Highlights of Venice and Greece

I just returned from Europe earlier this week with my husband and after being away so long, I started thinking about what recipe to make/post next. But to be honest, after a week and a half in Venice and the Greek Isles, I still can’t think of anything else! We had such a great time that instead of a recipe, here’s my trip in pictures (and since we are talking about Europe, don’t worry, some food is involved).

My husband Travis and I started off in Venice, Italy, where after spending a brief afternoon, boarded a cruise ship headed for the ports of Mykonos, Corfu, Santorini and Olympia, Greece.

Mykonos is a pretty beach town with a “little Venice” coast, pretty windmills and beautiful beaches! We also spent some good quality time at a local restaurant enjoying stuffed grilled peppers with salty feta, fresh tomatoes and olives and the best tzatziki we’ve ever had.

Corfu is another charming beach town that has a quaint “old town” feeling. This day was  super stormy and rainy so we didn’t see a lot. But we finished the trip with amazing Greek salads, pizza and according to my husband, “the best souvlaki” that made it all worth it.

Santorini was perfect. It’s a beautiful haven.

The most iconic spot on Santorni is Oia, a darling town built on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. A day in Oia is best spent wandering and then finding a great spot to view the sunset.

For our sunset view, we found the most delicious restaurant called Fanari Restaurant. It’s right on the edge of the town and happens to be apart of a hotel.

Make sure to order an appetizer like the zucchini tart. It was beautiful and delicious! Then take your time and enjoy the view. The ambiance may be the best thing about this restaurant.

Once the sun is down, the city turns into something else entirely. It’s magic!

Our last island was Olympia, and although not as beautiful as Oia, totally fascinating. Olympia is the birthplace of the Olympic Games .

 

After Olympia, we headed back to Venice.

Venice is a pretty small city, but there’s a lot of interesting things to do and see.  It has got to be one of the most romantic cities in the world.

We stayed at a great hotel near the Grand Canal. The rooms were really spacious with excellent service and the location was perfect.

The city is so much fun to walk around in. There are interesting galleys, corridors and buildings everywhere you turn.

We ended our trip with a Gondola ride at sunset. This is one of the best ways to see the Grand Canal but is also an interesting mini tour of the floating city.

Gondola rides become a bit more expensive past 7 o’clock for the more “romantic” feel, but it’s best to start them before 7 so there is enough light for picture taking. Starting around sunset is perfect so you get the best of both worlds.

Venice and the Greek Isles are two places definitely worth seeing. The two areas were the perfect mix of sightseeing, culture, history, leisure and food. We’ll be dreaming of when we can go back.

If you’ve been to Venice or Greece, what are your favorite spots? What things did you do?  What did you love the most?!