Our Amazing Grecian Odyssey

Old Jun 18th, 2022, 07:04 PM
  #121  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Travelerjan, Geetika, and Yestravel, thank you for your kind words and your condolences.
As far as future travel plans, we are renting a house on Cape Cod in MA for a week in August when our daughter and her family who live in France come to visit. I’d like to do something this fall but I think it will be a last-minute trip. And we are seriously thinking of Scotland and Ireland in 2023.

Yestravel, I sincerely hope our paths will cross again. If you come to Boston, please let me know. We live about 45 minutes away and could meet in Boston for dinner.
KarenWoo is offline  
Old Jun 19th, 2022, 12:14 AM
  #122  
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 682
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wonder why posters keep saying that Santorini is not an authentic Greek experience. Is it the cave houses, the food, the people, the wineries, the vineyards, the tomato fields, the villages, the supermarkets, the bakeries, the churches, the stray cats & dogs, the tavernas, the local specialities, the fishermen, the old ladies selling olive oil and pickled capers, the many tourists that make it not authentic? Every island is different, Santorini is spectacular and very well touristed for that reason and well worth a visit, most on the island residents are locals except for some overseas workers in the hospitality industry, in the main some of them speak fluent Greek and you could not tell if they were Greek or not. That is typical of anywhere in Greece. Alot of Greeks visit Santorini for their own vacations, they are not known for travelling outside of Greece very much.

balthy is offline  
Old Jun 19th, 2022, 01:23 AM
  #123  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by KarenWoo
Memejs, we loved Santorini and I would advise people to go there at least once in their lifetime. The views are spectacular, and I strongly recommend renting a car for the day and seeing the rest of the island. It may not be the authentic Greek experience, but I think Santorini is well worth seeing for its uniqueness and beauty. With that said, our 2 favorite places are Naxos and Nafplion.

There is nothing I would change in our itinerary. It was perfect for us. I definitely recommend visiting Greece before the weather gets too hot. Santorini and Naxos had comfortable temperatures. But it was definitely getting hotter in Nafplion and Athens as the month wore on. It was already in the low 90’s in Athens, and I think in the Nafplio region, too.
We loved Santorini too. Yes, it’s touristy, but not without reason. Luckily we went early May when it wasn’t crowded, the weather was also gorgeous. I definitely recommend renting a car, you get to drive around the island and see other parts, not just the caldera side. We were staying in Finikia just outside Oia where it was much quieter, with the same breathtaking views. During the day we were touring the island and by the time we returned the day trippers had left, so it was a win-win situation.

This was our third visit to Santorini, the first time in Greece for my niece and nephew and they liked it best of all the places we went to.
geetika is offline  
Old Jun 19th, 2022, 01:54 AM
  #124  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by yestravel
Your TR was wonderful -- After hearing some of the highlights when we had dinner together, it was nice to put it all together & see your great photos. So we were in Athens about a month apart--I am gobsmacked by all the crowds when you were there. Another advantage of the Peloponnese is way less crowds everywhere! Sad way to end your trip, so sorry.

I hope our paths cross again somewhere, What's up next for you all?
Looks like we were in Greece midway between the two of you, the first half of May. Gorgeous weather in Santorini and Nafplion, it was chilly in the evenings. Not many people around and we could tour and see places without crowds. We got to Athens on May 12 and it was pretty hot during the day, mid to upper eighties, we didn’t wear a jacket even once. A lot of people too, but Athens is a big city.

It’s wonderful the two of you got to meet, would love to do that some day…
geetika is offline  
Old Jun 19th, 2022, 03:07 AM
  #125  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for sharing on your visit and providing me with good information for a future trip. I am so sorry for your loss and hope that good memories of your mother sustain you during these challenging times.
tripplanner001 is online now  
Old Jun 19th, 2022, 04:32 AM
  #126  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Balthy, you make a lot of good points. It is the large crowds, all the tourists, cruise ships, and gift shops that turn some people off about Santorini and claim that it is not the authentic Greek experience. And some people claim Santorini is only about the caldera view. Which is not true, IMO. That is why I encourage people to rent a car at least for a day and see the rest of the island, which we really enjoyed doing.
KarenWoo is offline  
Old Jun 19th, 2022, 08:11 AM
  #127  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As for Santorini Strategy -- I've visited the isle numerous times because often my travel pals are newbies and it is a must-see. On my 1st trip I did a bus tour of the type not given now... a half-day tour with an archeology/classics expert, that did not feature Oia.. On another trip, 4 of us rented a car, so were able to get around. After that -- no car, no tours, but a plan. I'd found a wonderful, v affordaable small guesthouse/hotel (12 rooms) in peaceful Firostephani, just steps away from the rimside path... and know places to have dinner for a sunset outlook without crowd madness & also how to access OIA (Early early) to beat the cruise-crush. Ever after, in May, I'd bring newbies there immediately upon arrival, we'd have 36-48 hours max, then board a ferry ...providing a good sample of the Famous Caldera View & the Postcard pix, plus Akrotiri for the ancient-site buffs. I've recommended this approach since for dozens of newcomers with short stays & modest budgets, and the feedback has been good.
travelerjan is offline  
Old Jun 19th, 2022, 03:08 PM
  #128  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We spent 3 nights on Santorini, which was perfect for us. What I like about our itinerary is that it is diverse. Santorini is very different from Naxos. And Nafplion is very different from both of those islands. And Athens is different from all the places we visited, obviously, because it’s a large capital city. Some day, if possible, I’d like to spend more time on the Peloponnese, visit Crete, Rhodes, Meteora. But we also want to visit countries we haven’t been to yet. Never enough time. . . .
KarenWoo is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2022, 06:10 AM
  #129  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Karen, I really enjoyed your Trip report. Your Santorini tips will really help us next year when we do an extended Greece trip. May I ask how far in advance you made your hotel reservations?
uppsala30 is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2022, 10:12 AM
  #130  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by uppsala30
Karen, I really enjoyed your Trip report. Your Santorini tips will really help us next year when we do an extended Greece trip. May I ask how far in advance you made your hotel reservations?
I made our hotel reservations about 6 months in advance. I made them sometime during November 2021 for our May 2022 trip.
KarenWoo is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2022, 03:12 PM
  #131  
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Karen,

