Yassas from Greece
We just came back from a two-week trip in Greece – spanning the capital city of Athens, the unique island of Santorini and Greece’s scenic Peloponnese peninsula. May and June are fabulous months to visit this beautiful country.
In Athens we opted to stay in the Ava Hotel and Suites – the Ava is perfectly situated in Plaka – with views of the Acropolis (a UNESCO World Heritage site) from our balcony, and easy walking to museums, shopping and restaurants. One of our favorite places for dinner was Psaras Tavern – serving food in a relaxed terrace setting since 1898. Be sure to try the traditional Loukoumades for dessert. The Ava has amazing service going so far as to bring us our tickets to the Acropolis Museum while we waited in line; we’d forgotten the tickets in our room!
From Athens we ventured to Santorini, one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. Santorini is renowned for its white-washed houses, with blue and white domed-shaped architecture that line the cliffs of the caldera resulting from a volcanic eruption which took place around 1600 BCE. We opted to stay in the quieter village of Imerovigli, which stands at the highest point along the rim of the caldera – and chose a villa with personal swimming pool at the beautiful Vedema Resort, part of the Marriott Luxury Collection. The Vedema offers a tranquil home base to visit the more touristed villages of Fira and Oia – make sure to hike the trail between the villages for scenery that you will never forget. If you prefer to stay closer to the action – the Mystique Hotel in Oia offers an infinity pool with stunning views.
Up next was a fabulous week hiking in the Peloponnese hosted by the tour company Backroads with Joe and Dimitra as our kind and fearless guides. The trip was filled with awe, wonder, and meaningful connection. We hiked through breathtaking landscapes, mountains, valleys, coastlines, olive groves, and quiet villages—soaking in the rugged beauty and sweeping ocean views around us.
We began by wandering through the beautiful castle village of Mystras, imagining the legacy of ancient Sparta. There was peace, and a bit of well-earned spa recovery, at Euphoria Retreat where we stayed for two nights.
Next, we explored the timeless, stone-walled city of Monemvasia, learned the history of Malvasia wine, and met plenty of Greece’s favorite cats. We concluded our journey by walking barefoot on the white sands and swimming in the crystalline waters of Elafonisos. The Kinsterna Hotel was our home for three nights – a unique property offering magnificent restaurants, two swimming pools, and sunsets across the valley.
Our journey concluded back in Athens, where we toured the Ancient Agora of Athens and beheld the wonder of the Acropolis at sunset.
Wishing you a safe journey onward to your next destination!