Interesting. Definitely not the whitewashed buildings with blue domes that you see so many photos of when the Greek islands are mentioned.

Rhodes and Symi are definitely not what one thinks of when one thinks of the Greek Islands. As I said, Lindos had the traditional Greek feel that we think of with the islands.

to Tripplanner001 -- these photos are your clue that the Greek isles are extremely varied ... and it's worthwhile for you to do some research before you choose destinations -- in order that your first Greece trip lives up to expectations. One of the things you'll learn... from a guide book or a serious website... is that the "white cubes & blue shutters" look is confined to one group of islands --- the Cycladic. Other groups have different "looks" , equally beautiful ... the North East Aegean, the Dodecanese, the Ionians, etc. Many of these have seaside towns with a very italianatae look -- Terracotta roof tiles and golden-stone architecture. The more you learn, the better a time you'll have. Here's a "starter link" to Island groups - http://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/ ... and here's an online map to show group locations -- Attachment 7213 (click to enlarge).

The map shows that Islands to the West & East are SO widely separated, that they can't be shown on a vertical format -- the farthest-east must be shown on an inset. Browsing a map like this, you can understand our groans when we get a forum inquiry from a fellow American saying "I have a week, and I'd like to see Corfu, Crete and Samos" (That would be like a European saying I have a week to visit the USA, I want to see the Grand Canyon, New Orleans and New York CIty). In Greece, for short trips, it works best to stick to one island chain, with perhaps one "Strategic crossover" to another chain via ferry - a connection that's not daily & must be pre-planned. It can be a challenge -- but so much fun, for planning-fans like you & me.

Yestravel, I love your photos of Rhodes. I definitely want to visit some day.

Same here, Rhodes and Crete, but when? So many places on my wishlist… am hoping to go to Croatia and the Dalmatian coast next May, have only been to Dubrovnic previously. Also Poland and Hungary, it was on the anvil for this May, but the war put it on hold. Though we had a fabulous time in Sicily/Italy and Greece, no complaints on that score! 😉

geetika & karen - I've only have the cyclades to compare Crete and Rhodes too, but I preferred Crete & Rhodes. Perhaps for beaches the cyclades are nicer, but otherwise the diversity of the larger islands appeals to me.Maybe its because both Crete & Rhodes are larger? Thanks for following along.
And yes, so many places to go and so little time it seems. I loved Croatia, it more than met my expectations. We visited inland Croatia which is very different from the coast but fascinating. I have a TR on our trip if you are interested.

We also enjoyed Rodos. Those expecting the blue and white buildings need to visit the Cyclades island group.

Geetika, I understand about having so many places on your travel wishlist. We haven't been to Scotland and Ireland yet, and haven't visited Vienna or Budapest. Need to see more of Italy. Was last there in the 1970's!!!

But I am already thinking of another Greece trip; thinking of Rhodes, Crete, Paros and Antiparos. Not sure when, though. We met people on Naxos who had just been to Paros and Antiparos, and they loved both islands.

And you will love Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast. Try to include Slovenia if you have the time.

I think there is so much more to Greece beyond the islands. Took us three trips to discover it. As you will see as I continue our TR the mainland and Peloponnese have so much to offer.

Its an easy, quick flight from Rodos to Athens where we picked up our rental car. This rental was through Athens Car Rental. They met us at the airport and we took off for Northern Greece. This was to begin a portion of our trip with several 1 or 2 nighters. Our preferred travel mode is for longer stays but as I planned this trip, it just seemed a few places were for 1 site and the towns offered little for what we enjoy. So it began with a return after 30+ years to Delphi.

On our first trip to Delphi, I was entranced by the ruins there. Other than the Acropolis in Athens I had not seen any ruins and the sheer magnitude and the setting in the mountains was just overwhelming to me. It's a memory etched in my mind to this day. I was curious to see my reaction so many years and so many more ruins later. I was still impressed. It's an easy drive, part way on highways and the rest on well paved, signed mountain roads to arrive at Delphi. Took us about 3 hours from the Athens Airport to our hotel.

We did a quick, 20 minute detour to Monastery of Osios Loukas. A site I highly recommend visiting when going to Delphi. In a landscape that seems untouched by time, there are 2 magnificent Byzantine churches decorated with frescoes and mosaics, with their characteristic golden background (10-11th century AD). The Byzantine monastery is still functioning today. The monastery was founded around the middle of the 10th century AD by the monk Loukás from Stýri.

Delphi and its archeological museum are both so worth the trek from Athens. We saw the museum the following morning after visiting the ruins in late afternoon. I recommend seeing the museum first as it helps put the ruins into a perspective.
Delphi is the site of the 4th-century-B.C. Temple of Apollo, once home to a legendary oracle. This extensive mountainside archaeological complex contains the remains of the sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, as well as an ancient stadium and theater. Delphi Archaeological Museum is excellent & displays artifacts found among the ruins. Neither were busy during the times we visited. As a side note, we tried to visit all the ruins during more "off hours" which tended to be late afternoon. We had been advised that even early mornings can be busy.

