People to see & Places to go!

Milos, Greece

Our summer on the go…With yours truly, Coffee!

Alot changes when you have kids. Sleep, social outings, date-nights, but 1 thing I couldn’t give up was travelling. My heart yearns to explore it all (my finances argue otherwise), but anyways, I’m going to try.

I’m going to start our “places” page off with our most recent trip. If you want to read about traveling with kids, you can check out my post on “On the Go with Coffee,” but here I talk about all the stunning places we saw and visited and our experience.

Since Covid ceased travel for many, including our family, we decided to make up for lost time and trek to a couple of countries this summer. We decided on Greece, Italy and Spain. We spent the most time in Greece (because we also visited family) but we also went to the beautiful island of Milos, the mountainous region of Karpenisi and of course Athens. We decided on the Amalfi Coast in Italy and travelled from Positano through Amalfi and ended it Salerno stopping along the way to marvel at all the sweet towns in between. Spain was our last stop and we visited the amazing home of Barca, Barca, Barca…you guessed it Barcelona!

Everywhere the open road (or water)) took us:

Athens, Greece
- Acropolis
- Monasteraki
- Nea Ioanina
- Olympic Stadium
Milos,Greece
- Pollonia
- Paliochori
- Agia Kyriaki
- Tsigrado
- Fyriplaka
- Papafragas
- Sarakiniko
- Fyropotamos
- Plaka
- Adamas
- Tripiti-Catacombs
- Thalassitra boat excursion
  - Kleftiko
Karpenisi
- Panagia Proussiotissa
- Panagia Tatarna
- Panta Vrehi

Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Positano
- Praiano
- Amalfi
- Ravello
- Minori
- Maiori
- Vietri Sul Mare
- Salerno

Barcelona, Spain
- Placa Catalunya
- Arc De Triomf
- ZooPoble Nou
- Passieg De Colom
- World Trade Center
- Jardins De Miramar
- Fundacio Joan Miro
- Anella Olimpica
- Mnac
- Poble Espanyol
- Placa De Espana
- Estacio De Sants
- L’Illa Diagonal
- Avinguda Diagonal
- Port Vell
- Museu D’Historia De Catalunya
- Barceloneta
- Teatro Nacional Auditori
- Toree Glories
- Tibidabo

Barcelona, Spain
- Spotify, Camp Nou
- La Pedrera
- Casa Batillo
- Park Guell
- Sagrada Familia
- Mercat de la Boqueria

I’ve chosen to split Spain into these 2 categories for one simple reason; the list to left consists of awesome places to sightsee. You can purchase economical tickets for the hop on hop off bus through getyourguide site. The list on the right however I highly recommend you take the time to actually “visit” and explore these sights. Words cannot even begin to describe how amazing they are. It’s an experience you to truly have to see for yourself.

Greece:

You may or may not be familiar with Athens, and all it has to offer. I am going to touch on a few of my favorite spots to visit. The Acropolis is well known and an obvious tourist attraction. It is worth the trek to see all of its glory up close, even with kids. I would recommend going early morning though to beat the summer heat! While you are already in the area, stick around and venture through Monasteraki. This district is full of open-air shops, department stores and places to eat. You can find some great souvenirs for anyone on your list! We usually leave with handfuls of sandals and soccer kits. When it comes to food, these 2 places are a must. Thanasis Souvlaki is hands down an Athens favorite and for dessert enjoy the mouthwatering selection from Mr. Puff. Indulge yourself, with all the walking you’ll do you’ve earned the calories. And whatever you don’t walk off you’ll definitely sweat out so splurge! Another district great for shopping (and where the locals tend to go), is Nea Ioanina. Here you can walk the streets and hop in and out of department stores. An extra perk, these stores have air condition! LOL. Lastly, grab a coffee or ice cream and walk around the Olympic Stadium. It makes for a fun cheap excursion and if you’re lucky you may even catch an event like a concert or sports team practice.

