Delphi | Greece

It was a rainy and gloomy morning. The roads twisted and turned with every new mountain top. We were level with the clouds now. The vast gorges below were no longer visible. I never imagined Greece to be like this: mountainous and tall. The Greece I always imagined was coastal and blue. But here, amongst the clouds, I felt closer to the Greek Myths I so often learned about in my ancient history classes. 

Sergi, our guide, was a wealth of knowledge. He told us we were approaching the center of the world. At least, according to Greek Gods. High on the slope of Mount Parnassus we were about to see one of the most sacred sites of the ancient world: Delphi. 

The myths of Delphi date back some three thousand years ago. Delphi was the location Zeus had chosen as the center of the mortal world. Apollo protected the site with a serpent like dragon. These myths carried across the ancient world, and people flocked to Delphi to worship the gods. 

The site of Delphi consists of a museum with some of the most important statues and pieces of art excavated from the mountainside. However, it is the site itself you want to see. The ruins of Apollo's temple amongst others are still standing. The more I explored the ancient ruins the more I realized why people believed this to be the center of the world. It is a place that brings people together with its beauty and wonder. 

There is no easy way to get to Delphi. It is a two hour car ride from Athens up winding and sometimes sickening roads. But, having said that, if you can make the trip you will not regret it. Walking the slope of the mountain, amongst some of the oldest ruins in the world, is nothing short of incredible. 

xoxo

Meteora | Greece

Images of Greece often focus on blue water and white stone. For me, it was hard to image places in Greece other than Athens, Santorini, or even the legendary city-state of Sparta. However, there are parts of Greece that are hidden from the rest fo the world. Parts of Greece that I had never even heard of until I visited for myself.

The trek to Meteora is winding and long. From Athens it is a four hour car ride through mountains and plains. I have to admit, I didn't see what all the fuss was about. Why did our guide want to take us North? Wasn't all the history South? 

Little did I know that our guide was taking us to one of the most magical, best kept secrets in Greece: A place called Meteora. 

The name Meteora means "hovering in air". Here you will find six monasteries built on natural mountainous boulders, an illusion that makes them look like they are "hovering in air". The air here was crisp. Tiny snowflakes fell around us as we stopped on the edge of a boulder to look at the sight in front of us. My doubts about this place drained away, and I was left staring at one of the most magical places on Earth. 

Monks began inhabiting the caves of Meteora in the 11th century. Over time some of the most complex buildings in the world were built on top of these rare rock formations. The only way to reach these buildings up until the 19th century was by ladder and rope. Today only six of the original 24 monasteries still stand. Each one holds unique art and architecture that can only be found in this part of the world. 

Things to Know Before You Visit

How to Get There: Although we took a car to Meteora, you can catch a train and then a bus to the monasteries from Athens. 

High vs. Off Season: We went in March and virtually had all six monasteries to ourselves. However, the summer months are exceptionally busy. Keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Dress Code: There IS a dress code for the monasteries. Everyone must have their shoulders covered. Girls will be provided with a skirt that you can put over your jeans, men must wear long pants. You will be denied entry if you are not dressed appropriately. 

xoxo

Santorini | Greece

There are some places you have dreamed about visiting since you were a kid. For me, Greece was a place I always wanted to visit but never made any concrete plans to see. To me, Greece was a place JUST out of reach. It was a place where I never had enough time or money to travel to.

As a postgraduate student living in England, Greece was only a few hours away by plane. But like most students, my funds were limited. When I finally got a full time job it was back in the states and it was hard to request more than a few days off at a time, let alone time to account for the 14 hour plane ride there and back again. To me, Greece would forever be on my "places to go" list. A place I wanted to visit so badly but may never get the chance.

And then I became a teacher some years ago now. Trust me when I say, being a teacher is one of the hardest and rewarding jobs out there. I often arrive to my classroom at 6am and finally turn off the lights to leave at 6pm. It's a job that follows you home (there are always papers to grade) and consumes every waking hour.

