Greece wasn’t initially on the prime of my journey want record, however as we began planning our Fall 2023 journey, a sequence of occasions nudged us in that path. It felt just like the universe was telling us to go to Greece, and I wasn’t about to argue with destiny.
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We hopped on a direct flight from Toronto, headed straight for Athens with a toddler in tow. Our plan was to spend a number of days there, permitting us to acclimate earlier than setting off to discover the islands. Individuals had warned us that Athens may not be essentially the most thrilling vacation spot, however I need to admit, it pleasantly stunned me. Whereas I agree that you simply may not want greater than 2-3 days to get the texture of the town, I’m genuinely completely happy we did.
Because it was our first worldwide journey with our three-year-old, we determined to hire an condominium in Strefi Hill (right here!). It allowed us to have all of the comforts of dwelling whereas adjusting to our new environment. We completely cherished the realm and extremely suggest it for anybody contemplating the same journey. Every thing was inside strolling distance, and we have been surrounded by mouthwatering eating places and charming cafes. Plus, being barely faraway from the bustling metropolis heart made it really feel much more peaceable and much much less touristy. It turned out to be a implausible option to expertise Athens with a toddler.
{the views from our condominium}
Regardless of the hustle and bustle, typical of massive cities, I discovered that Athens exuded heat, hospitality, and an surprising sense of tranquility throughout our go to. There’s simply one thing inherently welcoming about Greek tradition. Everybody we encountered was type and immediately smitten with our daughter, and the sensation was mutual. Aged locals beamed and showered her with kisses, and most others couldn’t assist however break into vast smiles as we strolled by – it was actually pretty.
Having a full kitchen in our condominium allowed us to do some cooking and grocery procuring, which is one in all my favorite journey actions. Exploring a overseas potato chip aisle specifically is all the time an journey in itself – grocery procuring helped us immerse ourselves proper from the get-go.
I often prefer to hit the bottom working once I journey, ensuring to not miss a single factor. Nevertheless, this time, we took it gradual for the sake of our three-year-old, and it was a refreshingly totally different tempo. I totally loved the change of mindset, embracing an abundance mentality – savoring each second, irrespective of how small, somewhat than falling into the shortage entice of speeding by the day.
{Kallidromiou Farmers’ Market}
Our first morning we woke as much as a vibrant market proper exterior our door, which was a pleasant shock. Distributors supplied a tantalizing array of Greek delights, olives, cheeses, and recent produce from native farms. It was a really immersive option to kick off our journey.
In fact, we couldn’t resist visiting the Acropolis on one of many afternoons, and although sizzling and naturally busy, it was undoubtedly a worthwhile expertise. We additionally took a funicular as much as the highest of Lycabettus Hill to discover and see the church. This turned out to be a very huge hit with our three-year-old, and he or she wasn’t unsuitable – the views alone have been simply lovely.
Other than these outings, we actually took it simple as we adjusted from jetlag. Frequent snack breaks, leisurely meals, some procuring, and a little bit of playtime on the native playground all made for an exquisite option to expertise the town and ease into our journey.
I’d like to share some highlights from our Athens journey, together with one of the distinctive (and scrumptious) eating experiences. It’s a spot I’d return to once more in a heartbeat. Right here’s how we did Athens with our toddler.
{getting the wiggles out}
{Trip mode – carrying & love this, these & my earrings are from right here}
{a deliciously distinctive dinner at Diporto}
{my favorite journey buddies}
{the acropolis}
{there isn’t a lot that beats a trip nap}
{views from the highest of Lycabettus hill}
