Greece and Turkey

Greece is the word is the word is the word… Cadi and I decided that we wanted to explore the Mediterranean a bit and booked a cruise on a Celebrity cruise ship. We are not typically cruise people and although it felt a little like we were with the chubby people in the movie Wall-E, it was a very efficient way to visit 7 cities throughout Greece and Turkey in 10 days.

We started in Athens where we stayed in a quaint little hotel within view of the Acropolis and walking distance from Plaka, Ancient Agora, Monastiraki, Panathenaic Stadium, and the Temple of the Olympian Zeus.

It was a strange contrast to see ancient ruins from the 6th century BC interspersed among more modern structures covered in graffiti. Instead of an eyesore, the graffiti added to the charm of the city as if it was just another timestamp in the long and rich history of Athens.

Also prevalent were images of the “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo, beloved NBA star of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Shrine of the god Pan, Panathenaic Stadium (built in 400 BC and where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896), and Antetokounbros

Ancient Agora

Monastiraki, Plaka, and Hadrian’s Library with views of Acropolis

We had a day and a half to explore the city and taste our first authentic Greek food, which did not disappoint!

Next, it was time to board our home for the next 8 days. After a day at sea, we woke to see the beautiful white and blue buildings of Santorini built atop the cliffs. We took a tender (i.e. water taxi) from the cruise ship to the Old Port below Fira where we had pre-booked a catamaran for the morning to tour the caldera. This is where we saw the first views of the gorgeous deep blues of the Mediterranean Sea. We took a quick dip in the sulfury, cold water but we didn’t last long!

The catamaran dropped us off back at the Old Port. Visitors who arrive by air or by land are already at the top of the cliffs, but passengers who arrive by sea have to make their way up to the city.

There are three options: 1) 588 cobblestone steps filled with donkey crap (nope!), a tram that takes a shortcut to the top (meh), or ride the donkeys (sign us up!). We didn’t realize at the time that the driver doesn’t come with the donkeys so you have to trust the donkeys and hold on tight!

Santorini is just how it looks in pictures…stunning. We spent some time in Fira and then took a taxi to the town of Oia where we saw the famous blue domes.

Back to the boat to get ready for Day 5 where we landed in Kusadasi, Turkey. I did not know what to expect in Turkey but Cadi and I loved the vibe, despite the rather aggressive vendors who flocked to the tourists as we disembarked from the ship. We happened to be there on their Independence Day so the town was alive with national pride. Flags were flying and they were getting ready for a big soccer match that evening. The people are laid-back and friendly and the street dogs were even chill, and knew where to go for a cool floor to lie on and a bowl of water. Or, maybe I loved Turkey because they had 3 Irish bars within walking distance of the port!

We started at The Hand, a dog-friendly coffee shop, for breakfast and then went to the GOAT, an Irish pub down the street for second breakfast. We visited Kadinlar Denizi beach and ate our way through the city. Fun fact – the Greek salad that I had in Kusadasi was incredible and included tomatoes, cucumbers, capers, feta, olive oil, kalamata olives, and dill pickles! After a long day of exploring, we had some cocktails and made friends with the waiters at Billy’s Brasserie & Bar who promised to make sure we got back to the ship by 7. Turkey is definitely a place where we would like to explore further. 5 out of 5 recommend!

Next was Mykonos for Day 6. We started with a sailboat excursion and a little bit of (very cold) swimming followed by some shopping and sightseeing in the interesting little town of Chora. We had lunch at a restaurant on the water while we watched a street cat kill a pigeon and try to take it into the restaurant, presumably to eat his lunch like everyone else.

After a travel day at sea, next up was Kavala for Day 8 and Thessaloniki for Day 9. Kavala wasn’t much to write home about but Thessaloniki is the second biggest city in Greece, behind Athens. It is a sprawling metropolis with lots of activity, shopping, restaurants, and interesting neighborhoods. Again, ancient history remains sprinkled throughout, despite the modern city that has grown around it. The White Tower is the symbol of Thessaloniki, was constructed in the 16th century by the Ottomans, and has been used as a fortress, a prison, and a university workshop. We also saw the Arch of Galerius, the Rotunda Monument, and the Church of Agios Dimitrios. For those who are religious and/or interested in history, Greece is the place to be. For us, we were more interested in the people, the culture, the food and the beaches. Cadi is also interested in shopping whereas I am not, but even I went nuts over shopping in Thessaloniki.

This is where we had our best gyro, and yes, they put fries in them. YUM

We saved the best for last and visited Napflio on Day 10. This ended up to be our favorite place in Greece – the beaches, the water, the town, and the best Greek salad!

And that’s a wrap! Back to Athens and then to the airport to make our way home to plan our next adventure. Thank you, Greece and Turkey!