Greece

Athens

One of the most common questions I get is : "Which country was your favorite from you last trip?" Even though I loved all three (Italy, Spain, and Greece), I was completely struck by the beauty of Greece and the amazing food!

 I was exhausted when we arrived. We had stayed up late for Christmas, were worried about the flood, left early in the morning to catch our flight, and my knee was starting to give up on me (I have a bad knee due to a car accident in 2011).  Upon arriving to our hostel, we decided to go to asleep immediately to recharge. 

Athens felt surreal. It was a mixture of history and modern all in one place at the same time. Looking around the city, you saw the hustle & bustle of a busy city. Looking up, you saw the Parthenon. What an amazing experience! 

Aegina

We decided to stay away from the touristy islands of Greece and visited Aegina. There were amazing beaches with clear waters and beautiful sunsets. We didn't peruse the island much as we decided to take the day slow and just relax by a deserted spot on the beach. 

Aegina's website states that the island has a special place in Greek mythology and history. The name comes from the most beautiful daughter of Asopos, river god, who eloped with Zeus to this deserted island. "The island enjoyed strong economic and social growth between around 900 B.C. and 480 B.C., including minting the first coins anywhere in Greece during the 7th. Century B.C. In more modern times, Aegina was briefly the first "capital" of modern Greece from 1827 - 1829." 

Additional Pics

Delicious Food...We came back to this restaurant at least 3 times throughout the week

An alley of lights

Hiking around the area

more ruins

graffiti 

Ferry to Aegina

Ruins of Acropolis 

New Years in Greece