MonasterakiAthens, Greece

One of my personal favorite Islands is Milos. It doesn’t not have the popularity of the rest of its Cyclades neighbors like Mykonos and Santorini, but in my opinion is just as beautiful and what many would consider “a hidden gem.” it has a plethora of beaches to explore, and no trip would be complete without a boat excursion around the island. Their beaches are not created equal, some are more equipped for sunbathing and lounging while others are more for the adventurous souls. Beaches such as Paliochori, Agia Kyriaki, and Fyriplaka are your more organized beaches. These are your got -to’s for kicking back and relaxing while enjoying an iced coffee or cocktail. Although Fyropotamos is a breathtaking beach, it is not organized yet I still recommend spending some time soaking up the sun here! Pollonia has a small strip of beach, but I recommend this area more for its restaurants and leisurely evening strolls. If you are looking to release your inner beach explorer side, then look no further than the likes of Tsigrado (where the only way to and from the beach is via rocks between crevices and a ladder), Papafragas where you will feel like you’ve entered a pool within a cave and Sarakiniko beach for those risk takers who like diving or jumping off cliffs. For some “city life” make sure you take a stroll through Plaka and Adamas and don’t forget to pick up some great island souvenirs.

PolloniaMilos, Greece

Karpenisi, Greece is a small northern village in the mountain region. It hosts some breathtaking views and serves as a great “hub” to visit some much smaller little towns. This area is not a tourist attraction as much as it is an escape from the grind of the world. If you are looking for an escape and perhaps gain some spiritual peace, then add this place on your list. It is also close to a very well-known Orthodox monastery, Panagia Proussiotissa and also nearby to the monastery of Panagia Tatarna. If you like hiking and trails than Pante Vrehi is a must. The name literally translates to “always raining” and this waterfall and the path to get there is a site to see and explore.

Panagia ProussiotissaKarpenisi, Greece

Italy:

Italy was another breathtaking adventure in and of itself. We enjoyed stunning views, savory food, strong drinks and pristine beaches. Our Home base was Maiori (which I highly recommend if you have a family with younger kids). This area is not nearly as hilly as a lot of the Amalfi Coast but has lots of charm and character. We rented a car from Naples (where we flew in, I do not recommend this airport,) and drove to our hotel (Club Due Torri, this place is true Italian charm, and I would stay here again and again) which from the mileage looked close but remember, this is a mountainside, and it takes forever to go up and down! I’m not complaining though because the drive was scenic, and we also happened to stumble upon a local shop that served the most delicious paninis and charcuterie I have ever tasted. It made the drive worth it! We wanted to make the most of our 4 days there and see all Amalfi had to offer, so we planned day trips covering the towns between Positano and Salerno! All the small little towns like Praiano, Ravello, Minori, Maiori, and Vietri Sul Mare are no less enchanting than the well-known Amalfi itself. Other than wanting to visit each of these places, we didn’t really have a set plan for Italy. We simply drove to all these towns, parked and explored. We walked down streets and lots of stairs. Lots and Lots and lots of stairs, but all well worth it. Everywhere you looked there was something to ooohhhh and AAAhhh over, even the drive to all these places was so picturesque. I captured so many awesome pictures just from the drive alone. Whenever we would get hungry, we would stop at some cute little joint and indulge in pizza, pasta and/or seafood! I can just feel the drool remembering the robust flavors. We would also enjoy a glass of wine (which was always smooth and buttery) or a Lemoncillo or Aperol Spritzer, not only were they so refreshing and delicious but they weren’t shy about the pour either. Now I will say that if you are in Positano check out Chez Black. It is a really cute restaurant on the beach with some of the best seafood and pizza. We would also take time to enjoy the many beaches. Keep in mind that the beaches here are from volcanic rock so bring water shoes and don’t expect the strands of sands like you find along the Florida Panhandle. There are several organized beaches, and we didn’t find it an issue grabbing a couple of loungers for the day. The water was crystal blue and calm. It was so relaxing after a day of exploring all these beautiful cities. Of all the towns we visited, Salerno was the one that was more “city-like” than “beach town.” There was much more of that hustle and bustle feel than the slower paced likes of the rest of the towns. It’s also where we found we could do more shopping for things other than souvenirs. It had more of your department store finds and not your keychains and postcards. I will add a side note here. On the day we voyaged over to Salerno we stopped in Vietri Sul Mare (for those of you who are familiar, you are well aware that they are known for their ceramics.) This small town is so so adorable, and the ceramics truly are stunning pieces. It was so hard deciding what to bring home.

