Bloggings, Travel

Mycenae and Heading Back Near Airport

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Today we woke up around 6:30 to travel back towards Athens. We had breakfast at the hotel and then packed up. We drove about 1.5 hours to see the archeological site of Mycenae. We got there around 11 and we hiked around until about 2 pm. The views from the site were incredible and Lucas got to run around and get a lot of energy out. We learned a bit about the site but mostly we just enjoyed looking around and walking. I believe Mycenae was where the Trojan War began. After checking the site out and seeing a lot of cats we went into town for lunch. We ate at Melina’s Taverna. Lucas had carbonara. I had pork souvlaki and Don had a pork chop. The food was very good. We bought a few little souvenirs after lunch.

After this we had a 1.5 hour drive to our apartment for the night. We stayed at Cinema Zeus Studios in Spata. The apartment was a great location for getting to the airport. It was about a 10-15 minute drive. The apartment was nice for a night. It could use a little work; it was cheaply constructed. I appreciated the suggestions posted on the fridge about restaurants to order from or walk to. It had a wall that was used for a giant projector screen and Lucas loved this. We ordered a couple of pork plates for dinner and got to bed. Lucas had a hard time falling asleep because he had napped earlier.

Flight back home:
We woke up at 6:15. We got gas and drove the car back to hertz. It was a bit stressful, but could have been worse. It was so nice the man who got our car at hertz drove us to the airport entrance so we wouldn’t have to walk. The walk from the rental cars was pretty long. The airport check in process was easy but a bit different. It was a long walk to airport security. Then there was security at your gate to get in so only people who were leaving from that gate could enter. That was kind of nice. During our security check our woman officer loved Lucas. She was laughing at him while he took his picture, but in a good way. Like she thought he was so cute. Our flight left on time. Lanie, Jason, and Delilah were on the United flight and it was 3 hours delayed. The flight was ok. Lucas slept some and watched a lot of spiderman on his tablet.

Bloggings, Travel

Beach Hopping & Snorkeling

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Today we woke up at 7 to get an early start for some snorkeling. We had breakfast at the hotel and was on the road a little before 9. We made it to Foneas Beach a bit before 10. It was absolutely beautiful. The rock formations were incredible, and the water was so blue and clear. We immediately snorkeled. There were many fish to see in the rock formations. There were also little caves to explore. The best thing we saw was a big lionfish that Lucas spotted! Around noon we went back to Kardamyli for lunch. Don found a place called Kiki’s Taverna. It was so cute. Two older women were running the place. There was no set menu, she just told us our options. I got the lemon chicken, Lucas got the meatballs, and Don got the rabbit onion dish. We also got saganaki as an appetizer. Everything was so delicious. One of our best meals.

After lunch we went to Kitries Beach. The drive there was crazy. The roads were so narrow, and the elevation changed a lot. Once we parked a man told us where we parked was for his restaurant so we would have to eat there later. We got some chairs and a table by the beach for 7 euro. I also got a freddo espresso. Then we snorkeled. We swam near the rocks and around them to the sandy beach on the other side. We saw so many hermit crabs, crabs, and fish. We also saw a starfish and a weird centipede looking thing. This was a fun place to snorkel. I got stung by something though. I never saw anything but on my stomach, there were red marks and it stung for several hours. Once we were done, we went back to the restaurant. It was called Kitro Beach Bar. The waiter loved Lucas, especially when he ordered fried anchovy and fried calamari. He gave him a high five. The food was good. When I paid the waiter even gave us each little ice cream bars. Our beach day was awesome. When we got back to the hotel we got cleaned up and started packing. Lucas said he wanted a real dinner, so we went to a restaurant right next to our hotel. I got carbonara, Lucas got spaghetti, and Don got a pork chop. It was pretty good.

