Blogs from Pláka, Athens, Attica, Greece, Europe

Can you believe this? Over 6,000 islands that make up Greece’s landmass. The large number of islands is one of the factors that has contributed to grape variety diversity in the country. The number of ancient indigenous Greek varieties alone is estimated to be 80 to 200. Every year, hitherto unheard-of, nearly extinct grape varieties growing in some isolated parts of the country are discovered, propagated, and saved. (Winespeed) From my first visit to Greece in May, 2021: So, after spending nearly three weeks in Greece, I tried many wines. And I visited several wineries in Santorini, known for their famous Assyrtiko wines. BTW, it is pronounced "us-EAT-teeko" and has a definite "volcanic" taste, in other words, a quite pronounced minerality, for lack of a better term. Karen at Winespeed is spot on about this wine: ... read more

This is my third attempt to cycle in Croatia, maybe the fourth? Previous trips were scuttled due to Covid, or the reluctance of the tour operator. No matter, here we are, ready to go, despite the war in the Ukraine, and the chaos in the Balkans. I land in Frankfurt, and immediately head to Athens for a few days, to acclimate (jet lag mostly), see my friends (my Greek brothers), and move south to nicer weather. After three nights in Athens, I fly to Belgrade, Serbia, before flying to Split to start the cycle cruise. My erstwhile, good friend, Dirty Pat, says Belgrade, and the famous Hotel Moskva are must see. We shall see! This type of cycling trip is rather unique for me. We cycle during the day, and stay on a small cruise ship ... read more

We have long looked forward to the Athens portion of this trip as we would have the opportunity meet up with Dave’s sister Susan and her husband Jeff. We knew this would be a special travel treat. Susan and Jeff have worked hard over the years, plus they raised and home schooled six children. They intended to go to Greece on their anniversary many years ago. Life events kept postponing the trip—but it is happening now! We are thrilled to be able to join them for a few days. We have not been to Greece since 2003—it was one of our early trips out of the country. We arrived in Athens a few days before them and eagerly awaited their arrival. After getting settled in our hotel located in the old and historic Plaka District, we ... read more

Slow travel has been buzzy for a few years now, but the pandemic has travelers leisurely strolling in droves. Slow travel is, of course, traveling with the intention to connect with, learn about, and appreciate a destination and culture. Slow travel url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.guidepoint.com%2Fovertourism-after-the-covid-19-pandemic%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C4a77c885d455455760ee08d9d6f45abd%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637777167308366073%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=URO7UuNYSL49P9BTxaPx6FLJ1FXgC7FeCjkgv6azlHY%3D&reserved=0asks travelers questions about sustainability and environmental considerations regarding the destinations visited, as well as traveler impact on the local economy and communities while there. Slow travel offers the opportunity to sta... read more

My second trip to Greece in less than six months may not seem very adventurous to you. But I plan to make up for what little I saw last May, when the weather was too hot to do anything. So, I am hoping for weather in the 70s, cooler evenings, and more outdoor activities. We had several downpours as well, mostly in the evening. But I plan on visiting the friends I made on my last visit, Stavros, George, and Vasili. And I also plan on getting more adventurous with my Greek meals, wine, and neighborhoods. I know how to use the Metro and can get most anywhere on the mainland. But as you know, walking the big city is one of my big thrills when I travel. I also met a young Belarus girl, who ... read more