Rather than go in-depth on each stop from my Greece trip (because real talk: it’s been a few years and my memory is Swiss cheese at this point), I thought I’d hit the remaining highlights for the rest of the trip.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos (or Zante) may have been my favorite on the trip, as we spent the entire time beach hopping. Having grown up in South Florida, I like to consider myself a beach connoisseur. Among the beautiful beaches we played at were St. Nicholas Beach and Porto Liminionas. Porto Liminionas in particular took my breath away as we swam amid the caves in deep blue waters.
Our tour director arranged for a lovely boat ride that took us past Turtle Island. We had the opportunity to swim in a cave. My body was unprepared for how cold that water was. I jumped in and immediately inhaled in shock (thankfully above water). I hadn’t realized how freezing ocean water is the further out you go.
Kefalonia
Lush views and mountain peaks surrounded us in Kefalonia (or Cephalonia). We dove further into the beautiful nature of Greece with an excursion to the Melissani Cave. Sapphire waters below us and the rough cave mouth open above us, letting in the sunlight, it was a truly awe-inspiring experience. Afterward, we made a stop at the Gentilini Vineyard for a wine tasting amid the sprawling green. As the sun began to set, our tour director had our coach stop at St. George’s Castle for a breathtaking sunset with a drink and all our new friends.
Delphi
I’d always heard of the legend of the Oracle of Delphi as mythology, but it turns out there’s a real history behind it. Among the ruins in Delphi, you will learn the history that morphs into legend, blurring the lines between truth and tale. It’s also a fantastic place to take in the views of expanses of olive tree groves.
Meteora
Sitting at the top of a cliff, the monasteries of Meteora were built to bring people closer to the divine. The feeling overwhelms you as you see nothing but blue sky all around and surrounding views of rugged mountains. The gorgeous grounds abound with roses and vibrant flowers blooming from the gardens. The sanctuary itself creates a sense of reverence with the religious artistry.
Small Village Life
While we hit up major tourist destinations on the Ionian Sea side, our EF Tour was called “Off the Beaten Path Greece.” That means we made stops in small villages along the way for an authentic experience.
Asos offered a quaint and quiet respite between our adventures while Arachova charmed us with its cobblestone streets and local confections. But our experience in Volimes was perhaps my favorite. First, the road into the village is so narrow our charter bus had a hard time driving up the path and getting us as close to the town as possible. Then, we stopped at a bakery that operated out of a woman’s personal kitchen. Here, we had the best baklava I’d ever tasted.
Greece is an amazing destination with so much to offer. I wouldn’t mind going back and seeing more.
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