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
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.
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.
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)
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
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
Dinner here: seabass and gyro
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
Lunch at Kyparissia
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
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)
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!
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
Lunch here
We find the Castle, most preserved Venetian castle of the Cyclades
Here we find a place for drinks with the best view of Naxos
Walk to Portara (ancient marble doorway) aka Poseidon’s gate aka Temple of Apollo at sunset. *Must do!!!
Dinner at Musique Cafe.
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
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)
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
