Air and Light

We decided before we left Urkaine to take a trip to Greece. The flight is super short and we luckily were able to take three weeks and it was everything we needed after two years of Covid. Greece is always just what my soul needs every time. Everything in Greece hits me right, the sun, the sky, the air, the sounds, the wine, the food. It’s hard to capture the mood and the feeling I have in photos, but when I look back at these photos I remember exaclty what I was feeilng and how the light was hitting and how the air felt. It makes me smile to remember that moment and also miss being in Greece.

We first landed and went to Athens. I always love starting and ending in Athens. It is one of my favorite cities. Growing up I spent summers in Athens and coming back is always a flood of memories combined. I love being there and walking around and seeing places I used to come to 30 years ago. Being there with my children is always amazing to me. I could never have imagined all those years ago hanging out in central Greece with my cousins and friends that I would be back here with my family.

My favorite part of staying in Athens is seeing Eliana. I have been lucky enough to see Eliana in Greece every time I have visited for the last 35 years and this time was no different. We met for dinner at a restaurant she picked, she always picks the best places and this was no different. This place was called ‘To Steki tou Hlia’- The Hand of the Sun and had the best paidakia -grilled baby lambchops that always taste best in Greece. We stayed there way too late talking and catchign up.

We had one full day in Athens before we headed to the islands and we really made the most of it. We were staying super central so after a yummy breakfast we headed out to the main area in Athens.

I even broke away for a few hours to do a little shopping. I love nothing more that summer sales in Greece! This dress didn’t make the cut and I live in regret. I may look like a couch, but I still wish I had gotten it.

This one was the only one who made out from the Zara summer sales.

The rest of the clan had some treats in the shade until I was done.

We walked all around Monasteraki and Plaka, two touristy areas under the Acropolis that I love to be in, touristy scene and all.

We even passed by Kuzina which is where our rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding took place. Some of us could care less.

After that we headed to the Acropolis museum where we had a tour planned with Ari, the best tour guide ever. He was great with the kids, had drawings, games and tons of interesting facts to keep everyone interested.

I love this museum. It is big and spacious and bright and right at the foot of the Acropolis. The top floor has a mini layout of the Acropolis and lays out all the parts, even the parts that are missing and being held in different museums like the British Museum. The missing pieces that are in different museums are in a different color so it becomes very apparent how much of the figures of the original frieze are in other countries’ museums.

All in all a very successful museum trip!

Afterwards we had some drinks outside before we met Eliana for another yummy dinner.

All in all a perfect full day in Athens.

The next day we were up early and headed to our first stop- Tinos. Despite the ferry being long we kept spirits high with snacks and screens. I love taking ferries in Greece, they are comfy and have yummy food and at the end I know we arrive at a beautiful island.

We got to beautiful windy Tinos and headed right to lunch. Miral’s windy hair is my favorite!

Greek food will always be my favorite.

We headed to the house we had rented for the week and jumped right in the pool! There aren’t always places with pools in Greece so we were pretty happy to find one.

Then we went to this awesome dinner at Thassalaki. The restaurant was in this little cove with just a few other buidlings and the food was amazing! As you eat the waves come up right to your feet. The kids loved it and spent most of the meal looking down into the water to see fish.

The next morning we woke up and headed to breakfast in Pyrgos. We usually have breakfast in the house but we hadn’t made it to the grocery store yet. And we were all so grateful that we got to check out the center of town. It’s a little square set around a huge tree with a handful of super cute, yummy restaurants. We chose this little cafe with homemade yogurt, local honey and chocolate pancakse. Everyone was very happy.

Then we headed right to the beach, because when in Greece. I was a little worried about this week. Randy had management training all week from 2-5 in the afternoon so while he could come with us to the beach until lunch I was alone for the afternoon with the kids. Well, turns out the kids are at the perfect age to spend all day on the beach. Between swimming, sand castles, icecreams and snacks and exploring everyone loved being on the beach all day. We missed poor Randy who was on calls , but at least he was preparing for his new job in Bangladesh.

After the beach we headed home to take showers and pick up Randy and headed out to dinner. Tinos was full of these beautiful views and sunsets and delicious food!After dinner we walked around this beautiful town with amazing views of the sunset, called Kardiani.

I was up early the next day for a run. While Tinos was definitely the hilliest place I ever ran it was worth it for some amazing views. At the end I would run through Pyrgos which was the cutest town.

There was even a street named after me- Odos Fotini, only in Greece.

Then it was back to the beach for us.

There is nothing better than laying on a beach chair with a frappe on a Greek beach and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.

There is also nothing better than a beach nap.

Especially for this person right here who can drink said frappe in peace and relax.

After beach, you guessed it we showered, got dressed in our finest, my favorite during vacation and walked around Pyrgos until dinner time. I even got some shopping in! We bought some yummy honey and I got some dresses, a small miracle when traveling with three kids.

The next day it was more of the same. Beach and then a walk in Pyrgos for ice-cream.



Over the week we explored different parts of Tinos, Panormos was one was of our favorites. It was a little port town with yummy restuarants and a pier for jumping off. The first time we went we didn’t realize there was a pier for jumping and weren’t bathing suit ready so we watched for a bit and got a fish meal at a fish place called To Limanaki. Such yummy fish! I still think about this delisious fish!

Next day it was back to the beach

This Minnie ring was earned for agreeing to lay down and take a rest on the beach. If there was no nap, there was a risk that things might take an ugly turn, scary stuff for a solo mom on the beach with three kids, so this ring was worth every penny!

Worth every penny! (don’t ask me how much the Minnie surpise ball was, just know it was worth every bit of that 5 euros.)

The next day we went back to Panormos and brought our bathings suits this time! Adam jumped right in, it took Malcolm a bit longer but once he did it the first time he was addicted! The rest of us watched.

Last day on Tinos was just as fun as the other 6! Beach all day!

Followed by a quick trip to jump off the pier before we returned to Thassalaki for another yummy meal with the waves lapping at our feet. Perfect ending to a great week!