Pittsburgh Wedding, Boudoir, Senior Photographer

Traveling to Mykonos, Greece

Having read many articles about which islands in Greece experience over tourism, I knew that Mykonos was one on that list. However, our experience on this island was probably one of my favorites in Greece; we found ways to stay away from the crowds, and had a mix of excursions that made our experience feel unique compared to the usual tourist agenda.

I believe that two factors really made a difference when trying to stay away from the tourist crowds:
1.) We rented a car, so we could easily drive to any beach/ restaurant/ location on the entire island. Most people rent ATVs and have to keep their driving to shorter distances.
2.) Our hotel was not within the overcrowded town of Mykonos, where many of the other tourists stay.

Amazon Mykonos Resort and Spa

Thanks yet again to Travelzoo.com, for leading me to a fantastic deal at a new luxury resort on Mykonos! The Amazon Mykonos Resort and Spa is a short drive from the touristy town of Mykonos. It is a small, quiet resort with top-notch amenities and offers tranquil views of the sea and sunset.

The pool glitters at night. Look at that dreamy sunset!

The “Welcome” refreshments and treats at Amazon Mykonos.

Have you ever seen such a huge room in Europe?! We certainly lucked out.

The view from our bed; we sipped coffee every day on our front porch.

This was the view from our room’s porch. It was hands down the most tranquil and heavenly scene that I have ever experienced while traveling.

A friendly resident at our doorstep every day!

Sailing Excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Island, Delos

Delos is an island close to Mykonos, that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Greek Mythology, it is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Delos is a very important archeological site in the Mediterranean, with excavations still taking place. In order to get there, we took a small yacht tour and sailed about 45 minutes to Delos. Thanks to GetYourGuide.com, where we booked the excursion called “Mykonos: Yacht Cruise to Rhenia and Delos.” It was a fantastic experience!

Once at Delos, we walked through what was once a bustling town and trading post between the 1st and 2nd Century BC, and saw parts of houses (including one of Cleopatra’s), a large theater, and what was once a market, still partially intact. It wouldn’t be unusual to see and touch artifacts, such as a vase, in its final resting place from all of those years ago. Even more artifacts can be seen in the Delos Archaeological Museum, which is a short walk through the town’s ruins.

The Terrace of Lions built in 600BC. These are actually replicas, the actual lions are found in the Delos Archaeological Museum on the island.

Above: the Theater ruins on Delos. It was out of this world to sit on the rows of stone seating, the same spot where Cleopatra may have been all those years ago.

One of the island’s residents. Humans are prohibited to live on Delos, but cats are not! They are looked after by the people who work on the island.

After our excursion to Delos, our tour guide took us to Rhenia, a crystal clear swim spot. It was heaven!

As we sailed back to Mykonos from Delos, I was able to grab a picture of the famous windmills of Mykonos.

The end result of my picture above. The famous windmills in Mykonos.

The Town of Mykonos

After our tour of Delos, our tour guide docked near town, and walked the winding streets full of shops, cafes, and restaurants.

The town of Mykonos, looking at it with the windmills at my back.

Houses are scattered among the stores in the town of Mykonos.

Mykonos Brewing Co.

Would it be a real trip if we didn’t scout out a microbrewery for Barry to try? Mykonos Brewing Co. was a short drive from our hotel, and was completely worth the trip! We were floored at the large selection of beer, and also how good every single one was. We shared a flight, and it was nearly impossible for me to pick a favorite!

The brewery is actually underground! Upon entering, you have to walk down a flight of stairs.

Our tasting table, the only one that was placed on a little landing pad prior to going down a second flight of stairs to the tasting room.

The labels for Mykonos Brewing Co. pay tribute to the legends of the Giants that live under the rocks of Mykonos, who were defeated by the Olympic Gods during the Gigantomachy.

Pouring our beer flight directly from the source.

Agios Sostis Beach and Kiki’s Restaurant
Agios Sostis Beach is a very special beach, and was about a 50 minute drive from our resort. It had the clearest water of any beach that we have been to… you could see ripples in the sand 20 feet below and also your shadow on the sand as you swam.

On top of being a phenomenal beach, there is the hidden gem called Kiki’s Restaurant, located in a cove on this beach. Kiki’s doesn’t use electricity to cook the food. It is well known by the locals; there is an hour wait at any time of the day. The best part; there is no “wait list”… upon greeting you, the owner puts a glass of rose wine in your hand and tells you who will be seated directly before you. So, you have to pay attention to when they are seated or you will lose your spot!

Watching swimmers in the cove while eating at Kiki’s.

Our table was nestled amongst trees overlooking the sea’s cove.

