Greece!
Oh what can I say about that wonderful country except that, surprisingly (from my point of view, but maybe not from yours) I fell head-over-heels.
I could wax poetic about the views, the history, the food, the people…and I most surely will.
But first, let’s discuss everything that went wrong on our trip–and why it was still wonderful.
One. I spent hours carefully planning our scant one day in Athens (because the first mistake was thinking that two nights = two days). The first thing that went wrong? Our flight was quite delayed so we didn’t even arrive in Athens until after one in the morning, much less to our hotel. This put a damper on my wake-early-to-see-it-all plan, especially as it was already near the end of an exhausting week.
Two. On our arrival, we found out that there was a metro/transit strike so all of my careful planning went out the window. After purchasing hop-on/hop-off bus tickets, we headed out, slightly later than planned but still ready to stick to the plan.
Three. March 25, the day after our arrival, is Greek Independence Day. Now, this had not completely escaped my notice–I had stumbled across this fact when looking up Easter closures in the country, of which there were none because the Orthodox Greeks don’t celebrate Easter until later–but did not think this would impact anything the day before. How wrong I was! Nearly everything closed early that day, meaning that the late start had effectively ruined our plans. This also meant that there was an insane amount of traffic due to parades, and to the transit strike.
Four. After to being stuck in traffic for much longer than anticipated (albeit at the top of an open-air bus, so at least we were kind of sight-seeing), we arrived at the National Archaeological Museum in the early afternoon. Since I knew we should spend at least several hours in this museum, and the traffic just seemed to be worsening, we decided to scrap this activity (WAH) and head to the Acropolis instead.
Five. We got lost on the way to the Acropolis. Not a bad thing, but it did mess up our timing even more!
Six. I really didn’t think Athens would be that crowded in March–it is the off-season after all, Google assured me!–but off-season in Greece is still in Greece, one of the most visited places in the world, so there were still really long lines. We decided to wait until nearer to closing time for the Acropolis (which we were told was 4) and head to the Acropolis Museum instead, in an attempt to avoid the long line.
Seven. Our exhaustion completely caught up with us at the museum, and we knew if we didn’t go to the Acropolis we might not make it. So we did…luckily, because it was actually closing at THREE! We scrambled up to the top at 2.30 on the dot.
Eight. I had really wanted to see the Temple of Zeus, so after the Acropolis we headed straight there. Of course, even though it was supposed to close at 5, it had also closed at 3, so I had to make do with peering through the gates with about fifty other tourists.
Nine. Santorini’s off-season really is off. We stayed in two small villages and nearly everything was closed. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing unless you want to eat. Which we did, a lot, because Greek cuisine might be the best ever.
Ten. Santorini is windy and it can be freezing. I had looked up the weather ahead of time–and decent 60-70 degrees fahrenheit the whole time!–but the wind dropped it to much colder than that. I was not prepared.
After reading this, you probably think I’m the worst traveler in the world–but it just goes to show, that even if you think you are preparing well, you can never plan for everything that could go wrong. It’s an important lesson for a type-A planner like myself.
The best lesson?
Even with everything that did go wrong in Greece, I still really loved that country. I can’t explain why–especially with how difficult it was to navigate–but there is just something about Greece that pulled me in and left me wanting more. I can’t wait to tell you everything! Until then, here are a few more teaser shots–the first of many since I only took about 300 pictures per day…
Did you get a break for Easter? What did you do?
Linking up with Travel Tuesday.
I was at home for Easter. I went to Greece in 2006. Explored quite a bit but not Santorini. I’d love to do that. You had a lot of problems but I’m glad it didn’t put you off Greece:)
Santorini is so beautiful! I loved Greece even with all of our problems ;). Did you find it an easy country to travel in? Where did you visit?
