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Originally Posted by shelemm
(Post 17660776)
That sounds like a great up-close tour. How did you arrange/find it?
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Following along with great interest. In fact, your report has inspired us to consider Greece for spring 2026! Curious to know if Greeking.me arranged for your hotels, as well as drivers and tours?
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Originally Posted by PJTravels
(Post 17660808)
Following along with great interest. In fact, your report has inspired us to consider Greece for spring 2026! Curious to know if Greeking.me arranged for your hotels, as well as drivers and tours?
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Chania - Day 10 - After breakfast, we went to Alikianos for an experience of Cretan folklore, music and dance. We visited a Greek Folk Dance Troupe where we dressed in the traditional costumes and had a private dance lesson with an experienced dance teacher, dancing to Greek music. Afterwards, we had local, Cretan meal. This was our last meal as a group on the tour and our goodbyes were shared, with lovely presents from our leader, Niki, and the dance instructor. The afternoon was free, but we spontaneously reassembled as the group of 6, with Niki, for a delicious repass at a cafe on a side street in Chania for another goodbye. She had made an informal invitation and we all took her up on it! A special last day of the tour.
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Chania - Day 11 - This day started at breakfast when we were surprised with a beautiful bouquet for our anniversary from our leader, Niki, who was staying another night at the hotel. We had another meaningful farewell. We were staying 2 more nights in Chania. We explored the Topanas area, and the Jewish Quarter of Chania, which is right behind the Western Part of the Venetian Harbor, a very picturesque area. We roughly followed this walking tour: https://www.chaniatourism.gr/neighbo...ewish-quarter/. We had light lunch at Steki, sitting outside. We stopped for freddo cappuccino, sitting along the harbor and people-watching. The waitress recommended a visit to the home of Eleftherios Venizelos (which we visited the next day). After some shopping, and a light snack, we attended Friday night services at the only synagogue in Crete-Etz Hayyim, where we learned about the Cretan Jewish history and participated in services which were very meaningful for us. We returned to our hotel to find that Niki had mentioned our special day to Greeking.me and they arranged for a little surprise in our room to help us celebrate! What a lovely anniversary! |
Chania - Day 12 - After breakfast we went to the Farmer's Market and walked to see the slide show along the harbor. We took a taxi to the home of the Greek premier Eleftherios Venizelos. There was a cafe and gardens
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3d0058274.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b48cb1b19.jpeg which we enjoyed before touring the home which recounts the life of a personage and there authentic items, most of them in their original position. It is a well maintained house museum. It provides a wealth of information, personal artifacts and historical exhibits on this man who was a significant figure in the history of Crete and Greece in the early 20th Century. Returning to the hotel, we rested and then returned to Steki for dinner, as we loved lunch the day before. The sunset boat tour we were booked to take had been cancelled (we had to call to find this out) due to winds. We relaxed along the waterfront, had a violin concert on FaceTime from our grandson, and returned to Ta Chalkina for great traditional music and dinner #2. As you can see, when we love the food and service, we return. |
Heraklion - Day 13 - Greeking.com had arranged a driver to take us back to Heraklion, where we had a very early ferry trip the next day to Paros. After a somewhat tiring ride, we checked into the hotel where we had stayed previously and it was suggested we eat indoors. After resting, we ventured to go to the Archeological Museum of Heraklion to see the famous Minoan artifacts which were extensive and fascinating. On the way, it was drizzling and we had brown spots on our raincoats due to the sand blowing from the Sahara and the cars, and streets, were covered with sand turning the skies orange and impacting air quality. These storms are caused by strong winds carrying dust from the Sahara Desert across the Mediterranean Sea. We ventured back to the Lions Square area to have more bougatsa - one savory and one sweet! W
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I realized the numbers of my days have been a little off. We arrived a day before our group trip started and that trip was 11 days. We were in Greece for about a week on our own (with some arrangements made by Greeking.com in terms of drivers and ferry and plane tickets) Above post shared the 2 extra days in Chania. Now, we went to Paros for 4 nights, which gave us 3+ days to visit there.
We were driven to the ferry (pre-arranged) and the trip was seamless. We stayed at Alexandros Suites and Apartments in Naousa, Paros; they had arranged for a driver to pick us up. We were pleased beyond words with how wonderful a choice this was to stay in Paros. Litsa, the owner, and her 2 sons, became our family in Paros. We were greeted https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6afcb6ab9.jpeg Breakfasts !! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...603b36953.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a55d0a69a.jpeg View from AlexandrosnSuites https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a2f88fadb.jpeg , and treated, warmly and thoughtfully own whole stay! Our review on Tripadvisor, https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...th_Aegean.html shares our feelings and those of over a thousand more people. |
Our 3+ days in Paros - Litsa arranged a rental car and we had parking near the hotel. Walked around Naousa, great meal at Mare Nostrum of stuffed calamari and pasta. Drove to Lefkes after a delicious breakfast. Explored the Byzantine trail and the streets of Lefkes and enjoyed visiting with a couple from Australia at Alexandros with drinks. After another great breakfast and morning visit with Litsa, drove to Aliki. Walked, picked the fish we wanted grilled at a restaurant along the water.
To be continued |
This restaurant, Aliki ,was a wonderful waterfront restaurant in this beautiful coastal village with a picturesque port. We drove to Marpissa, a traditional Cycladic villagewith whitewashed cubic houses, standing among narrow streets, churches and windmills. Next, we visited Piso Livadi, which is quaint with a small port, beach and a number of waterfront restaurants. It is a fairly quiet little place. We had ice cream and fruit along the beachfront and rested on a beach chair. Returning to Alexandros Suites, we enjoyed a nightcap and shared stories with Litsa and her lovely son. When we said we would love to take a sunset boat ride on our last night, he said he would arrange this for us. The next day, this was set. After another amazing breakfast, we headed out to visit Parikia, the capital and the main port of Paros island. It is one of the most typical Cycladic settlements as it is distinguished by its narrow cobbled paths, the old churches, the small shops and the houses in blue and white. We visited the Church of 100 Doors, the windmill, the Frankish Castle and enjoyed walking in the town. Then, off to Prodromos, another picturesque small village where we enjoyed a meal at a taverna on a side street. Back to Naousa and our fabulous Litsa, and Theo, who took us to meet our sunset boat tour with Zeppos, www.zeppos-fishingtours.gr, when we were wined and dined with delicious food, gracious hosts and we learned about this island even more. Then, back for goodbyes to our new "family" in Paros. Litsa packed us snacks as our driver, from Luxury Paros Transfer arranged by Greeking.me was picking us up at 4:30 to get the plane.
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Woow, this is amazing! Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures!! I've been wanting to go to Greece for so long but can't find time. What would you recommend to see/visit if I had limited time on the Greek islands? Thank you in advance!
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Originally Posted by kseniiasorecie
(Post 17663128)
Woow, this is amazing! Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures!! I've been wanting to go to Greece for so long but can't find time. What would you recommend to see/visit if I had limited time on the Greek islands? Thank you in advance!
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