Greece has been on my bucket list for years and I finally made it happen this year. I spent 15 days in four islands and Athens. I was mesmerized by the beauty, the great food, the generous, hospitable people, clean streets, many cats and great shopping. I am not a shopper by nature, but I was surprised to learn how many things are made in Greece. I flew from Portland direct to LHR in 9.5 hours and then an additional 3.5 hours to Athens.

Once I landed in Athens at 2 a.m. I stayed at a hotel near the airport so that I could catch a morning flight to Naxos. Naxos boasts an airport that is literally one room, which was a great foreshadow to how small and quaint this island would be. We stayed in a wonderful hotel which was located right on the beach. The rooms were spotless and well-appointed, the staff was extremely attentive and the authentic breakfast made me never want to leave!

One day I took the bus to Naxos Town and visited the Gates of Apollo, shopped in the beautiful alleys and winding streets and had a wonderful terrace, sea-facing lunch. Naxos Town was a bustling little area that had a wonderful harbor and lots of interesting shops. I really loved Naxos!

After four nights in Naxos I took the ferry to Paros. The ferry is a bit unorganized and seemingly always late, but it is a relatively easy way to commute island to island. Paros was another great island with cute, whitewashed towns with winding alleys, interesting shops and good food. Paros Town had a walking promenade lined with mainly restaurants and shops, which was a great to stroll once the hot day moved to the cooler evening.

We ventured to the beach with a $20 taxi ride and then took a fishing boat/ferry to the town of Naoussa, which was where I had one of the best lunches of my trip! The tomato caper salad was to die for! Again this walk-worthy town was beautiful with upscale shops and alleys that allowed you to meander in the mid-day sun.

An easy daytrip from Paros is the island of Antiparos. Arriving by boat is the only way to get there and there is rumor that Tom Hanks has a house on the island. I loved this island, too. We had a leisurely lunch on the water and walked around for the afternoon. Next time, I might be tempted to stay here instead of Paros.

After three nights, we hopped on the ferry to Santorini. All the pictures you might have seen of this beautiful island are TRUE. After arriving at the ferry port, it is an uphill climb on this island. We stayed in Imerovigli and it was amazing. The view of our hotel was breathtaking and honestly the views from just about anywhere are stunning. We also did a sunset cruise and although it was a bit disorganized, it was great to get close to the caldera and be on the open water. Our best dinner of the trip was in Santorini. It was comprised of tasty food, wonderful hospitality and a dash of showmanship!

I then flew to Athens for my last three nights. I stayed in Plaka at a wonderful apartment. I did not expect to love Athens as much as I did. After all, I expected an old, dirty city with crowds and little charm. But what I found was the exact opposite! Athens is CLEAN, has beautiful gardens, great food, shopping and of course, history! I could see myself living in this city for six months and really exploring it.

Greece far exceeded my expectations. Greece is easy to navigate and English is spoken everywhere, which makes traveling easier. But by far, Greece is about great food, wonderful people and amazing scenery. I have many destinations on my travel list, but Greece might be a place I visit again, very soon!