb in Kihei)


Marriott Maui (Lahaina)


Do:

Road to Hana

617 turns, jump into waterfalls, black sand beach, red sand beach, rainbow eucalyptus trees, food stands with fruits and banana bread


Iao Valley- went there 18 years ago


Fruit tasting tour- dragon fruit season is in the summer, 3rd generation pineapple is sweet


Horseback riding in West Maui-(Ironwood ranch) fall of vegetation


Yoga and walk and watch sunsets along the beach


Lahaina town- Banyan Court- oldest tree in Maui


Wailea Beach


Makena State Park




































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