Reflections: Dreams of a Grecian Siren
When I dream of Greece, I meander through serpentine roads traversing olive groves and dusty villages; I jump into a crystalline sea, and below me are ruins of an ancient temple, submerged into another past world. For me, Greece is al fresco, it is colorful food, it is loud, and fun, and casual. It is ancient and classic, erudite and mystical. Others lean into the convention of whitewashed walls and blue doors as they envision a Grecian paradise. For my sister–who is off to the Greek Isles this week–it is the dream of a cliffside, Cycladic sunset with those very pristine, bleached ramparts that tickles her fancy. Whatever the image, traveling to Greece holds a special place in most of our psyches.
Indeed, in one of the sunniest countries in the world and the longest coastline in the Mediterranean, this capital of antiquity offers a diversity of landscapes to suit the broadest of travelling desires. And choosing which Greek island (or part of the mainland) to visit is a challenge in itself, especially if you want to steer clear of the over-trodden tourist meccas. Even the smallest of islets have their own distinctive personalities, from architecture to food. Tinos is known for its wild capers; Aegina for its pistachios; Santorini for cherry tomatoes.
Greece is on the hot list again, as we see many of you travelling there this summer. A client is leaving shortly, and then another departs. And another. In 2023, everyone seemed to be enamoured with Portugal, but this year, Greece has its dance card quite full. And for good reason: it is a seductive country, with many unique corners just waiting to be discovered, again and again. And with the Olympics approaching, timeless Hellenic undertones forever remain in fashion.
In every other Syllogi Travellers Club publication, we’ll shine the spotlight on a deserving destination. In this Greek feature, you’ll find helpful intel for planning your Aegean odyssey. Most every trip starts and ends in Athens, but the majority of our focus is beyond the city and into dreamy landscapes including our “Shortlist” of hotels that we are eyeing across the country. We also share a recap of our travels to Corfu, Crete, and the Athenian Riviera, as well as our “Musings” that suggest some of our favorite series, reads, and bites to get you into the spirit of classically-modern Greece.
Images: Athenian Riviera, Corfu, Chania - Crete. Top of page: Western Crete.
