Mini Travel Guide: Greece

On March 20th I'm joyfully, loudly, lustily launching my next travel ebook 'Smart + Sassy + Solo: Adventures in Lady Travel.'  To help us emotionally prepare for this momentous occasion, I thought I'd put together some wee travel guides on my favorite destinations!

In 2006, I spent four amazing weeks in the Cyclades Islands of Greece, stuffing my face with cheese, riding donkeys and wrangling giant land tortoises at a wildlife rehabilitation center.  It's not exaggerating to call the experience magical.

Must do
Rent a scooter
If you can't see Greece on the back of a donkey, at least you can see it on the back of a scooter.  You can rent them by the day or week - I got mine for seven euros a day.  I'm not sure if it's possible to feel more joyful than you'll feel flying down island roads on a sunny day, on your way to the beach.

Sunbathe topless
Sure, there are lots of countries and plenty of beaches where you can take off your top.  But sometimes it's not culturally appropriate (topless girls in Thailand, I'm looking at you) and sometimes it's not really hot enough.  Greece is steaming hot and very pro-boobies.  Once you start doing this, you'll never want to cover up, ever again.

Explore ruins

Greece is rife with the remains of temples and palaces.  Explore a few, take a million photos and have a go at reenacting Gladiator. (Yes, I'm aware that movie is set in Rome.  But running around in tumble down arenas is awesome in almost any country)

Must Go
Santorini

A cluster of islands?  Centered around an ancient volcano?  With some of the best sunsets in the world?  And donkey rides for five euros?   Sure, it's a bit touristy and maybe frequented by a few too many honeymooners, but all these people come here for a reason - it's awesome.

Must eat
Fried halloumi

This amazing cheese can be fried without melting!  Imagine a giant block of fried cheese, served up with lemons and fresh tomatoes. Is your mouth watering yet?  I just drooled on my keyboard a little bit.

Greek yogurt - every.single.flavor.

I'm sure you've probably tried the Yoplait version of Greek yogurt - but not surprisingly, that doesn't hold a candle to the real deal.  Not only is the local version mind-blowingly creamy, it's available in all sorts of great flavors.  My favorite was black cherry.

Ouzo

Crisp, licorice flavored hard liquor served cold.  Perfect after a day of topless sunbathing!

Cultural tip

All that whistling and ogling that you experience on the cobble-stoned streets of Greece?  As intimidating and yucky as it seems, it's actually meant as a compliment.  An Greek girlfriend of mine  who had traveled through The States was actually offended that American men had the nerve to ignore her!

Traveling on the cheap 

Late August to mid-October is Greece's 'shoulder season' - meaning that the weather is still good, but most of the tourists are gone and the prices are low.  And with Greece's current economic situation, prices are good pretty much anywhere!

Awesome anecdote

I spent most of my time in Greece on the island of Paros, working at a wildlife rehabilitation center.  We hosted all sorts of animals - blind falcons, round-faced owls, pink-nosed twin ferrets.  A few weeks in, the director introduced Leonides, a blind donkey to the group.  Someone had abandoned him on the city streets, leaving him to fend for himself in the dumpsters. And a few weeks later, we met a cheeky peacock, who used to live a hotel that had closed.  The peacock didn't require a pen and spent its days running around the compound eating bugs and raising its tail at every minor distraction.

But then!  Leonides and peacock discovered each other.  And low, there was much braying and many, many cries of "Owww!  Owwww!  Owwww!"  Leonides and Peacock made the joint decision that this was the correct way in which to greet the dawn. 

So every day, for the rest of my time in Greece, I woke at 5:00 am to "Eeeeee-ahhhhhh!  Eeeeee-ahhhhh!" and "Owwww! Owwww!"  which is significantly less atmospheric than you'd imagine.

100 words from a local

While in Athens and in the larger area of Attiki, stay away from the beaches (there are islands for that! Try Amorgos and Anafi ) and focus on sight-seeing (ancient monuments all around Sounio, Theisio, Monastiraki, Plaka). Use the metro, not taxis. Downtown Athens is excellent for drinks: go to Kolokotroni str. and to Karytsi square. For Greek cuisine at its best, visit the cities of Thessaloniki, Giannena (you’ll love the ambience of the lake) and Chania in Crete - you just can’t go wrong with food there. Hey, and don’t leave the country without paying a visit to the ancient theater of Epidaurus in Peloponnese…
from Danai Christopoulou

Have you ever been to Greece?  Share your tips and links in the comments!