I’ve spent more than 2 weeks in Greece:) went all over:) check my blog page places I’ve visited:) I haven’t written about it since it was years and years ago!:)
Thanks for the tip! You have been so many places in Greece–you should do some throwback posts on your blog 🙂
I have heard that Santorini is just a different world completely in the off season! But glad you got to enjoy loads of delicious Greek food (ohhh the moussaka!) And sounds like your Athens weather was much more enjoyable than my burning hot 100 F! We were in our flat from 9am–6pm for survival purposes :/
Ohhh the moussaka indeed! I had no idea it was so amazing. Did you have it on Santorini with their “special” eggplant? I remember reading about how hot it was for you in Athens, so I think that March is a really good time to visit! I cannot handle the heat that well, as evidenced last summer in Croatia ugh. Was Santorini that hot, too? It was actually quite cold while we were there so I think May might be better there to still avoid the high-season crowds.
No, I don’t think I had moussaka until Athens (after Santorini)! But I really liked it… I actually found it at a Turkish diner in Budapest (near Astoria)… pretty dang good even there, hah. Santorini totally wasn’t that hot…. in July it was perfect about 80 F! Out in the islands summer temps are cooler. I’m glad I went to Athens but I would only ever come back in shoulder season as you did 🙂
Haha I am going to see if I can find it! I keep dreaming about that moussaka ;). I think it was the perfect time for Athens, definitely–it was already getting kind of hot for sightseeing if you ask me–I can’t imagine it in July!!!
Those trips are so rough when things go wrong but it sounds like you still fell for Greece, and what a beautiful place right?! We went to Santorini right at the end of the season, everything was mostly open but some where packing up I can only imagine it was quite calm when you were there. I was totally unprepared for the chiller weather in Slovenia, I basically wore all my layers each day ha. Oh those travel lessons 🙂
I always am wrong about the weather, ha! Good thing we pack in layers, right? 😉 Greece is so beautiful. I would love to explore more! I bet Santorini at the end of the season was pretty nice–during the total off-season was a bit difficult but still, it’s gorgeous whenever!
It’s funny how trips where a lot goes wrong can still be awesome. My trip to Costa Rica was kind of like that but Costa Rica remains my favorite country 🙂
Sometimes the trips where everything goes wrong are almost better! We had so much go wrong in Costa Rica too but it’s still such an easy country to love 🙂
Ooh! I’m off to Santorini in May so will bear in mind the point about the wind. I don’t think you should be too down on yourself, you planned as best you could but that public holiday really put a spanner in the works! We went to Istanbul for our Easter break, and we decided that we really needed to take things easy, too. We generally didn’t get started until at least 11 each day, and we still managed to fit in a lot. I think there’s no harm in taking things at your own pace sometimes.
Oh Santorini in May! That will be fabulous! I think the weather there will be perfect then–and crowds wise I think it would be great, too! Try the moussaka there, they use a special Santorini eggplant and it’s fantastic. Istanbul for Easter must have been amazing. I generally prefer to travel at a more slow pace, like you did in Istanbul, but with one day in Athens I was too ambitious…and then Greece had other ideas, anyway ;).
It’s funny- my trip to Greece didn’t go as planned either (picked up dysentery in Egypt and got sick)…but it was still one of my favorite stops! The food was amazing and Athens was such a great city! I am glad that despite everything that didn’t go according to plan you had a great trip!!!! Miss you!
I guess Greece is just one of those places where it doesn’t go to plan! Luckily its still amazing ;). But wow, dysentery–that makes our problems seem much tinier!
I feel like no matter what we do to prepare, some trips just end up like this! I’m glad it didn’t totally ruin your experience or your impression of the country! You still managed to get a ton of beautiful photos, and I can’t wait to see more!
Thanks so much! It’s such a gorgeous country with so many amazing details, I was constantly snapping. And you’re right–there is only so much we can plan/research!
My oh my! So many things to ruin a holiday and yet, it all ended and worked out well for you. It’s a lovely country isn’t it? It’s my favorite place in the whole wide world (I might be biased though because my husband is Greek :p).
Oh your husband is Greek? Where is he from? I imagine it must be wonderful to visit often, if you are able to! I really loved it too and would love to explore more–there is so much left to see!!! Even with everything that went wrong I loved it, I guess that’s how amazing Greece is 🙂