Greece is truly the word, just in case you haven't heard! Greece was my favorite vacation spot because of it's sheer beauty, pristine beaches, uniqueness, ancient ruins, wonderful history, colorful homes, and FOOD. It hits a 10 on all these levels. This trip was a combination of land plus a 5-day cruise of the Aegean sea upon the Louis
Majesty. We visited Mykonos, Santorini (my fave), Crete, Olympia and Athens. Some of the big highlights for me:
The Acropolis
The Acropolis Museum that houses many of the original statues
The Temple of Apollo
Olympia, birthplace of the first Olympic Games
The Panathenian Stadium and the ruins of the Temple of Zeus
Hadrian's Arch, built to celebrate the arrival of Roman Emperor Hadrian
Athens, the capital of Greece, is full of great restaurants and has a lively nightlife. You must take a stroll through the lively Plaka area, where you can find all sorts of nice shops and yummy goodness. There is literally a gyro stand every 15 feet and they're all so good and inexpensive. I didn't even eat gyros until I visited Greece; that's how good they are! You can visit almost any store, where you will be able to taste local olive oil and spices. Oh, and I had to have Melissinos, the Poet Sandal Maker, fit me for some hand-made sandals while in Athens.
I was excited to visit Olympia. This is where the first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. (you see me running out of the stadium?). It also is home to the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. While sitting in the ancient, open-air stadium, I performed for our group...the acoustics had me sounding pretty good too! This was such a joy because I always wanted to say I performed at the same venue many other "more famous" singers performed; i.e., #Beyonce.
Santorini, the most beautiful island, with its sapphire blue water, snow-white architecture, and multicolored cliffs, was truly my favorite island. The food is mind-blowing. My palate was in overdrive because of the olives, olive oil, fresh seafood, lamb, and even the fries! Ooops, I had to catch that drool as I was typing :) Take me back, dear Lord..
Mykonos is full of picturesque windmills that make for a beautiful backdrop. They supply the grain used to be milled for bread flour. Mykonos is home to one of the most elegant neighborhoods. Because of the many narrow winding streets and houses and cafes that have been built at water level, it is known as Little Venice.
Now to talk about the ONE thing I DID NOT like about Greece...the cats!!! For those who know me, know cats are my #1 (and only) fear. I was advised that cats are in abundance there because of the weather and they can easily find food and shelter. Hmmm, maybe I should come back as a Grecian cat because those are all the reasons I love Greece too! :)
I was also fortunate enough to be able to visit Kusadasi, Turkey on this trip. It is famous for its rugs and leather. I was so impressed with the quality of the leather, that I purchased a butter-soft coat made from lamb leather (this is mentioned only because I travel to eat, not shop). I feel like a baaad a** when I wear it too.
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