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Monastery of Osios Louka
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Monastery of Osios Louka
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Monastery of Osios Louka
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Monastery of Osios Louka
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Temple of Apollo - probably my most vivid memory from the first visit here. Still amazing
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Treasury building
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Archeological Building - in keeping with the Kentucky Derby run that day.
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My husband commented "Were I, like Heracles, going to tussle with the golden hind, I would at least put on my pants first."
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Early morning looking out over the sleepy valley in Delphi. Sleepy until day trippers arrive.

Karen, we’ve only been to the Edinburgh area and Glasgow, not the Highlands. Ireland a few times, the third trip for 10 days, when we drove around and saw quite a bit. Italy we’ve been several times since the mid 2000s and it’s always been a fav.

DH and I spent a month in Ljubljana in 1990 when we were on UN assignments, this was before Slovenian independence. We were in Dubrovnic for a couple of days in 2014, but didn’t go anywhere else.

I don’t think we’ll go to Greece again in the next 2-3 years. We’re also thinking of Argentina and Chile, maybe end 2023? Like I said, so many places we want to see…

geetika "I don’t think we’ll go to Greece again in the next 2-3 years. We’re also thinking of Argentina and Chile, maybe end 2023? Like I said, so many places we want to see…" We've been to ARG several times and love it. Been to Chile once 11 years ago (combined with ARG) and had a great trip. Not to shill my TRs but I have TRS for some of the trips.

I visited Delphi and the Temple of Apollo in 1972!!!!

Thanks yestravel, will definitely look at your TRs, am sure there’s loads if useful tips and info. We too loved Delphi, did it as a day trip, but the monastery was closed that day. Delphi has been on my wishlist since DH and I first went to Greece in 1981, we finally made it 41 years later!

Trust me -- it hasnt changed!!!;)

Although Lindos was the typical white buildings with blue roofs.

After 1 night in Delphi we moved on to another 1 nighter in Meteora. Much of the drive was on lovely mountain roads which had beautiful scenery at each curve in the road. OMG -- Meteora is incredible & not to be missed. I don't believe I have ever seen anything quite like it -- striking!
I learned the word “meteora,” means “hovering in the air” which is a perfect description of what you will see -- monasteries that were built on giant sandstone rock pillars between the 14th and 16th centuries. When I first saw them aside from being awestruck I couldn't figure out how one actually got to them & for the most part the answer is not easily. On arrival day we visited the Holy Monastery of St. Stephen which doesn't require the arduous climb to get to it, so is the easiest to get to. Just driving around and taking in the extraordinary scenery is enough to fill your time.
Our hotel recommended a local taverna, Taverna Bakaliarakia, and we had an excellent meal there. We went to a "sunset spot" and enjoyed a beautiful end to our day. The next morning, we did some more driving and photographing and decided to attempt Holy Monastery of Rousanou which appeared to be easier to get to. I enjoyed both monasteries but couldn't imagine wanting to go see all 6. I actually found the landscape and scenery more compelling.

"The origins of the extraordinary geological formations are difficult to explain. Instead of being volcanic rock which tend to form similar structures, they are largely formed of sandstone and various deposits of stone, sand and mud that have arisen from the deposits brought by streams flowing into a delta at the edge of a large lake.

About 60 million years ago, a series of earth movements from the seabed created a vertical plateau featuring many distinct fault lines in its layers of stone.

In the 9th century, hermit monks with impressive climbing skills settled into the rock caves and hollows taking on a life of great isolation and solitude. You can see still some of these caves, or ‘hermitages’ in use for similar purposes today.
Many centuries later, a monk called Athanasios Koinovitis from sacred Mount Athos, traveled to Thessaly in search of the hermits and initiated the construction of the first monastery, Great Meteoron.

The monasteries provided great protection during the Turkish invasions over the years and particularly during the 14th century. Today the Meteora Monasteries are on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Meteora-Antichassia region has been officially declared a Natura 2000 Ecological Zone by the Greek Ministry of Environment and the EU."
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The long and winding road to Meteora
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From a distance
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Monastery
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St Stephan
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St Stepehn
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St Stephan
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Monastery
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Had a great dinner here
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Sunset
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Looking out from our room
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What a place!

Thanks for the gorgeous photos, yestravel. Greece is high on my list but have not been able to find the right time of year. In any case, I've always imagine my first trip to concentrate on the Peloponnese Peninsula with one island, probably Santorini, but you're giving me food for thought with Meteora.

The use by Greeks to hide from the Turks reminds me of some of the cave dwellings and underground cities found in Cappadocia in central Turkey. The landscape is also unique and the Greeks in the area were resourceful in using the rocky landscape to hide.

Thanks, tp! The Peloponnese is fabulous, but definitely visit Meteora. From the sounds of your TRs you guys would love the climbs to some of the monasteries. I also believe there is good hiking in the mountains in the area.

Love your photos of Meteora! If we visit Greece again, it will definitely have to be a month-long trip! Let's see, Rhodes, Crete, Paros, Antiparos, Meteora, more of the Peloponnese?

Meteora is incredible. I have never seen anything like it. We loved the Peloponnese esp the Mani. Alot to see.