As post-pandemic travel options open up, consider combining both land and sea with a trip to Greece with its clear blue sea, marble paved sidewalks, history you can touch and palate pleasing delicacies. Touring Athens this summer we felt welcome, smiling faces, easy strides and a sense of peace for a big city.
If you visit Athens, the Acropolis with the Parthenon is a must-see, but be prepared for the climb and marble pavement, which can be a bit slippery. It is worth the effort to experience not just the Parthenon but the amphitheater and other structures that have stood the test of time.
Probably the best way to explore the Greek Isles is on a cruise and we chose the Wind Star, a small ship with about 100 guests. This allowed us to get into smaller ports and truly relax as we sailed. Our ports included Mykonos, Santorini, Patmos, Monevasia and Nafplio. Patmos is a small island with oversized importance. It is here that St. John of Patmos wrote the Book of Revelation. We visited the Cave of the Apocalypse and learned about the man and his work.
A visit to the Monevasia Olive Farm came with an education on the fruit, how it is grown and harvested and of course a serving of olives, olive oil, fresh tomatoes and homemade sour-dough bread. Nafplio, boasts a city that was host to the Mycenae civilization which flourished around 1600 BC. Sites there included the Lion's Gate and the Treasury of Atreus , also called the Tomb of Agamemnon, which is a beehive tomb built about 1350.
In Ephesus, Wind Star guests were treated to a luxurious, white linen, multi course meal served after hours while being entertained by the Turkey National Symphony playing on the ancient library platform. Wind Star is the only cruise line with exclusive evening access, and many found it the highlight of the trip.
Andreaa is Owner of Unique Travel Events travel agency, https://uniquetravelevents.com/
