I am My Own Stylist

Monday, September 25, 2023

Our Grecian Adventure

In my previous post, we journeyed together to Croatia. It was certainly a sight to behold. Before heading home, we spent several days to explore the mighty GREECE. It's hard to compare both countries as they have their own respectable charm.

Welcome to SANTORINI. There was a lot of walking and climbing up the stairs as we appreciate the whitewashed architecture that Santorini has been known for. Since there were no elevators in this side of town, the porters had to carry our heavy luggages with probably a hundred steps to and from the hotel. It's probably the allure of the "simple and slow-paced life" that makes up Greece. Hence, a reminder to everyone, use a luggage that is reliable and of high quality. Choose also a luggage brand with responsive after sales so that in case there are any concerns, you can claim against warranty. In my case, I have always been a loyal user of Samsonite.

Dolomades

Lamb Shank

Grilled Octopus with Fava Puree

For our 2nd Day in Santorini, we took our time to enjoy the cool breeze while enamored by the view of the caldera. Waking up to this panoramic backdrop just makes this trip worth remembering. We also headed to Perissa beach in the afternoon to have lunch, and later on headed back to our hotel (Manos Small World), to enjoy a sumptuous dinner in Remvi, which we highly recommend.

For Our 3rd day, we chartered a catamaran to explore the Greek islands. It was a very breathtaking sail. The color of the water and the scenic views is truly captivating.

After 3 days in Santorini, we flew to Athens. We had lunch at oThanasis as it is famous for their kebabs. We then strolled around Thissio and Monastiraki flee market. There were so many handmade sandals and grecian dresses especially for tourists.

For our 2nd day in Athens, we visited Parthenon. It was indeed glorifying to see this in its splendor. Make sure to bring a bottle of water or quench your thirst with iced cold drinks as it can get burning hot.

Our 3rd day was spent on shopping and eating. We tried Loukoumades, a greek dessert, their version of fried donuts. We also visited the Syntagma square, the Ancient Agora, and the ruins of the Church of Saint Asomatos "Sta Skalia". If there's one thing about Athens, they can make very tender Lamb Chops,

For our final day in Athens, we visited the Olympic Stadium and had a sumptuous lunch at O Telis Steakhouse where we had 2 orders of Pork Steak. It was very flavorful and tender. We then packed our bags and went straight to the airport, bound for Home Sweet Home.

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Saturday, August 5, 2023

Travel the Trafalgar Way

Being seasoned travelers, we know that it is crucial to plan ahead to make sure we get to enjoy and see the most places vis-a-vis our limited time schedule. That is why, ever since I was 18 years old, my family and I have been entrusting our vacations to TRAFALGAR.

For those of you who may not have heard of them, Trafalgar is one of the largest tour operators in the world. They offer guided tours to 72 countries and counting. From the moment you arrive at the airport, to the sightseeing, to the exclusive passes, they manage just about everything you need until your last day with them.

Having traveled with them numerous times, I would say that they have already mastered the Art of Traveling. Let me share with you some snippets of our Balkan Trip Adventure arranged by Trafalgar.

Our tour started in Zagreb, Croatia's capital city. We got to explore the city and its panoramic views by riding a tram, as well as a funicular to get a bird's eye view of the city. We also got to spend a good afternoon walk along the old town.

We then hit the road to Sarajevo, known as the "Jerusalem of Europe". It was interesting for us to see various churches from Catholic to Orthodox to mosques which were just a few meters apart from each other. Click on the video below to see our adventures. For some reason, it gave me Aladdin feels.

We also got to visit the Bosnian war tunnel where food and war supplies were secretly transported during the Bosnia and Herzegovina war.

As we enroute to Dubrovnik, we visited Mostar where we got to witness Bosnian jewelry making and copper art. You will also get to see several divers topless as every time they would be able to collect a total of about EUR 50 from tourists, they would jump from the bridge as their way of gratitude.

We later embarked on a sunset cruise where we enjoyed amazing views of the Dalmatian Coast. It was so breezy and relaxing. Add to the fact that I'm with my husband which made this cruise very romantic.

We then found ourselves in the Magnificent Dubrovnik! This certainly is one of our favorite cities in Croatia. Aside from it being known as the setting for Game of Thrones, the charm and allure that this city brings is simply magical. We would highly recommend that you climb up the city wall, as the views from up there is truly breathtaking. In our case, we also signed up for an in-depth Game of Thrones tour to make our visit exciting and extra special.

One of the unique Trafalgar offering is their "Be My Guest" experience. We got to immerse ourselves with the locals. We went to a beautiful vineyard where we got to enjoy sumptuous delicacies and locally produced wines. The best part is we got to witness a spur of the moment wedding of our fellow tourmate Craig and Graham (planned in less than 24 hours by Trafalgar!). It was surreal to have officially sealed their love story in this beautiful city.

After staying several days in Dubrovnik, we headed to Montenegro. One of the interesting things to know about them is that they are a country with one of the tallest human beings. We then visited Kotor, a coastal town with incredibly fresh seafood and scenic views.

We then found ourselves in Split where we got to visit the Diocletian Palace, as well as enjoyed Dalmatian food and wine coupled with live music.

Trafalgar took us to Hvar, one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia. Hvar is known for their lavender oils as well as a haven for the rich and famous. Whether you want to take a refreshing dip or enjoy a sumptuous meal, Hvar has it. We even enjoyed numerous gelatos during this day. Thank you Trafalgar for the treat and for introducing us to Lavender Chocolate ice cream.

After dozing off in the bus, we finally arrived in Trogir. We also visited Rastoke , a small village in Central Croatia filled with waterfalls of various sizes. It was very peaceful yet you can feel how powerful nature is around you.

We capped off our tour with a "Make Travel Matter" experience courtesy of Trafalgar. They amazed us with an unforgettable scenery of at least 16 lakes that are all connected by waterfalls. It was a sight to behold. I call it Paradise. No wonder it is part of UNESCO listed natural wonder and we thank Trafalgar for making this happen. They know when is the best time to bring us to ensure it is not jampacked with tourists. Details like these matter, especially when you want to capture as much unobstructed views as possible.

This Balkan tour was the time of our lives. We were having so much fun that just like that we found ourselves back to Zagreb, where it all started. We thank Trafalgar for taking us to Gallo Restaurant, a Michelin Star restaurant. It was certainly one of my favorite dinners. What a night to remember. What made this trip extra special are the friends we met along the way. Bonding with travelers from different nationalities made this trip very meaningful. Special shoutout to Tod, our tourguide for ensuring that we have a trip of a lifetime. Croatia is definitely a country that should be part of your bucketlist.