We arrived in Greece on the 14th of August. The first stage of the trip was fleeting because at the end of the month we had the visit by the Gutiérrez family and before that we had to sort a few thing out. We entered from Albania and took the fastest route to the Peloponnese. The first remarkable experience was crossing the impressive bridge over the Gulf of Corinth, the toll is quite expensive but it is worth crossing it at least once during your trip. Another magnificent work of engineering that deserves a visit is the Corinth Canal (it is 6,3kms long, 21m wide and 90m high) and you don’t need to pay toll in this case!

Our first stop in Athens was to the glazier… I know it is not a very touristy experience but it is still fun, the Greeks are so nice that anything can become a good memory. Since someone broke our window in Modena (Italy) in February, we had not been able to repair it. As it is a special glass, it needed to be made to measure and it took about 2-3 weeks. We ordered the glass and continued our adventure. We escaped for a few days to Cape Sounion at the south of the Greek capital. The coastal road has very nice views and the sunset from the Temple of Poseidon is beautiful (well, we saw it from the back of the temple, less people, you do not have to pay the entrance and, in our opinion, it has better views as they include the temple).

After this break, Tom went for a few days to London to attend a photography exhibition and, by the way, to visit the Bourdon family. Meanwhile, Shiva and I stayed at a campsite outside Athens. On the 30th of August, very early, the women of the house went to Piraeus to board the ferry that would take us to Santorini to meet my parents and my nephews. When we arrived on the island we picked the rental car up, went to our hotel which was a typical stone house (with many stairs in the access but very nice), I did some shopping and left everything ready to welcome the Gutiérrez family who I picked up at the airport later that night.

We had some great days on this wonderful island. We visited Oia, Imerovigli, Thira, Pyrgos, some beaches (Red, Vlychada and Kamari), the ruins of Acrotiri and even the tomato museum! The latter is, at least, curious, and the truth is that Santorini’s tomatoes are especially delicious, the best I’ve ever tried. The family tavern that is in front of the museum deserves a special mention, in addition to very good homemade food, the head of the family (who was at least octogenarian) was a lovely woman. It was a pleasure to chat with her while she was proudly showing us photos of her extensive family… I could not say which town on the island I liked the most, they are all beautiful. As for the sunsets, the most popular are in Oia and it really gets very crowded. Of course, they are impressive but nothing more special than the ones in Imerovigli which also offer views of the caldera.

The last day on the island was somewhat chaotic, for the second time the ferry back to Athens was cancelled due to a general strike. There was no alternative but to take the first flight off the island so we bought the tickets and went straight to the airport. Once there we found out that they would not let Shiva fly so I had to stay and my parents flew with the kids… Luckily Tom had arrived in Athens a few hours earlier and he could pick them up at the airport! I was also right with my last minute decision of going to the port of Santorini to try my luck because I could board the last ferry (which had not been reported to us) around midnight! So in the end, without sleeping, I arrived in Athens early in the morning and was able to meet my family again! 🙂

In Athens we visited the imposing Acropolis and its museum, the Plaka district, the Temple of Zeus and the Panathenaic stadium. Athens is not a pretty city itself but if you like art it is clearly an interesting visit that you will enjoy! We also went on an excursion to Mycenae, the cradle of the Mycenaean civilization with the door of the lions as the best known symbol, and the beautiful coastal town of Náfplio.

The stressful episode in Santorini did not cloud the beautiful moments we experienced during the trip. My nephews, Carla and Sisco, really enjoyed themselves and we did too. Some memories will always remain such as the sunsets, the complimentary dessert in the restaurant Hmerovigli Ouzomezedopolio in Athens, the charming elderly woman of the taverna in Santorini and the “croqueta” moment of Montserrat (my mother) on the beach of Vlychada! Don’t you think so, Carla and Sisco? 🤣🤣🤣

PS: Thanks to my parents for making these unforgettable family memories possible. And thanks also to the parents of my “ratolinets” (my newphews) for always trusting us and letting them enjoy these experiences that I hope will be forever in their hearts.