The Trip :)

Beautiful, amazing, pretty, quaint, relaxing, extraordinary, breathtaking, unbelievable…….these are all very appropriate “trip-describing” words :) I wish so much that you were there with me. How often can you use ALL of the above words to describe one little place?

There are so many stories I could tell you about my adventures in Santorini, but I will stick to a “Top Five” in order to get my marking and lesson planning done too :)

TOP FIVE FAVOURITE MOMENTS IN SANTORINI:

Number One: I rode a donkey! Some people may not find the same joy in this activity, but I have never laughed so hard before. The entire trip I kept saying, “I really want to ride a donkey before we leave.” My travel companions did not feel the same urge and so I thought excitedly about my donkey-ride-dream in a not-so-secret way (Lindsay style). Well, when the moment came in an “obligatory manner” (it was climb 270 steps or take a donkey for 5 euros), I was uncontrollably happy :) God bless laziness :) My dream came true. I was placed on a true competitor, who raced the other donkeys up the very steep hill without any signs of exhaustion. WOO HOO – he had some definite family genes in him :)

Number Two: Being adopted by the Greek family who owned the hotel. Their names were Artemi and George – my pretend……..grandpa’s? Or perhaps great uncles. Either way, these two men were absolutely wonderful. The adoption happened upon landing in Santorini. They picked us up from the tiny airport and gave us automatic hugs and cheer (how often does THAT happen?!). People we don’t even know – so happy to see us! I loved it from day one and it simply became superior with time :) Everyday, Artemi and George would make us a lovely breakfast and chat about our plans for the day. When we returned in the evening, George had a cup of tea ready for me (you know how I feel about tea…) and he located a super warm blanky to accommodate my cold sensitivity during the night (and day, haha) :) It was a difficult goodbye on our final day, but the invitation to return was genuinely there!

Number Three: Cheese. OH MY GOODNESS. The cheese. You think you love cheese, and then you order a cheese plate for dinner and you realize…..YOU REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love cheese. Is this cheese plate idea an option at other travel destinations? If so, please leave a comment here! I am currently making my travel plans for the upcoming breaks and cheese may be a deciding factor :)

Number Four: The whole idea that the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was filmed on the island. It was constant excitement: “that building was in the movie!” or “that is the church that she sketched!”. Or, even better, “that is where she runs down to meet Kostos!”. My heart was in a state of permanent excitement. Naturally, I assumed that Blake Lively and Alexis Bledel had been to every place that I had tea….mostly because we sipped tea on beautiful balconies that only famous people (you would think) could afford! P.S. – My girlfriends at home: I thought of you EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. Xoxo

Number Five: The four-hour hike along the Caldera. AMAZING. Times TEN. I wish you were all there for the experience (even those of you who don’t like hiking would be captivated by the exquisite surroundings). Imagine seeing beauty every step of the way. FOR FOUR HOURS! I kept thinking, a “bad/boring” part must be coming up. But, no. The hike went by mysteriously quickly and I could have taken a jaw-dropping photograph at any point. If only a photo could capture TRUE beauty. I think you have to go to know (aka I am giving you an excuse to visit!).

I really could go on with my favourite moment number six, seven, eight…..continued. But – teaching is waiting for me :) Luckily I have fun pens and stickers to get the job done!

I apologize for the un-lindsay-like lateness. I love and miss you. XOXO