HOME We've been traveling fairly extensively for the last 8 years.  Here are some of the things that we've learned along the way: What to know, where to go... The Rick Steves website has good travel tips. Read them, and live them. Also read your guidebook before you leave. Cut out the relevant pages and bring them along.  You'll have the info you need without the bulk of the entire book.  For free time, I find that the Atlas Obscura website has hints about curious and little-known gems. It’s not a fashion show! Pack light!!!  We learned this the hard way but it's one of the most important changes we've made over the years -- one backpack or small bag per person, mostly for daily use, and one airline carry-on.   We invested in 2 pair of multi-pocket quick dry pants (with zip off legs so they convert to shorts) and 5 quick dry shirts (3 is fine, but I like a little variety 😊 )  A few changes of underwear and you’re set. Our primary clothes usuall...

Athens and the Heart of Greece in 14 Days Athens      Acropolis Hill      Delphi      Journey to Olympia       Olympia Kardamyli      Mani Peninsula       Monemvasia      Mystras       Naphlio and Mycenae Epidavros     Hydr a      National Museum     Travel Tips About us...  Hi! We’re Debbie and Lyle, 66-yr-old retired empty nesters who love traveling and meeting new people. This was our 5th Rick Steves tour and we look forward to more in the future. As a child I read all of the Greek myths and included a study of Greek history with my college engineering classes. It was fascinating to see the sites and sounds in person and to feel the history come alive around me. And, lucky for me, I married a man who also loves to travel and immerse himself in new lifestyles and customs. With all this traveling, we've picked up quit...

  Saturday, June 7, 2025                                                          Montmartre                                                                                                          After sleeping a bit late and then a leisurely breakfast (leisurely just because we poked along, NOT because breakfast was anything special because it wasn’t) we headed back up to the Basilica and the residential area of Montmartre.   And used the last of our metro rides to take the funicular back up. We noticed yesterday that many of the railings alo...

HOME Sunday, June 8, 2025                                                                                                                                                                                           Today was a travel day.  We had spent a few "pre-tour" days in Paris. We always try to arrive a day early to rest and get 'the lay of the land" before the official start of our tour. It was almost dinnertime when we made it to the hotel so we just grabbed something quick for dinner...

  HOME Tuesday, June 10,  2025                                                                                                                                          Today, Mama Fay took us on the official Acropolis tour.   She is 76 years young and has been a tour guide for 44 years.   In Greece, tour guides actually have to go to school for 3 years then pass a test before they can be official guides.   Mama Fey (as she introduced herself--she considers all the other guides to be her children because she trained them) is about 4 ft nothing and even when she held up her umbrella she was lost in the crowd.   So, we ...

HOME Wednesday, June 11, 2025                                          This morning, we left Athens, to travel to more countryside destinations.   Our first stop was Arachova, a nice little town where we had lunch and some time to wander about.   Before we actually came into town, we made a brief stop on the mountainside overlooking the town. Knowing that we had a group dinner tonight, Lyle and I opted to share a hot feta cheese pie from a local bakery, then just to wander the town, looking for likely photo ops. From the little Church of the Virgin Mary, to backstreet courtyards and porches, we found multiple opportunities for nice photos.   As in Anafiotika, local cats seemed to have the run of the place. The entire town was so neat and clean.   So much so that I had a hard time finding a trash can to throw away our lunch wrappers. After lunch, we continued on ...