Well, it’s finally here! 

I am so excited to share our Greece Travel Diary series with you guys today.  I was hoping to have this post up a while ago, but I kept holding it off, mainly, due to the fact, that I simply didn’t know how to start writing about our trip.  I am sure many of you will think I am crazy but for me personally, I would have to say Greece was not what I hoped it would be.  People rave about Greece, just scroll through Instagram or any travel blog and as such, I had expected to be dazzled.  I had expected to fall in love, but it didn’t really catch my attention the way I thought it would.  I should clarify that just because I am saying that I did not fall in love, doesn’t mean that Greece is any less beautiful or that I did not like it and enjoy my time there.  All I am trying to convey is, it just didn’t live up to the hype.  I’ll talk about this topic in a separate post.  For now, let’s stay on track with our trip! 

That said, Greece has been on our list for quite some time to visit.  That dream became a reality when we packed our bags and headed to Europe last year.  If you missed the first part of our little European getaway – make sure to check out my Portugal Travel Diary Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3, first.  

Now, without further delay, let’s dive into our vacation in Greece.  

ATHENS

We began our Greek holiday in Athens, and it was a quick one.  We were there for less than 36 hours, but we made the most of our time.  

We arrived Athens via Iberia Air at around 7:00 pm and from the airport, we had another 30 minutes taxi drive to our apartment.  We stayed at The Olympus Residence and this place is a gem! It was clean, modern and spacious – we felt right at home.  The apartment is based on concept of Greek gods and our room was named after the Greek God, Apollo.  The location was also perfect, in that, it was walking distance to most of the key attractions around Athens.  

So, after dropping our luggage off, we went straight to dinner at Magemenos Avlos to enjoy some Greek food.  It was the absolute best way to end a long day of travel.  

On our second day, we woke up early and ready to explore Athens! 

After filling up on yogurt and cookies at a local pastry shop nearby, we started our trek to the Acropolis.  It was about a 30-minute walk and on our way there, we saw the Panathenaic Stadium, but didn’t go inside.  Even though it wasn’t even summer yet, it was already hot, and we wanted to get to the Acropolis before it becomes a scorcher.  Of course, we didn’t buy tickets in advance and by the time we reached the entrance to the Acropolis, there was a queue.  

Once inside the Acropolis, we saw the Herod Atticus Odeon, which is an old theatre and it’s still used today for concerts.  Then we climbed upon several marble stairs to the Propylaea.  Unfortunately, with the amount of people coming and going, it made it impossible for us to have a better look at this ancient structure.  Beyond the Propylaea, stood the iconic Parthenon.  Everyone says this is a must-see spot and I will admit, it was even more beautiful in person than I could have imagined.  Even though, it’s under reconstruction, it’s still a breath-taking experience.  There’s nothing I can add to what’s already been said about this spectacular monument.  

At the top, there’s also remnants of other temples, such as The Erechtheion, Old Temple of Athena and The Temple of Athena Nike as well as spectacular views of Athens.  

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After we finished exploring and admiring ancient ruins, we were dying of thirst! We made our way to the Plaka district and this area had the cutest little shops and restaurants.  We stopped at the Taverna Acropoli to cool off and refuel.  We sat in their outdoor patio soaking up the atmosphere before heading back to our apartment. 

On our way back, we walked through the National Gardens which was a nice respite from the heat.  We then spent the remainder of the afternoon taking a siesta and putting our feet up before dinner time.  We ate at Kreatofageion around the corner and it was just what we needed. 

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The next morning, we were up before sunrise and back on the road, headed to Athens main port, Piraeus.  We had chosen to travel by ferry through Hellenic Seaways to the island of Mykonos.  I was a bit hesitant about taking a boat ride as I get seasick, but it’s a lot cheaper than flying.  I am happy to report, I fared off okay without having to take any motion sickness medication or worse, throwing up. 

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MYKONOS

After a 5-hour ferry ride, we arrived in Mykonos.  

Admittedly, with the party island reputation, I wasn’t expecting too much, but Mykonos took me by surprise.  It is one of the highlights of our trip to Greece and I wish we could have stayed here longer.  From the white-washed buildings with their blue awnings to the restaurants over-looking the sea, the beauty of Mykonos speaks for itself.  It has a way of sweeping you under its spell and of the Greek Islands we visited, Mykonos was my favorite.  

During our trip, we stayed at With-Inn Mykonos.  It is a small, family run hotel and our home for the next 24 hours.  The owners are welcoming, kind and made us feel at home.  Our room was basic but comfortable and our balcony had a view to the sea in the distance.  The breakfast was exceptional, and the hotel was just outside of Mykonos Town, where it took about 15-20 minutes to walk down.  

Once at the hotel, we enjoyed some time settling in before getting ready and going into town to explore.  Even though our hotel was also well located to a bus, we decided to walk into town instead which I must admit, was a bit scary.  Mykonos has no pavements or walkways, so you end up walking on the roads with the cars.  

Mykonos Town is just absolutely stunning not to mention the streets are crazy! Every corner was so picturesque.  It is full of windy, narrow streets and feel like a never-ending maze.  Even when you think you know where you are going, you end up lost.  You end up discovering places you didn’t even know you were looking for like the famous Windmills of Mykonos! 

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I honestly loved the continuous shops and restaurants around every corner.  I couldn’t ever figure out where we were and coming from someone who is directionally challenged, this was heaven. Finally, a place where it’s totally acceptable to get lost! We spent close to seven hours just taking it all in before having dinner at Niko’s Taverna.  If you ask me, it was a day well spent. 

Dress | Mules | Clutch | Sunglasses | Lip gloss

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The next morning, we had a late start to the day.  We weren’t due back at the port to catch our next ferry heading to Santorini for several hours and since we forgot to pick up our ferry tickets the previous night, we took this as an opportunity to head back to Mykonos Town and soak it in one last time.  

Next Up – Santorini.  

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my travel page for more tips and vacation ideas!

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