Tag: Greece

Month in Review: May 2019

May was a month where some dreams came true and others were crushed. It may sound dramatic, but it was a month of high highs and low lows. These extremes are not unique in life, but they are mentally and emotionally draining. Therefore, Ian and I were grateful to have a holiday weekend nestled within the month to regroup and start June on a fresh note.

May started off in the best way possible – on an airplane to a dream destination. I’ve had Greece on my travel bucket list for years and I was over the moon to finally visit. Ian and I spent a glorious week exploring the ancient ruins in Athens, soaking up the sun in Mykonos,  and watching the sunsets in Santorini. It was a magical trip that reignited my love for travel.

While it was difficult to leave Greece, I was grateful we made it back home in time to enjoy all of the spring blossoms. Ian and I made a mini date night out of driving around town to look at the blossoming trees. It doesn’t get more beautiful than this!

Towards the end of the month, we were giddy with excitement since we thought we found a house to submit an offer on. We have been house hunting for four months and haven’t fallen in love with a home like this before. Then we received a phone call from our relator that said the homeowners accepted an offer from a family friend and they were not looking at outside offers. Our hearts broke. We know this is a tough housing market and there are many more heartbreaks ahead of us, but that didn’t soften the blow.

Luckily, Memorial Day was right around the corner and we were able to enjoy a day at the beach to get our minds off of the house hunt. We chose to drive to a suburb of Milwaukee to get away from the crowds and soak in the sun. It was a quiet afternoon snuggled up on the beach, reading books, and playing card games.

With the start of each month, there is a sense of hope and excitement. It’s a fresh start to tackle your goals, make memories with friends, and enjoy your surroundings. As we look ahead in June, we are ready to make this month one to remember.

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Travel Diary: Santorini, Greece

Our final destination in our Greek adventure brought us to the romantic island of Santorini. While others travel to this island to seek out the film locations of Mamma Mia or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I was drawn to the island based on its natural beauty. It’s a  photographers heaven to snap shots of the little villages nestled into the cliff side, stumble upon blue dome churches, and watch the sunset paint the sky with an array of pastel colors.

With a tendency to shy away from large crowds we chose to stay in a hotel based in Thera. This allowed us to hop on the bus whenever we wanted to spend time in Oia and provided an oasis when we wanted to relax. We were blessed with yet another beautiful hotel that had the most stunning views. A few nights we opted to forego a sit-down dinner and bought gyros back to the hotel to eat by the pool. The view was just breathtaking!

When most people think of Santorini they picture the beautiful village of Oia. It is home to the famous blue dome churches and striking cliff side views. We chose to take the first available morning bus to Oia in order to avoid the crowds and experience the  full charm of the village. We got caught in a rainstorm that brought in strong winds, but we still had a wonderful time dashing around the village taking in the sights and popping into little shops.

We were thankful to have a home base in Thera since it allowed us to step away from the crowds and enjoy a similarly stunning view. Thera offers a beautiful view of the caldera, delicious restaurants, and shops that offer discounted prices for the same items sold in Oia.

One of the most memorable events of our trip was embarking on a four hour hike from Thera to Oia. While it was a difficult hike with a lot of cliff side paths, the views made every step worth it. As we winded along the path we came across donkeys roaming in the fields, rural churches perched on hilltops, and sweeping views of the sea.

After one last sunset, we packed our bags and climbed up the stairs to the main road for the final time. We took a ferry back to Athens then boarded our flight home. It was a whirlwind of a trip and I have to keep reminding myself that it actually happened. If you ever get the chance to travel to Greece I would highly recommend it. It was unlike anywhere I have ever traveled and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Travel Diary: Mykonos, Greece

After exploring Athens our Greek adventure took us to the beautiful island of Mykonos. We chose to travel by ferry and loved the experience. It gave us time to regroup, appreciate the journey, and stare out the window as we passed by the other islands dotting the Mediterranean Sea. As we pulled into the Mykonos port tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t believe we were living out a dream I held in my heart for so long. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Once we arrived to our hotel we were greeted with an unexpected suite upgrade. Our room was carved into the landscape which gave the space a luxurious cave-like ambiance and had a balcony that opened up to a sweeping seaside view. If we weren’t drawn to walking into town to check out the quaint alleyways, we could have easily spent the day poolside soaking in the views.

During our first trip into Old Mykonos we checked off a lot of the general sight seeing spots; the windmills, Little Venice, and the Paraportiani Orthodox Church. It felt surreal to watch the sun set over this beautiful backdrop. Ian and I kept looking at each other, stunned that we were experiencing this island together.

The remainder of our time in Mykonos was spent getting lost in the maze of alleyways that make up Old Mykonos. We came across quaint neighborhoods with laundry on the line, cats roaming the streets, and the famous blue doors. As we wandered the streets, we stumbled upon a little bakery that sold the best baklava I’ve ever eaten. I was tempted to buy out their entire supply, but Ian made me refrain. I know I will live out the rest of my days dreaming of that baklava!

Before we knew it, our time in Mykonos came to an end. It was a bittersweet moment since as much as we didn’t want to leave, we knew we were off to our next destination – Santorini!