Mediterranean Archives - A Friend Afar

Friends, as I may have mentioned before in my Packing List post, Greece has been at the top of my list for quite some time. Santorini in particular had caught my imagination and my eye since it seems to be one of the most photographed travel destinations anywhere. Even though I’d done my planning and preparation for the trip, nothing could make me anticipate just how much beauty this Greek island possesses. I found it to be true in Santorini that even though it’s been hyped up it exceeds expectations and is so worthwhile to visit. I only wish we’d had more time to explore the island but isn’t that usually the case?

Oia

Oia (pronounced e-ah) is the perfect little village you see depicted in the postcard picture views of Santorini. While nearby Fira also has caldera views, Oia is built on a slant down to the caldera and has the famed whitewashed buildings and blue domed churches. It’s perfect for wandering around and taking a ton of photos because everywhere you turn there’s beauty. As you walk along the caldera in the direction of the windmill, there’s a crowded lookout perfect for taking in stunning views. If you want a space here at sunset, make sure you show up early.

Speaking of sunset, I’d read how it’s an event in Santorini, but nothing prepared me for the actual experience. First of all, we didn’t stakeout a viewing area very early since we were enjoying a leisurely dinner, so we checked out two different places. I didn’t love the first spot we went to, and it was madness getting through the throngs of people both coming and going. On top of that, we heard two heated arguments about photography and the sunset which made me glad that even though we did plan on seeing the sunset we didn’t have all these high expectations. I was happy with the second spot we ended up at for the sunset. After the sun dipped into the Aegean Sea, there were cheers from the crowds of people watching.

My Trip Details

Accommodation: Pelogos Hotel near Oia
Transportation: We flew to and from Santorini, but many people take ferries, and it’s a common stop if you’re on a cruise. On the island, we took taxis and buses. If we’d stayed for longer, it would’ve been nice to rent a car or ATV to explore more of the island.
Snack Break: Lolita’s for gelato
Dinner Recommendation: Karma and order the Soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs)
When to Go: High season is July-August so if you want to avoid crowds and high prices then go during shoulder season in April-June or September-October. We found May to be a perfect time to visit because of the weather. Plus, we were glad there weren’t even more tourists.

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Check out my packing list below from the week I spent on my European vacation visiting Santorini, Hydra, and Athens! Greece had been at the top of my bucket list for a while so I was so excited to finally make it to a place I’d been dreaming about for quite a while.

Packing light is so freeing and makes travel so much easier. I packed all of this (and more) into a small carry-on, and still had room to bring back some great souvenirs!

Here’s what I packed for a week in Greece!

If you’re spending the majority of your time on the islands, you’ll want to bring light and airy clothing. I packed a lightweight scarf for breezy nights on the water, as well. You’ll want skirts, shorts or cropped pants for when your walks take you down to the shore. Hydra doesn’t have any cars, so you’ll need to bring comfy walking shoes and sandals. Also Athens cobblestone are particularly slippery so bring shoes with traction. One last thing: don’t forget your swim suit! This is THE place to wear it!

Greece Packing List

2 pairs of pants – I packed my go-to cropped denim and some adorable, breezy printed pants. It’s still a little cool in the evenings, especially on the water, so these are perfect for sunset strolls. [The printed pair are from Old Navy this season, but I can’t find them online. Here’s a similar pair.]
3 tees – I packed olive green, white, and heather grey. I didn’t want my entire suitcase to be blue, and green is my favorite color!
1 black tank – It’s always classic and easy, and I can dress it up with my jeans and some fancy jewelry.
2 dresses – I packed the blue and white striped dress that you see here, and another blue one that can be worn as a beach cover-up, a dress, or a skirt. So many options! Besides, who doesn’t want to wear blue and white while exploring Santorini? It’s the perfect dress! [Similar: J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Gap] You may recognize it from Meagan’s Florence post- I borrowed it from her.
3 pairs of shoes – I brought my cute Keds, which I’ll wear at the airport and for walking, some brown sandals, and some black sandals. I bought some sandals there, of course, and leaving my older ones behind.
1 swim suit – Are you seeing a theme with my colors? I couldn’t help but to pack items that fit the Mediterranean color scheme!
A Baggu backpack – My trusted Baggu backpack joined me in Cuba, and it was the perfect day bag in Greece as well. Those blue and white stripes – so perfect!
1 floppy beach hat – in navy, of course!
My camera and camera case – Check out my camera strap here. It’s the perfect accessory for any adventurer.

My most important packing tip:
Be sure that every piece you take can be worn multiple times or with multiple other items. You’ll have so many more outfit options! Even the bold, printed pants in the picture above can be worn with 3 of the shirts that I packed.

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

A Friend Afar

Travel Tips from Friends Who Know

Tag: Mediterranean

Santorini is a Dream

Oia

My Trip Details

What to Pack for a Week in Greece

Here’s what I packed for a week in Greece!

Greece Packing List

My most important packing tip:
Be sure that every piece you take can be worn multiple times or with multiple other items. You’ll have so many more outfit options! Even the bold, printed pants in the picture above can be worn with 3 of the shirts that I packed.

Oia

My Trip Details

Here’s what I packed for a week in Greece!

Greece Packing List

My most important packing tip: Be sure that every piece you take can be worn multiple times or with multiple other items. You’ll have so many more outfit options! Even the bold, printed pants in the picture above can be worn with 3 of the shirts that I packed.

My most important packing tip:
Be sure that every piece you take can be worn multiple times or with multiple other items. You’ll have so many more outfit options! Even the bold, printed pants in the picture above can be worn with 3 of the shirts that I packed.