This is a continuing series. See other chapters HERE.
Part I: The Beginning
Sept. 8, 2013
The planning process began two years earlier and was completely surreal. To make things even more complicated, there would be time spent in Italy, (my husband’s birthplace) and Germany, (my birthplace). This was a logisticalchallenge, involving nine different flights, using Rome as our home base.
Photo by Daquella Manera, Flickr
About seven months before departure, the actual reservations were booked. Now it was starting to seem real!
We wanted to see as much of Greece as possible in the two weeks allotted (Sept. 8-22/13) and dealt directly with a travel agency in Athens. As you can see by the dots on the map above, there would be many stops along the way.
We spent the first two nights (Sept. 8-10) in Athens.
The hotel had a roof top restaurant, with the best view in town.
Acropolis and ParthenonTemple of ZeusLykavitos HillAcropolis after darkAthens by night
My life long dream had come true at last!
Emotions got the better of me and for once, I had nothing to say.
Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
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England would be fascinating! Ireland and Scotland, too. I’ve only been to London and it was a memorable trip. My father took me there in 1969 when we were still living in Germany. That was the “mod” Carnaby Street era when London was really “swinging”. Too bad I never got to meet The Beatles, though, or the Queen. I really appreciate you taking the time to read these posts, Janie. Thank you! 🙂
Beautiful photos, Debbie! I love that the experience left you without words–not that I don’t like your words–but that it touched you so deeply that words ceased. Amazing 🙂 I’m so glad it was all you dreamed it would be! 🙂
Hi Teresa; Yes, I couldn’t believe my lifelong dream had finally come true! It was quite overwhelming….
Glad you enjoyed the photos. 🙂 More to come in the following weeks. Thanks for your interest.
Hi Corina; Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂 Yes; it was the trip of a lifetime, for sure. There will be more in the coming weeks, as time permits. Life is pretty busy away from the computer these days. It’s nice to be missed – thanks! 🙂 I’d say glad to be back, but all in all, I’d rather be travelling. This is a bit anticlimactic. LOL Thanks for visiting. I’ll be dropping by your new site – looks good!
Cheers!
I didn’t know that you and your husband both were born in Europe, like me 🙂
Those are beautiful pictures you have here. Having growing up no too far (in a way) from Greece, I’ve never been there. I do know that’s beautiful though. I’m sure I will one day.
Hi Sylviane; Yes, we have Europe in common. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the photos; more to come. Hope you do visit Greece one day. It’s absolutely incredible there! Thanks for visiting.
Awesome photos! Man, I think if I ever got to Greece, I’d just faint 🙂 There are so many places I’d like to see. I particularly wish I could see famous cities and monuments when they were new … *sigh* Oh well, eh? I’m glad you got to go. Thanks for sharing with us.
I sure felt like fainting that first day! Could hardly believe it, myself. 🙂 It’s been my lifelong dream to visit Greece and honestly, I never thought it would happen. 😀 Glad you’re enjoying the posts, Marcia.
So many places to see and trying to get everything I am sure was quite a challenge. It isn’t like you could go back again in a month and see what you might have missed.
It was nice that you were able to cover so many important historical places. Yet still be able to see family. Lovely pictures.
Hi Mary; Yes, it was a challenge to squeeze everything in and I’m sure we still missed a lot. At least, we were able to get to the most famous landmarks. Would have loved more time in Rhodes, Crete and Santorini, though. Glad you enjoyed the post. More on the way! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
I love reading about your adventures and seeing the photos. Kind of the next best thing for me. Hopefully there will be more trips for you, the Grand Canyon is amazing, and if you ever get the chance make a trip to Yosemite, that was the place that left me speechless 🙂
Hi Cindy; The Grand Canyon is on my list too! Came close a couple of trips, (to Vegas), but it didn’t work out, time-wise. Glad you’re enjoying the photos. More to come. 🙂
Nothing to say?! It must have been absolutely breath-taking, then. I envy you–all those years I lived in Italy and not once did we go to either of the two countries I would have liked to see: Greece and Egypt. Your photos are beautiful–you and I should go on a photographer jaunt together someday.
I was speechless, only because it was incredible to actually be right there, after all those years of wishing to go! Egypt is on my list too, Mary, but, it could be awhile before the political situation is safe there. I’m sure we could combine efforts for a great portfolio. 🙂 Thanks for visiting and have a good week.
Debbie, I would love to visit Greece one day. Your pics are fabulous! I would also love to visit Rome and Australia and Alaska. Those would be my dream vacations 🙂 It must be so amazing to visit those ancient sites. Thanks for sharing the pics with us.
Hi Lisa; It was a dream come true for me. Rome is fantastic, too! Great places you picked and I hope you get there, soon. I still want to visit Egypt, Venice, Malta, Corfu, (Greek island on the other side), and more. Where is that lottery win, eh? 😉 Thanks for visiting today. I saw you were in San Diego recently; don’t you just love it? My parents moved down there in the 70s. It’s a real paradise, right here in North America!
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26 thoughts on “ROAD TO GREECE; FIRST GLIMPSE OF ATHENS: GREEK ODYSSEY PART I”
Greece is one of my dream destinations, but more than anything else, I want to wander all over England.