My sincere condolences on the loss of your mother. Trip reports and/or scrapbooking are great ways to preserve memories and provide much needed distractions from very recent painful events.

My husband of 40 years died in November and I am so thankful that I took the time to create all the scrapbooks of our multitude of trips over the years. looking at them again has provided a much needed escape from the present for a time.

Treasure your memories of your mother always.

Best wishes, Judy
jlf1 is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2022, 03:57 PM
  #132  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,652
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by geetika
Looks like we were in Greece midway between the two of you, the first half of May.
We got to Athens on April 26 and it was very hot the first day or two. Then it cooled down, by the end of our trip in late May the sun was really strong and hot even though the temps werent terribly high,

”It’s wonderful the two of you got to meet, would love to do that some day…
I loved meeting Karen, it always adds to meet up with people as we travel and share experiences.
yestravel is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2022, 06:53 PM
  #133  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Judy,
thank you for your condolences. And I am so sorry to learn about the loss of your husband. I am sure it is not easy for you. Scrapbooks and photo albums do help.
KarenWoo is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2022, 01:16 AM
  #134  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Karenwoo, so sorry to hear about your loss. I hope happy memories will give you comfort. . I am currently in Greece, after my husband's nephew's wedding in Kozani on the 18th.. We are currently sitting on a beach in Platamonas, under Mt Olympus. Not an area well known by Americans, I'm sure. we fly to Germany tomorrow. I will postTR when I return. I would like to meet some fellow fodorites someday. Sounds like fun.
.
Debbielynn is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2022, 04:07 AM
  #135  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Debbielynn, thank you for your kind words. Sounds like you are having a wonderful trip, and it's always fun and interesting to read about places that are not very well-known. Safe travels!
KarenWoo is offline  
Old Jun 30th, 2022, 03:28 PM
  #136  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 40,079
Received 7 Likes on 4 Posts
Hi KarenWoo - so glad I stopped in to read this trip report. Looks like a wonderful and varied visit to beautiful Greece. Thank you for all the care you took on this report.

I was sorry to read about your loss of your mother and especially that she died while you were away. A difficult time made more difficult by distance. Even though she had a long life, it is still so hard to believe our parents are gone from this realm.

How fun that you were able to meet up with the yes and gotravels. I believe I met them in either DC and/or Philly.
gruezi is offline  
Old Jun 30th, 2022, 04:01 PM
  #137  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,652
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by gruezi
Hi KarenWoo -
How fun that you were able to meet up with the yes and gotravels. I believe I met them in either DC and/or Philly.
Gruezi, indeed you did. I organized two big GTGs in DC.
yestravel is offline  
Old Jul 1st, 2022, 05:18 AM
  #138  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by gruezi
Hi KarenWoo - so glad I stopped in to read this trip report. Looks like a wonderful and varied visit to beautiful Greece. Thank you for all the care you took on this report.

I was sorry to read about your loss of your mother and especially that she died while you were away. A difficult time made more difficult by distance. Even though she had a long life, it is still so hard to believe our parents are gone from this realm.

How fun that you were able to meet up with the yes and gotravels. I believe I met them in either DC and/or Philly.
Gruezi, happy to hear you enjoyed my TR. Comments like yours make writing them worthwhile. Plus it's a diary of our trip for us.
And you are right that my mom dying while we were so far away made it more difficult. My dad died in 1992 so it is especially difficult when both parents are gone.
KarenWoo is offline  
Old Jul 2nd, 2022, 02:53 AM
  #139  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,695
Received 19 Likes on 4 Posts
Karen, glad I finally caught up with your TR, and I’m sorry to hear of your mother’s passing while you were away.
I’ve had those fears about travelling, too.
Adelaidean is online now  
Old Jul 2nd, 2022, 10:01 AM
  #140  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 706
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Karen, I too finally got caught up with your TR. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved mother.
PegS is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -