June 3 -10th

We headed to the port to catch this gigantic ferry. It was super crowded. They herded us all onto it like cattle. The ferry took off before we even got up the stairs to find our seats. They stopped three times before we got to Mykonos. Our driver in Mykonos was super easy to find. When we got to the hotel, the concierge was very nice. The concierge also told us what the island has to offer. Apparently, this is where the rich, partiers and gays like to vacation. Our hotel is also on a cliff overlooking Ornos bay and beach. There are yachts anchored out there all the time. We dropped our bags and got a taxi to a lesser known beach called Kalafatis. What a trip that was. We were all in swimsuits with shorts and t-shirts over them. There were super fancy hired girls. They directed us to the restaurant in a literal cave with a rock overhang next to the beach. It had loud music and was full of very bougie partiers, decked out in designer clothes. They mostly came off a yacht parked out in the water. We were VERY out of place! But amazing food and even better people watching. Then we went out to the beach, which was mostly deserted

Our very upscale hotel decor.

The cave restaurant

June 4th

TT & K were leaving today to get back to be in a wedding party. Rel and I were staying for another week. We wanted to make it to the Coldplay concert in Athens. We planned to go with Michelle and Maruan. The breakfast here wasn’t as good as the one in Santarini. I think that’s the only thing better in Santarini. We went down to the beach and camped out for the day. The water was insanely calm but it was also insanely hot. I watched this super cute girl in a bikini make thousands of dollars selling beach cover ups, dresses and hats. She probably had 50 bags full of them. She kept modeling them. She never had a break from selling. Someone bought a few in a constant stream for the entire 5 hours we were there. It was really impressive. And I bought one. TT & K had to get to the airport so we went back up to the hotel to say goodbye.

The next day we just hung out at the pool. We got a super unimpressive massage and facial. We ate at a yummy Italian restaurant and found a kitten. Every single night, Rel studies for her Nclex exam for nursing for at least two hours. I’m very impressed.

The next day we went to this beach called Super Paradise Beach. What a crazy place this was. All the employees were very young women dressed in heels and bikinis with cover ups and a lot of makeup. We picked up the vibe at night that this place is the THE PLACE to come party. We just hung out on the beach. Then, we rented a jet ski. They don’t allow families to go out together on multiple jet skis because you can crash into each other. It was such a ridiculous and lame experience it could have been a SNL skit. Crazy wind and waves blasted us with salt water to the face. They made us go out of the bay into the open water. It was not fun. When it started getting towards the evening, the music got louder and the bikini girls started dancing. I think Rel would have liked to stay. However, she did not want to stay with her old fuddy duddy mom. But, there was no way I was leaving her there alone. I’ve seen “Taken”.

The last day there was my favorite. We took a taxi to Mykonos town. It has super narrow cobblestone streets with every shop you can think of, including designer shops. We randomly walked by Tommy Hilfiger when the actual Tommy Hilfiger was walking out of the store.

We bought some very cute souvenirs. We tried to get henna tattoos, but the places that advertised them said they weren’t doing them anymore. We went back to Ornos beach and ate dinner. Mykonos is a much nicer island, nicer people, better beaches, better food, but definitely not for me. Rel liked it much more than I did.

June 8

We headed to the ferry to take us to Athens.

We arrived in Athens. We found our way to the metro station. Then, we made our way to a shopping tourist area. Athens is also very hot and very dry and very dirty.

June 9 – Our last day! We had a tour scheduled that was supposed to take us all over Athens with M&M. They got in very late, and Michelle was not feeling good, so she bailed on the tour. Our driver was named George. Rel didn’t like him either. My favorite part of the tour was at the Acropolis with a tour guide named Christina. She spoke four languages, was really funny, knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a ton about Greek history and mythology and I have promptly forgotten most of it.

After the tour, the driver dropped us off at M&M’s airBnb, which was right across the street from the stadium. She was so smart to book a place 9 months before the concert. I should have learned that lesson earlier. When we saw them in Glasgow, we did not find anything nice anywhere near the venue. We hadn’t eaten since lunch at noon and were starving when we headed over to the concert. But fun fact, they don’t sell food at concerts in Greece. It’s alcohol and water. That’s it. Not even coke. We left before M&M, so texted them to bring us food. They only had yogurt, a peach and some raw almonds. That’s a first and probably only time I’ll eat so healthy at a concert.

Chris sang one of their new songs “All My Love” as the last song. Some idiot with a cause tried to leap onto the stage but just fell underneath it. They had started their usual last song but were interrupted by the jumping guy. After finding out he was okay, they decided to sing the new one. After the concert, Rel got a gyro. We walked over and waited at M&M’s place for the crowds to die down to find a taxi. We took a very scary speedy taxi ride with a non English speaking driver. He kept pulling over to ask people walking if they wanted a ride too. (We think that’s what he was saying) We got back to our hotel without being abducted or murdered.

We flew to Amsterdam, spent the night at the airport and then flew home. Two weeks would have been enough. Three weeks was definitely too much. Rel was sick of me. I was tired of living out of a suitcase and sleeping in uncomfortable hotels. I was ready to go home.