For my 36 hours in Athens, climbing to the summit of the Acropolis Hill to visit the Parthenon is no easy task, despite what the tour guides say, but definitely a vital adventure in your lifelong checklist. I counted well over 7,000 steps on my roundtrip from my hotel to the top of the Acropolis … 36 Hours in Athens – the Acropolis and Plaka READ MORE »

Shopping in the historic seaside city of Rethymnon, Crete, delivers original artisan jewelry and the collision of ancient cultures. My four-day trip to Crete wouldn’t have been complete without a day of shopping, and Rethymnon, another picturesque port on Crete’s north coast, checked off all the boxes. Located between the regions of Chania and Heraklion, … Shopping in Historic Seaside Rethymnon, Crete READ MORE »

I found the Minoan culture of 5,000 years ago in the palace ruins at Knossos, Crete, stepping through remnants revealed over the past 100 years of Europe’s first recognized civilization. While I have seen Crete and much of the world in National Geographic since I was a child, in museums and videos, by drone fly-overs … Finding Minoan Culture in Crete: A Day at Knossos READ MORE »

We hike for great food in Crete, and it’s not hard to find. Today’s destination is a shady beachside taverna on the Mediterrean, a casual traditional eating place with tables of all sizes for large families and smaller groups. Accordingly, we plan our lunch at the midpoint of our four-mile roundtrip along the island’s northwest … Hiking for Memorable Meals in Crete READ MORE »

I am in a magical place, an island in the southern Mediterranean at the crossroads of cultures – Minoan, Roman, Greek, Turkish. I see this mixture almost everywhere I go, where there are visually significant remnants of history, a lively welcoming culture and delicious food. I am visiting Norwegian friends in their vacation home, aptly … Welcoming Crete, with Raki and Bouzouki READ MORE »

My four-day trip to Crete was short but epic. It was the continuation of a journey I started in high school when I first became a Womantraveler. That summer I was a foreign exchange student, living with a family in Norway. Tomorrow we meet up in Crete, where my now “Norwegian sister” has a home. … 4 Days in Crete – A Short Epic READ MORE »