Love,
Janie
England would be fascinating! Ireland and Scotland, too. I’ve only been to London and it was a memorable trip. My father took me there in 1969 when we were still living in Germany. That was the “mod” Carnaby Street era when London was really “swinging”. Too bad I never got to meet The Beatles, though, or the Queen. I really appreciate you taking the time to read these posts, Janie. Thank you! 🙂
Wow – there are a lot (!) of dots on the map. Glad you got to see them.
Yes, it was a mega trip, for sure! 😀
Beautiful photos, Debbie! I love that the experience left you without words–not that I don’t like your words–but that it touched you so deeply that words ceased. Amazing 🙂 I’m so glad it was all you dreamed it would be! 🙂
Hi Teresa; Yes, I couldn’t believe my lifelong dream had finally come true! It was quite overwhelming….
Glad you enjoyed the photos. 🙂 More to come in the following weeks. Thanks for your interest.
WHY doesn’t the Facebook LIKE button work on this post??! It’s fine on all previous ones. 🙁
Hi Debbie!
Those pictures you shared were amazing! And wow, you sure did have an adventure visiting all those places, how lucky are you!
Looks like you had a fabulous time and I can’t wait to read your stories! Glad you’re back lady, missed ya!
Have a great day!
Hi Corina; Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂 Yes; it was the trip of a lifetime, for sure. There will be more in the coming weeks, as time permits. Life is pretty busy away from the computer these days. It’s nice to be missed – thanks! 🙂 I’d say glad to be back, but all in all, I’d rather be travelling. This is a bit anticlimactic. LOL Thanks for visiting. I’ll be dropping by your new site – looks good!
Cheers!
Hi Debbie,
I didn’t know that you and your husband both were born in Europe, like me 🙂
Those are beautiful pictures you have here. Having growing up no too far (in a way) from Greece, I’ve never been there. I do know that’s beautiful though. I’m sure I will one day.
Hi Sylviane; Yes, we have Europe in common. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the photos; more to come. Hope you do visit Greece one day. It’s absolutely incredible there! Thanks for visiting.
Awesome photos! Man, I think if I ever got to Greece, I’d just faint 🙂 There are so many places I’d like to see. I particularly wish I could see famous cities and monuments when they were new … *sigh* Oh well, eh? I’m glad you got to go. Thanks for sharing with us.
I sure felt like fainting that first day! Could hardly believe it, myself. 🙂 It’s been my lifelong dream to visit Greece and honestly, I never thought it would happen. 😀 Glad you’re enjoying the posts, Marcia.
Hi Debbie
So many places to see and trying to get everything I am sure was quite a challenge. It isn’t like you could go back again in a month and see what you might have missed.
It was nice that you were able to cover so many important historical places. Yet still be able to see family. Lovely pictures.
Mary
Hi Mary; Yes, it was a challenge to squeeze everything in and I’m sure we still missed a lot. At least, we were able to get to the most famous landmarks. Would have loved more time in Rhodes, Crete and Santorini, though. Glad you enjoyed the post. More on the way! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
I love reading about your adventures and seeing the photos. Kind of the next best thing for me. Hopefully there will be more trips for you, the Grand Canyon is amazing, and if you ever get the chance make a trip to Yosemite, that was the place that left me speechless 🙂
Hi Linda; Glad you’re enjoying the posts. 🙂 Hopefully, we’ll get to the Grand Canyon one of these days and Yosemite, too. Thanks for visiting!
What awesome pictures Debbie! Glad you have a wonderful time. If I ever get to see the Grand Canyon I’d be happy. 🙂
Hi Cindy; The Grand Canyon is on my list too! Came close a couple of trips, (to Vegas), but it didn’t work out, time-wise. Glad you’re enjoying the photos. More to come. 🙂
Nothing to say?! It must have been absolutely breath-taking, then. I envy you–all those years I lived in Italy and not once did we go to either of the two countries I would have liked to see: Greece and Egypt. Your photos are beautiful–you and I should go on a photographer jaunt together someday.
I was speechless, only because it was incredible to actually be right there, after all those years of wishing to go! Egypt is on my list too, Mary, but, it could be awhile before the political situation is safe there. I’m sure we could combine efforts for a great portfolio. 🙂 Thanks for visiting and have a good week.
Hi Debbie,
One can just wish to see and be where all you’ve been I think 🙂
Yes, we DO envy you and the awesome trip you had. Not to mention these wonderful pictures and make us feel we’ve been there too.
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
Glad you’re enjoying the photos, Harleena. It was the trip of a lifetime, for sure! 😀 Thanks for visiting today and have a great week, yourself.
Debbie, I would love to visit Greece one day. Your pics are fabulous! I would also love to visit Rome and Australia and Alaska. Those would be my dream vacations 🙂 It must be so amazing to visit those ancient sites. Thanks for sharing the pics with us.
Hi Lisa; It was a dream come true for me. Rome is fantastic, too! Great places you picked and I hope you get there, soon. I still want to visit Egypt, Venice, Malta, Corfu, (Greek island on the other side), and more. Where is that lottery win, eh? 😉 Thanks for visiting today. I saw you were in San Diego recently; don’t you just love it? My parents moved down there in the 70s. It’s a real paradise, right here in North America!