White buildings with blue roofs. Black sand beaches with deep blue water.
When many people think of Greece, they think of Santorini or even the party resorts of Mykonos, but there is SO much more to Greece! There are around 6,000 islands in Greece, of which, 277 are inhabited!!
I do want to note that I had the privilege to travel to Greece last March with EF Tours, chaperoning a group of students from the high school I teach at. That said, you can definitely visit all of these places on your own, or book your own trip through EF Tours (students), EF Ultimate Break (ages 18-35), or EF Go Ahead Tours (adults), depending on your age/needs.
We started our trip to Greece with a few days in it's capital, Athens! While we typically think of warm weather when we think of Greece, that very much depends on the time of year and where you are in the country, as they do experience all four seasons. We were greeted with snow and high winds (le sigh). What would a trip to Athens be without visiting the Acropolis of Athens, the famous Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike!? ~ I couldn't help but think of Wonder Woman as our tour guide was telling us stories and about the history. ~ It's truly awe-inspiring to see something that was built with such care and craftsmanship over 3,300 years ago still standing. Did you know that the concepts (and name) of democracy and a constitution as a form of government originated in ancient Athens?!
One of my favorite parts of the trip was visiting Delphi - where ancient Greeks considered to be the center of the world. Delphi was a sacred precinct that served as the major oracle (the voice of Apollo), who was consulted about important decisions. There is something almost magical about Delphi; I'm not sure if it was partially because of the snow, but there was something truly grounding and peaceful/still about this place.
~ If you're visiting Delphi in the winter and enjoy skiing/snowboarding, we passed through Arachova, which boasts the largest ski resort in Greece: Parnassos Ski Centre. ~
You might also think of olive oil when you think of Greece. We ventured down to Amfissa to visit an olive grove - the orchards looked like an ocean with waves of dusty green flowing in the wind. The branch of an olive tree is traditionally regarded as a symbol of peace - in allusion to the story where a dove returns with an olive branch after the Flood. Have you ever been olive oil tasting? It's something that I'd love to do!
~ I did try to bring a small olive tree back home to the US with me, knowing it likely wouldn't work, and indeed, it was confiscated by customs at SFO. rip ~
We then headed out to Greece's largest island, Crete. While on Crete we visited the towns of Heraklion, Rethymno, and Chania.
Heraklion is known for the Palace of Knossos, a huge archaeological site that dates back thousands of years to the Minoan civilization. The Phaistos Disc was discovered in a Minoan palace, and the meaning of the disc is still unknown; its purpose and original place of manufacture remain disputed.
Rethmyno and Chania were two of my favorite towns! They had such colorful doors and buildings, and lots of delicious food! We also had some of the best weather on our trip while in Rethmyno and Chania - maybe played a role in why I enjoyed them so much.
Spinalonga is an ancient fortress off the coast of Elounda, Crete (formerly known as Olous). The fortress was once used to protect the entranceway of the port, but then became a leper colony from 1903 - 1957. The last person there was a priest, who did not leave the island until 1962 in order to maintain the Greek Orthodox tradition of commemorating a buried person 40 days, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after their death.
There is an award winning book, The Island, written by Victoria Hislop, based on Spinalonga's leper colony. I still haven't read the book yet, but I love reading about places that I've been to or am planning on going!
We spent our last day back on the mainland of Greece, soaking up a bit of sun along the riviera and visiting the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. The Greeks considered Poseidon to be the "master of the sea", and the Temple was mostly visited by members of the elite and the aristocratic class.
Some of my favorite activities we did that I would highly recommend for your trip to Greece: a cooking class, Greek/Mediterranean food is *chefs kiss*, and a traditional Greek dinner with live music and dancing - so fun!
One last fun fact, Greece celebrates Name Days, the day the saint you were named for is celebrated by the church. Traditionally and religiously, name days are about honoring the saint whose name you carry, and can be more important/celebrated than your birthday. On our last night in Greece, I was given the Greek name, Athena/Athina, for wisdom and beauty, and my Name Day is September 1st.
I also have to give a shout out and a plug for our tour guide, Carol Bairactaris, and her beautiful resort, Garden Village, in Kalamaki on the island of Zakynthos. Garden Village is one of the top B&B on Zakynthos, includes a more private residence and can also accommodate weddings and special occasions. Carol is the BEST and I can't wait to return to Greece and visit her at her resort!
One of the pros of visiting during the colder months is that it isn't peak tourist season and you don't have to deal with as many crowds. That said, I definitely want to go back when it's warmer and also experience the famous islands like Santorini and Mykonos (and also without students 😉)
~ Something else to note about Greece so that it doesn't catch you by surprise: you can't flush toilet paper, it must be put in the trash. Greek sewage pipes are about half the size of American and British plumbing, so the pipes can easily get clogged. ~
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