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The third stop, and my favorite, of this breathtaking trip was Santorini, Greece. Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands of the Aegean Sea. A terrible volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whole complex of Santorini islands is still an active volcano and the only volcano in the world whose crater is in the sea. The whole island is actually a huge natural geological/volcanological museum where you can observe a wide range of geological structures and forms.

Firá is the picturesque capital of the island; perched high up on the edge of the Caldera (crater), it looks like a painting. Firá, together with Oia, Imerovígli and Firostefáni located high above on a cliff, make up the so-called “Caldera’s eyebrow”, the balcony of Santorini, which offers an amazing view of the volcano.  To reach the top you can take a cable car, walk the winding, steep steps or take a donkey.

Another option, which we chose was a high-speed boat transfer to Oia.  A 12 minute run takes you to the port at Oia and included is a ticket for the bus up the crater to the Oia city center, along with a second ticket for the bus transfer to Fira.

Santorini, is one of the most picturesque, idyllic villages with its white-washed houses and shops, blue domed churches and breathtaking views and spectacular sunsets.

The second stop on our cruise around the Greek islands was Mykonos. Mykonos is an island in the Cyclades group of the Aegean Sea. In the capital town of Hóra, we strolled around its narrow marble streets and admired whitewashed houses with colorful doors and window frames. We wandered around the pedestrian shopping streets of the Hóra which was colorful and busy. The most glamorous of all is Matoyánni Street, lined with brand name stores, charming cafés and stylish restaurants. From Hora we traveled to Korfos beach where we spent the afternoon swimming, sunbathing and taking part in the many water sports offered.

If you find yourself in Mykonos take the opportunity to explore the tiny archaeological gem of Delos, just a short boat trip away. Delos was a sacred island in ancient times, and according to mythology was the birthplace of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis.

And if you visit Mykonos and are out on a stroll, don’t be surprised if you come across the official mascot of Mykonos, a… pelican! Pétros the Pelican was found by a fisherman after a storm in 1954, and eventually became the locals’ companion. When he died, the grief for his loss was so deep that a replacement was soon found. In honor of Pétros, the locals have established a long tradition of pelicans wandering around the waterfront as an essential part of everyday life. Make sure to get a picture!

Continuing the journey around the Greek islands, my family and I, aboard the Celebrity Equinox Cruise Ship headed to the gorgeous and unique island of Rhodes.  Rhodes, the largest of Greeces Dodecanese island’s is southeast of Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. While we were there we took a tour, by Jeep, through the interior mountainous area which is sparsely inhabited and covered with forests of pine and cypress trees. We traveled through small villages, visited a 15th century chapel, explored the historic Seven Springs and finally on to the Aegean sea for a BBQ lunch on the beach of Fanes. Once back in town we visited the Medieval city surrounded by medieval walls, this old part of Rhodes is the location of many interesting attractions of historical significance such as the Palace of the Master and the Archeological Museum.

 

My favorite destination of all my travels so far has been Greece. As I am half Greek, on my mothers side of the family, this trip was especially memorable. My entire family including my grandparents, Aunt, Uncle and cousins traveled with us. We began by flying into Athens, where we spent three days touring and sightseeing, before taking a cruise around the Greek islands.

There was so much to see and do in Athens. On our first day we toured the Acropolis, an ancient citadel situated on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens. Our tour guide led us up the steep, rocky hill and pointed out several sites along the way, such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus theater and the Theater of Dionysus.  The Acropolis has several ancient buildings holding architectural and historical significance, the most important being the Parthenon, located at the very top. After making our way back down we toured the Acropolis Museum.

Another highlight of Athens is the Plaka. The Plaka is an old historical neighborhood of Athens clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. It is home to many shops, restaurants, tavernas and small churches.

Visiting the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Stadium of Olympia was another highlight in Athens, as it was home to the first Olympic games.

Naples is a city on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida, with miles of beaches and calm waters. Downtown Naples features “Fifth Avenue South” with shopping and restaurants to appeal to all types of visitors. The Naples Pier is a popular fishing and dolphin spotting location.

The highlight of the trip was an adventure to Everglades National Park. The Park is a 1.5 million acre wetlands preserve made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and flatwoods and is home to hundreds of animal species. The best way to see the Everglades up close is by Airboat.  The Airboat tour we took gave us an opportunity to see numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee and the American crocodile.

A short drive from Naples is Marco Island, Florida, which is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico and linked to the mainland of Naples by bridges. Tigertail Beach Park has a tidal lagoon and is a popular sight for paddleboarding and kayaking.

I highly recommend Naples and the surrounding area for the adventure traveller!

Cancun, Mexico is located on the most southern tip of Mexico, at the Yucatán Peninsula, which is flanked by both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Driving from the airport, I saw a beautiful palm tree-lined highway with massive resorts along the beach. I was really struck by the unique architecture of the resorts, many taking design ideas from the ancient Mayans. The beaches and warm coral blue-colored waters made for a magnificent setting.

While in Cancun, we took a day trip to see the ancient Mayan ruins in Tulum. The formerly walled port city was one of the last to be built by the Mayans and the archaeological sites has been well preserved. The main building is a large stone structure called El Castillo which sits atop a rocky cliff above the beach. There is also the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God. After Tulum we continued down to Xel-Ha Park, which is a aquatic theme park and ecotourism development. While there I was able to snorkel the cenotes, zip line, cliff diving and much, much more. I highly recommend a visit to Xel-Ha while in Mexico.

The food, music, culture and more of Cancun made it a unique vacation destination!