Destinations: Athens, Greece, Mykonos Island, and Santorini Island

ATHENS - We flew into Athens, Greece and spent two days touring the city while enjoying
many iconic sights. It is customary to view the city on a leisurely bus ride while stopping
occasionally when we first arrive. We stopped at the Olympic Stadium for a group
picture and passed by Syntagma Square, the Arch of Hadrian, the Temple of Zeus, and the Old
Royal Palace, home of the Hellenic Parliament.

We then set off on a walking tour of the ancient ruins and visited the Acropolis, Parthenon,
Temple of Athena Nike, and Erechtheion. The ancient sights did not disappoint. We visited
the largest and most beautiful cathedral in Greece called “The Metropolitan Cathedral of
the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary," and some took personal time to pray and light
candles.

The group enjoyed a fun Greek cooking class, and we even left with the recipes of the
dalmatian, spanakopita, and portakalopita that we cooked! The group plans on getting
together soon to cook the same dishes and re-create our same experience. The
recipes are located at greekkitchenathens.com/recipes.

MYKONOS - We boarded a large elaborate seaboat and headed to Mikonos Island for
two days. Upon arrival, we enjoyed a guided walking tour of the island. We gazed at the
iconic windmills in Mykonos Town which were built as early as the 16th century by the
Venetians. The windmills can be seen from every point of the village of Mykonos and
are used to grind wheat.

We visited the charming neighborhood, called Little Venice, situated along the Aegean
Sea. It’s considered the most romantic place on the island, and it’s easy to fall in love
with its charming ambiance and amazing sunset views. The neighborhood is replete with
elegant and gorgeous old houses surrounded by bougainvillea trees with pink flowers.
These can be seen everywhere while situated precariously on the edge of the sea.

We explored the ruins of Delos Island with a tour guide which is the "birthplace" of the twin
god/goddess Apollo and Artemis. We journeyed by boat to the island, rich with
mythological history and once one of Greece’s most sacred spots. Our guided tour of
the island’s ancient city transported us to a time when this was an important center for
trade.

SANTORINI– Three days later, we boarded another large seaboat and headed to
Santorini Island. While there, we enjoyed free time to discover the island’s charming
culture and awe-inspiring landscapes. Whitewashed architecture in Fira and Oia, which are the most beautiful areas, black-sand beaches, and cliff-lined shores describes Santorini best.
Santorini was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC which changed
its shape into a rugged landscape. The black soil is very rich and the plants get
watering from the morning dew, like dry farming.

We visited Santorini Winery and Vineyard and then participated in a wine-tasting class. We
learned about Greece’s grape-growing tradition and the types of grapes that thrive in
Santorini’s volcanic soil. We also saw the prehistoric settlements of Akrotiri, then rode to the top of Mount Profitis Ilias and took in the panoramic views of the whole island, and stopped in Pyrgos to view the picturesque village. Lastly, we enjoyed dancing and consuming adult beverages on our Santorini Caldera Dinner Cruise. (Can you imagine what happened when a group of Cajuns took up a third of the boat and danced until sunset?) We took a feeder flight back to Athens and some left the following morning for an extension to Rome and some went home.

The group consisted of my sister-in-law, Nancy Lopez, the other Guru, and our group of 21 people from the Lafayette area. We’ve been taking groups around the world for several years, and we enjoy making new friends.
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Besides this stunning trip, we’ve also been to Italy, Israel, Spain, France, and London, and we are planning trips for 2024 to Austria, Sweden, Germany, Sicily, Egypt, Canada, Napa, and several other places.

Touring is easy with a tour director who is with the group at all times, and tour guides meet us at most of the places we visit. We are transported by nice luxury coach buses to get to each
destination, and we typically stay in American-based hotels whenever possible.

Our travel group is also a social group. When people book trips through us, we have
socials about every three months. This allows everyone to get to know each other before
we spend many days together.

We even show people how to pack and teach them how to travel. First-time travelers
who want to adventure abroad never have to worry. They are shown what they need and we
hold their hand every step of the way. Couples and single travelers are always
welcome.