Bloggings, Travel

Lazy Beach & Pool Day

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I woke up around 7:30 despite not going to bed until around 1:30. I fell back asleep and woke with the brightest light I’ve ever seen on my eyes at 8:30. It was the sun rising over the mountains. We forgot to close the shades. We all stayed in bed until between 9:30 and 10. Then we went down to breakfast. After breakfast we decided to just stay at our hotel beach. We got a table and chairs and did some snorkeling. There wasn’t much to see. Lucas did spot a starfish. There were some fish, but the beach was mostly sandy once you got in. After snorkeling for a while, Lucas wanted to try the other inflatable obstacle course so we found chairs closer. Don and him went to the obstacle course. I decided to go for a swim near it and just as I was getting in, I saw a family leaving chairs that were very close and in the first row. So, I snatched those up. After the obstacle course Lucas came back in front of the chairs and snorkeled. We ordered pizza and souvlaki. Then he played in the waves. After that we went to the pool. Delilah was at our beach, and she stopped to say hi. Then we went back to shower. We hung around the room for a couple of hours. I tried to nap and I wish Lucas had napped. At 6:30 Delilah met us at our hotel to go to Kastraki-Meteoro. It was a restaurant in a castle on the hilltop overlooking Kalamata. The views were incredible. The sunset was beautiful. We all had steak except Lucas, he had pasta. Everything was good. We had mango cheesecake (which was delicious), panna cotta, and chocolate ice cream for dessert. Then we went back to the hotel.

Bloggings, Travel

Marina & Nik’s Wedding!

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Today we slept in a bit. It was around 9 when we made it to breakfast. During breakfast Lucas tried to get up and he pushed against the table, the table legs went into this like little gutter thing that was on the floor of the balcony. Everyone around us gasped with surprise because it sounded like our table was crashing over. Everything was fine but it was so dramatic. After breakfast, Lucas and I walked down to the beach while Don finished ironing his clothes for the wedding. Lucas wanted to try the inflatable obstacle course on the water. He did really well. I didn’t even have to get in with him. One of the lifeguards was impressed with how good of a swimmer he was. After that we went back to the hotel pool for a bit. Lucas really wanted to snorkel, so we decided to go back to the restaurant Nautilus. He was able to get in the water while we ordered. Don and I both had the souvlaki. It was so good. We got Lucas fried cod and fries. It was also delicious. Then at 2 we went back to the hotel to get ready. Around 3:30 we met Jenna, Andrew, Lanie, and Jason down in our lobby. A bus was going to pick us up at 4:15 to go to the village for the wedding. The village was called Leontari. Delilah drove and parked at our hotel to take the bus, she cut it close, but she made it. I sat with Delilah. Don and Lucas sat together.


Lucas slept most of the way. When we got to the village we all walked to where Nik and Marina were getting ready to walk to the church. While we waited, we took pictures and looked at the cute village. Then Nik came out with a band and a few minutes later Marina came out. Then we followed her to the church. The ceremony was very traditional and mostly in Greek. It was very cool to see. After the ceremony we went to the town square to get appetizers. Lucas had immediately introduced himself to other kids and made friends. They were all running around and playing on the playground together. I hope there’s video somewhere of the kids rolling down the hill in front of the church during Marina and Nik’s first dance. Once the food started coming it didn’t stop. It was awesome. We also had endless wine at our table. There was a Greek band, and everyone was doing Greek dancing, which we tried. Lucas liked seeing the cats and dogs in the village. He played all night and finally showed signs of being tired around 11:30. Around 11:45 they brought the plates out that they break at Greek weddings. That was a lot of fun. Lucas loved it. Then we got the midnight bus back to our hotel. Lucas fell asleep.

Bloggings, Travel

Snorkeling and Ritsa Beach

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Today we set an alarm for 7:30 because we wanted to explore some beaches. We probably would have slept longer. We had breakfast at the hotel, and it was good. Then we headed out around 10. The drive to Kardamyli where Rista Beach was, was crazy! Much more elevated than I thought it would be. Lucas said “it looks like the Yosemite!” We missed the beach and ended up following a van to an area you could rent a boat or go snorkeling. The guy told us where the beach was, but he also told us we could snorkel there. So, we parked and walked down the rocky beach. Lucas got right in and snorkeled. He did awesome. He was swimming so well. We saw some fish and cool rocks. Then we went to Ritsa Beach. This beach was all large pebbles or rocks. It was so calm. We got 2 chairs and an umbrella for 10 euro. Then we snorkeled. Lucas loved it! The rocks formations in the water here were awesome. You could swim through some tunnel-like formations. We saw a lot of fish. Then we had some sandwiches for lunch. Don got a massage on the beach because his neck and shoulder were bothering him. Then we went back out and snorkeled more. We went further but then the waves were coming in, and it was getting more rough. A dark cloud was showing rain was coming. So, we packed up around 4:30 and drove back. The drive was crazy at times with the rain. We got back to the hotel around 5:30. Then we got showered and went to Secada Restaurant around 7. Initially I made a reservation here for 6:30 for all 10 of us but it didn’t work out. Only Delilah made it. We got back around 8:30 and went to bed.

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