I’ll be honest, every time I look at the photo above I long to visit Greece again. It’s not just the awe-inspiring scenery, amazing food, or ancient history. It’s the way of life. Slow, calm, relaxed, and beautiful. Yes, Greece is going through some tough economic times right now, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from visiting. The USD goes a long way in Greece.

My first visit to Greece was actually for work. I worked on an (unnamed) archaeological excavation that didn’t end very well. The director and I disagreed on how to handle finding non-Greek archaeological remains. I ended up leaving the 6-week excavation two weeks early. Although that’s not a particularly proud moment for me, I did end up seeing more of Greece that I had originally planned. The highlight of that trip was a visit to the breathtaking island of Santorini. On Santorini you will find the bluest of blues, and a way of life that you can’t find anywhere else.

My second visit to Greece was a a spontaneous adventure that I decided to treat myself to after returning (alive and unhurt) from Iraq. No one knew I was going and it was an awesome solo trip. I even caught a glimpse of Greek Idol tryouts being filmed at my hotel.

My third visit to Greece will be in May after I complete my second year of teaching world history.

Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

Top 10 reasons why it’s time to go back to (and stay in?) Greece:

1. Nice Air BnB rentals in Greece are going for as low as $25 a night.
2. The food.
3. The ruins. Athens is a great first stop, but less traveled destinations like Corinth are also worth visiting. I have a friend from Corinth that I hope to see again next summer!
4. The people. I can’t think of one instance where I felt harassed in Greece. I was alone the entire time on my second visit and I felt completely safe and welcomed. Of course I followed normal safety precautions like I would in any other city (like not walking around alone at night down deserted streets).
5. The beautiful blue water.
6. The black and white sand beaches of the islands. The black sand beach of Perissa, Santorini is my favorite. Clothing is optional at many of Greece’s beaches. Santorini has just the right blend of nightlife, history, and quiet scenery. A trip from the mainland to Santorini can take as little as 5 hours on a high-speed ferry, and up to 8 hours on the Blue Star. More information on the ferry can be found on TripAdvisor.
7. The museums. I spent an entire day at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, and it still wasn’t enough. Check out some of the museum photos here.
8. The history & archaeology. Greece has too many archaeological sites to count but the list of Top 10 Archaeological Sites in Greece is worth a look.
9. The climate. Sure it was a little chilly in February, but the trade off is avoiding the crowds.
10. Friendly cats everywhere!

Cat in Athens.

Greece will always be one of my favorite travel destinations. Do you have a favorite or a dream destination that’s calling you?