Editor’s Picks

Fran Elsen,

Editor-in-Chief of TOPS

Editor’s Pick: Greece is the Word!

Aahhh… Greece! Yes, the proverbial “bucket list” vacation for so many. I recently made this trip a reality after years of planning, saving, and preparation. The perfect girls’ trip with my daughter and sister was met with much anticipation and excitement. I feel fortunate that I was able to witness such amazing beauty while spending time in a culture known for its laid-back atmosphere, rich history, and ultimate culinary dining experience. We began planning the trip back in late 2018, and the original date was set for June 2020 until Covid hit. We moved everything to this year and I have to say, it was absolutely worth the wait! May and June are the ideal travel times to this glorious country, as the daytime temps are in the low 80s and nights are just cool enough for a very light jacket – if anything at all. It’s also the least crowded, since many Europeans vacation in July and August, making booking excursions and dinner reservations a bit challenging. We knew we wanted to spend the majority of our time on Santorini and experience the lovely white hillside buildings overlooking the dark blue Aegean Sea. There are many villas available for rent, and lots of them have private balconies and pools, like ours did. Book early, as there is a limited number and they fi ll up quickly. If you want the perfect picturesque views of Greece that you see in all of the photographs, stay in Oia (pronounced Ee-yah). Restaurants and shopping are all within walking distance, and there’s no shortage of either. Oia is considered to be the more “upscale” of the cities in Santorini, and it’s easy to take a short excursion or day trip if you want to visit another nearby city on the island.

Once you fl y into Athens, you’ll need to arrange to get to Santorini, which you can do by ferry or plane. We opted for the 7-hour ferry for the trip there, so that we could relax and enjoy seeing the other islands along the way. While 7 hours sounds like a long time, it’s truly enjoyable if you book the Business Class option, which will put you on the top fl oor with lovely comfortable seating and full bar/food service. The price is roughly the same for the fl ight or the ferry, about €100 (approximately $120 USD). Your luggage stays with you the entire time. Everyone should do this at least once, and then take the quick 35-minute fl ight on the return trip to Athens. Once on Santorini, we were met by a driver sent by our villa team almost immediately. The 30-minute drive up to the top was easy. When we arrived at our villa, our luggage was quickly whisked away by the staff at Marizan Caves and Villas. We were led to reception, where we got the “lay of the land” and asked to select our 5-course breakfast choice and time of delivery for the next morning. We did this every day, and the food was amazing and delivered with a smile on our balcony overlooking the sea. Be prepared to do A LOT of walking and stair-climbing. Santorini is largely hillside, and walking is the main way to get around. Besides, it’s great exercise, and you’ll be in awe at the beauty everywhere... so you won’t even think about it! Must-Do’s While staying in Santorini: • Book a day or evening boat excursion. Enjoy the day on a semi-private giant catamaran while visiting the Hot Springs, Red Sand Beach, and island volcanos. The

Travel Tip! Wear comfortable shoes! You’ll be doing LOTS of walking and stair-climbing, so this is a must! Greek “Must-Know” Words: Yamas! (Cheers) and Efharisto (Thank You!) Must-Do Restaurant in Oia: Sunset Restaurant at Amoudi Bay. Enjoy stunning views of the hillside while dining directly by the water. Watch the boats and ships come in with twinkling lights and savor the culinary delights of fresh-caught seafood. This is a 20-minute walk all the way down to the bottom of the city. Your villa hosts can make reservations for you.

crew is there to provide drinks and a full gourmet lunch or dinner while you take in all the glory of the Aegean Sea and sites. Towels are also provided and swimming is encouraged (although the Hot Spring is not really “hot”). The cost for this is only €100 – totally worth it! • Get your Euro change together and hop on a bus to Fira, a short 30-minute ride to a nearby city that has its own sites, shopping, and dining. While there, make the climb to see the infamous “Three Bells of Fira” for breathtaking views and photo ops. €1.60 each way is a deal, and you can always find someone who speaks English to point you in the right direction. We had a fantastic lunch at the top of an old castle overlooking the entire city and sea. Lots of small, local shops offer a plethora of handmade goods. Also, Fira is the closest city to Oia where you can make an exchange for more euros if you run out during your trip. • Once in Fira, take the next short bus ride to the city of Pyrgos, and visit Santo Winery for wine tasting and lunch. Take a little extra time to explore this charming little area and visit nearby local shops. Also, you’ll still have gorgeous water views of the Agean Sea everywhere you turn! • Take advantage of the tantalizing tastes of Greece at every restaurant and enjoy freshly made salads, breads, and dips, including feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, Tzaziki and fava beans. As an added bonus, Greek wines don’t contain sulfites like most American wines, so you’ll never have a headache or feel sluggish the next day after imbibing! • Shopping in Oia. Don’t miss an opportunity to walk the beautiful shopping area on top of Oia where you’ll find lots of local stores and quaint boutiques full of handmade goods from Greece. This is also where all of the restaurants and bars are located. Again, amazing views of the hillside and sea abound! • Athens! You can’t go to Greece without visiting the Colosseum and the Parthenon. This is your opportunity to visit all things “ancient” Greece dating back to 3,000 BC. A €30 ticket will get you into all of the entry points to see these amazing artifacts. There’s also a museum you can visit for an additional €10. There’s lots of excellent restaurants in Athens also, and many have rooftop views of the Parthenon at sunset. Where to Stay Recommendation: There are lots of luxury villas once in Oia where you can enjoy your stay. We chose Marizan Caves and Villas, where we had our own private infinity pool overlooking the Aegean Sea. The staff is available 24/7 and always offering to help with anything you might need. We were also served a 5-course breakfast of our choice each morning which was delightful! The villas and suites in Oia can be a bit pricey, but honestly, well worth every euro!