But as a teacher you are rewarded for your hard work by getting to enjoy the same holidays as the kids. Granted, teachers are required to do summer and winter trainings. Trust me, it's not a 24/7 vacation. BUT for the first time since graduating college I finally have the TIME and the MONEY to visit some of those destinations on my "places to go" list. Destinations that I never actually thought I would be able to go to.

Cue our family vacation to Greece. My parents have always instilled a wandering spirit in my sister and I. From a very young age they took us to places around the world making sure we learned from the cultures we saw along the way. So over Spring Break (yes, that was in March, don't hate me for JUST now posting about this trip. I'm a teacher!) we decided as a family to finally take the leap and visit Greece.

I wrote a short post about our stay in Athens, however as soon as our plane landed on the small runway in Santorini I knew this was going to be a special place. As I sit down to finally write this post I want to make sure I give Santorini the time and dedication needed to truly capture how much the visit meant to me. After all, I am on summer vacation and have the time to write again!

So Santorini. Where do I even begin?

We had the island to ourselves! On average, two million people visit the island of Santorini every year. Between the blue church roofs and the glow of the orange sunset, Santorini is practically a mythical destination that everybody wants to see. But we were there in March and technically March is the the off season. Which means the island was practically empty. Yes, visiting the island during the off season means that it will be a little chilly and yes, not every restaurant is open. But being able to walk down the cobblestone paths and not have to fight the crowds for that "perfect picture" meant I didn't mind at all.

We stayed at Porto Fira Suites, situated in the main town on the island. It put us within perfect walking distance of Fira's town square. The island of Santorini has so many different villages and each one has a unique vibe. We booked a guide to show us the island and some of its unique villages.

Porto Fira Suites

Our guide, Antonia, was fabulous. Having grown up on the island she knew everything there was to know about her home. We started out in Fira but made our way to Imerovigli. We followed the narrow paved paths around the village, getting a feel for the village and it's history. And then the rain came, forcing us to retreat back to the van.

Imerovigli

Our next stop was the village of Oia, and luckily the rain had stopped. When you think of Santorini, those beautiful blue roofed churches and vibrant colors, you are thinking of Oia. Antonia took us through the narrow paths, pointing our traditional homes and local plants. We followed her up and up until we reached a pile of ruins, formally the Castle Oia. Although the building itself has fallen in ruin due to earthquakes and time, the view from the castle is possibly one of the most breathtaking spots on the island. We stood there, enjoying the feeling of the sun on our faces before climbing back down to the main part of the town.

Oia

It is time to address the many, MANY creatures of Santorini. As we climbed down from the castle we were followed (actually more like led, the animals of Santorini like to pretend they are walking YOU) by not one, not two, but three of the friendliest doggos. Along our walk they stopped to bark at the occasional cat sunbathing on a roof or fence. Santorini is full of animals, all of which have an air of island life. They are accustomed to being able to go where they want when they want. I took entirely way too many photos of these Santorini animals.

Now it was time to visit a traditional Santorini village. Many villages on the island of Santorini such as Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli are the only areas explored by tourists due to their picturesque landscape and vibrant colors. However, Antonia brought us to a true hidden gem, the village of Megalochori. Immediately we knew we were surrounded by locals. We spent time examining the architecture of the homes, many of which use foundations dating back to pre-1956 earthquake. The quietness of the village made me feel like the village of Megalochori was truly a Santorini secret. Granted, there is only one hotel in the entire village, but maybe that is for the best so that the village remains in tact with its true traditional roots.

Megalochori

THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI 
Fira's Hiking Trail
Take a cable car (or a donkey) down to Amoudi Bay
Castle Oia (Byzantine Ruins)
Atlantis Books


PLACES TO EAT
Kokkalo | Fira
Thalami | Oia

Santorini truly is a magical place. This small island off the coast of Greece will now always hold a special place in my heart.

xoxo