Greece and Turkey 2025

 

Overnight flight from Houston via Munich and you arrive in Athens late afternoon.  The airport is a long, expensive cab to town, or one can ride the Metro from 5 min. Walk from the baggage claim and you're on the way to the main public square in Athens; Sygmentra.  My hotel was theoretically a short walk away, but there was a large Pro-Palestinian and Gay Pride demonstration that I had to walk through. PHOTOS HERE

After check in and a quick shower, I walked the other direction and found some dinner in a casual Greek Restaurant where my waiter, as most middle aged men in Greece; had been to Galveston Houston via the Merchant Marines..  Not an uncommon occurrence in Greece.

The next morning after a classic Greek breakfast, I walked for 20 min. To my “Skip the Lines” waking tour of the Acropolis.  It however was not “skip the crowd”.  One walks up the hill for about 20 min to get to the top and actually see the ruins as well as the Parthenon.   It was so crowded on top, I couldn't hear my guide, so I waved goodbye and left.  As you know history, ancient Greece was the center of the universe many millennia ago and it frequently took place at the Acropolis.

My friends Brad and Tenia Elridge picked me up at the hotel for an afternoon drive and dinner along the southern coast. What a great way to spend my first day.

The next morning a cab ride to the port of Piraeus and I boarded the NCL Viva.

Our first stop was in a northern Greek community of Volos. PHOTOS HERE We couldn’t figure out why we were here except to kill time.  Sandra, John and I walked along the bay front and found a nice little restaurant and walked in to a coffee house where I rediscovered Freddo Cappuccino.  What a wonderful refreshing drink.

The next day, a hour bus ride from the port of Izmir to the Ruins of Ephesus. PHOTOS HERE This ancient archaeological site is thought to be inhabited from 600 BC.  There is still excavation.  The most recent section was “The Terraced Houses” which were only started 25 years ago.  Magnificent preserves of home and rooms all covered by a giant ventilated covering.  This tour was fantastic in spite of the 3 hours spent on the bus.

Then it was in Istanbul.  PHOTOS HEREThe Lopez’s and I were there 12 years ago.  Not much has changed.  Very vibrant city with 16 million people.  Majority Muslim and just as “in you face” as they were the last time we were there.  We were in a different area this trip. A walking tour of the Topkapi Palace and Grounds.  There are many worthy sites in Istanbul but this is my favorite.  I can see the famous diamond that was the theme of the 1962 movie “Topkapi”.That evening we took a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus.  This water way is the divide between Europe and Asia.  It is also the only sea route out of the Black Sea.  We walked a lot and I finished the stop with a Haman, which is a traditional Turkish Scrub and Bath.  Done in a central , heated, domed room with 10 of my new found friends.  It’s something one must experience….once.

Mykonos has been labeled the "Emerald of the Aegean Sea". PHOTOS HERE

You absolutely can't miss this place on a Greek Isles tour! Fortunately, my friends John and Sandra know the Greek Islands like the back of their hand, so I just tagged along. From the pier, we literally walked across the street, grabbed a little rental car, and zoomed across the island to Lia Beach. There are plenty of gorgeous beaches with their own club restaurants, but Lia is the furthest out and mercifully less packed. We basically had the place to ourselves when we rolled in at 10 AM, though it was buzzing by the time we reluctantly left at 3 PM.

You could snag beach lounges for €70-90 for the day, or just do what we did: pull up a table at the restaurant and graze and sip all day long. My day was a blissful cycle of drinking, smoking, eating, and swimming. Honestly, I spent half the time just dreaming about living out my summers there.

Santorini is the quintessential Greek island—what you imagine when you dream of Greece. Whitewashed buildings crowned with blue domes, narrow alleys lined with chic boutiques selling stylish women’s fashion and accessories—it’s as picturesque as it gets.  PHOTOS HERE

But here’s the twist: Santorini is actually the remnant of a massive volcanic eruption that occurred 3,600 years ago. The island is essentially the rim of a collapsed volcano, which means the towns are perched high on the cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the bay below. Getting up there, however, takes a bit of effort. The climb is about 300 feet, and there are only two public options to reach the top:

1. A donkey ride—once you mount, the donkey sets off on autopilot, zigzagging its way up the steps for about 25 minutes, with zero steering from you.
2. A cable car—a smoother 10-minute ride, but expect to queue for 45 to 60 minutes in both directions, especially during high season when multiple cruise ships crowd the harbor.

There is a little-known option to go up by private vehicle, but it requires advance arrangements—a "double-secret" route, if you will.

Still, the views? Absolutely jaw-dropping. And yes, I’m truly glad I made the journey.

Next up were Rhodes and Crete, two islands distinct from our previous stops. These aren't just any islands; they're major hubs for the Greek people, with a history stretching back thousands of years as the home of the ancient Minoan Civilization—a civilization believed to have been wiped out by the devastating Santorini volcano. Today, both islands struck us as incredibly busy and developed.

For tourists, the main agenda is simple: find a beachside restaurant, enjoy a Freddo Cappuccino in the morning, savor a delicious Greek lunch, and then take a swim. And that's exactly what we did!

Photos Here