MaioriItaly

Spain:

As I briefly stated above, I had split Spain into 2 lists. There is so much architecture and beauty in Barcelona that you don’t want to miss any of it. Every building, every door, every window tells a story. It’s such a magical, whimsical, breathtaking city. The list on the left is there because they all consist of areas & architecture worth seeing. My suggestion is to grab yourself a 2 day hop on hop off pass and view all of these sites. The list on the right however were my absolute favorites and worth stopping for in order to give them each more personalized time for exploring and gawking. I will explain further below. The only one that is listed that I don’t go more into detail about is La Pedrera and this is because this is an entire shopping district. The Rodeo drive of Barcelona. Even if you don’t have an endless cash flow to spend on all the high-end designers, you’ll find lining the streets they are worth walking and soaking in all the beauty this area has to offer!

If you are a soccer fan (or sports fan at all), then I suggest checking out Spotify Camp Nou. It is currently being renovated (which was a bit of a bummer) so we did not get to walk onto the field, yet I felt that overall, they kept the vibe alive by offering a virtual tour of the new stadium and the museum and gift store are both still open to the public. Walking through so much history of soccer legends was thrilling. My son is a HUGE Barca fan, so this was an especially memorable experience for him. He was in his happy place smiling ear to ear the entire time. There was one area of the museum that after following a short hallway that is lit up you walk into a large room with massive screens from floor to ceiling all around with a virtual look as to what the inside of the new stadium will look and feel like while they play video clips of past highlights. It was riveting, people were singing and chanting and jumping about as if at an actual game, this really hyped up the kiddos! There was also a model as you exit of what the new stadium will entail, and we can’t wait for the chance to go back and catch a match!

Spotify Camp Nou Barcelona, Spain

If you like the arts, then these next 3 places are your paradise. Park Guell, Casa Batillo and the Sagrada Familia are probably some of the most inspirational, astonishing, unbelievable sights I have ever experienced. There is so much rich history embalmed in these amazing works of art. They are the type of places that no amount of words can express nor pictures can capture, that truly define the sheer beauty and detail. The Sagrada Familia is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world and was designed by Antonio Gaudi an architect of the early 1900’s. The Casa Batillo is also a Gaudi masterpiece, and the design is nothing short of fascinating, from its oval windows and mosaics all the way to the stonework. This last site is also the work of Gaudi, Park Geull. All I can say is that I got major Dr. Seuss vibes; I felt as though I was walking through a fairy tale. All in all, Barcelona is full of architecture everywhere you turn, but these 3 spots are true works of art!

Sagrada FamiliaBarcelona, Spain

If you enjoy eating and trying new foods as much as I do, then you cannot leave Barcelona without going to the Mercat La Boqueria. You will fall in love with this place. It is literally an open-air food market. A flea market of food vendors from fresh seafood to empanadas to spices. They have it all under one roof (well figuratively anyways). You can walk around and select different foods and it on the spot. Some things have to be prepared like the seafood which you can pick how you want them, for instance we got garlic shrimp, mussels and clams all prepared the way we like them and served. We also got corn on the cob, chicken nuggets, empanadas, smoothies and ended with a grab bag of gummies and sour candies. This was an entire experience in itself. The best part, Everything we tried was better than the last. I have not eaten better food anywhere else in my life, and this goes for anywhere we ate in Barcelona.

Mercat La Boqueria Barcelona, Spain

Snippets of Our Adventures

The World of Travel

When we think travel, the general assumption is some extravagant trip to some foreign land far far away! Although this type of travel is desired by many, “travel” can be to your back yard, city hiking trail, or even a park. It’s what you do along the way that can make or break the experience. The key to having fun with wherever you travel is patience. So take time to explore, try new things, and make the best of every opportunity to experience something different.

It’s not all about the destination so much as it is about the journey. Anyone can get from point “A” to point “B” but the path that gets us there is what makes all the difference.