Sunsets in Mykonos

No other sunset that I have witnessed can hold a candle to the ones that we experienced in Mykonos. The colors changed every evening. Some nights, the sunset was painted with hues of pink fading into purple, and other nights, fiery shades of red, orange and yellow were on display.

One last parting shot before leaving Mykonos!

Thanks for following along on our journey to Greece!!!

Traveling to Paros, Greece

After our week-long stay in Crete, we hopped a plane and took off towards the lovely island of Paros. Upon arriving at what we thought were our hotel accommodations, we were told that our booking information was nowhere to be found! As it turned out, there are two properties in Paros named Margarita Studios, and we were at the wrong one! Fortunately, we had rented a car and only had to drive 20 minutes to the location where we had actually booked our stay.

Margarita Studios– Our B&B and Cooking Class!

Upon arriving to Margarita Studios where our actual booking arrangements where made, BOO BOO the dog immediately greeted us, and we sat down to a delightful meal of grilled chicken skewers and fried zucchini balls. Both were doused in a delicious tahini sauce, so much better than the over garlicky version that I typically taste in the USA. Barry had a beer from 56 Isles Microbrewery, which happened to be 5 minutes down the road from our stay, so you know where we went next after lunch!

The picture above and the six pictures below are at Margarita Studios, where we stayed.

Poolside courtyard and dining at Margarita Studios. Breakfasts were included in our stay, and you could add on lunch and dinner, if desired.

We took a cooking class onsite at Margarita Studios! Thanks to Stella for being a tremendous chef and teacher!

The fried zucchini balls were one of my favorite foods in Paros!

Lefkes

We visited a charming hillside town towards the center of Paros named Lefkes, which boasts lovely views of the island. Walking around Lefkes, you will find cafes, tavernas, an ice cream shop, and a plethora of shopping. The whitewashed buildings had bursts of hot pink flowers cascading overtop of the archways.

If you look closely, you can spy the hiking trail from Lefkes to the sea.

Peeking into the historical museum in Lefkes.

Lefkes town: a boutique store on the left and ice cream on the right.

The inside of the boutique store noted above.

Naoussa

Naoussa is an impeccably clean, white-washed town in Paros dotted with blue shutters and doors. This town is a maze of shopping, and the wares range from homemade leather goods, to unique, light and airy dresses, to jewelry. You could get lost in this maze and shop for days without coming across the same store twice! Outdoor eateries and cocktail bars were bountiful, too!

Walking through the maze of stores in town.

Craft beer and Wineries on Paros

Surprisingly, Paros has a craft brewery named 56 Isles, that I mentioned above, which had a very impressive list! We also had the opportunity to taste at two wineries,

At 56 Isles Microbrewery, just a five minute drive from our B&B.

We had a wine tour and tasting at Moraitis Estate, also close to our B&B.

We also tasted wines at a newer winery, Ktima Roussos.

We had a little furry spy watching us as we tasted wines at Ktima Roussos.

Helping the Cat, Michael

As you may be able to tell, there is an overpopulation of cats in Paros (and on many of the islands that we visited in Greece). Some of the cats have owners, but most of them do not. By observing, it seems that all of the cats, with or without an owner, live outdoors only, which I imagine contributes to the rising cat population.

During our visit, we noticed many cats in need of medical attention. I happened upon a very sick tan-colored tabby close to our B&B Margarita Studios, and made it my mission to get him any medical attention that he needed.

A HUGE THANK YOU to FEP Veterinary Center in Naoussa for lending me a pet carrier to trap and bring in this sweetheart, now named Michael. They were able to neuter him and give him shots and medications to get him through his sickness.

And another HUGE THANK YOU to Martina at Cats Eden in Paros who looked after Michael after Barry and I left the island. Ironically, Martina knew this cat in past years… he was part of her rescue prior to escaping!

And lastly, a HUGE THANK YOU to Barry for his patience with all of the walks to find Michael, trips to the FEP Veterinary Center, and the trip to get him to his continued caregiver, Martina, at Cats Eden in Paros.

We will end with a few beautiful beach scenes around Paros…

Hopped out of the car for this quick snap…

The walkable beach from our B&B, and our favorite restaurant in Paros behind it, The Blue Oyster.

Stay tuned for the final blog post in Mykonos, Greece!

Traveling to Chania Crete: Part II

Boating by Day

“If you are interested, you can rent a motorboat and drive it to secluded beaches on the southern shores of Crete…”

Without having to consult with each other first, Barry and I immediately responded “Yes, let’s book that boat!”

It was day four in Chania, Crete, and we were feeling pretty comfortable grabbing our car and taking the hour-and-a-half drive to Sfakia, where our motorboat rental with Notos Mare was awaiting us.

To get to Sfakia, we had to go up and over the Lefka Ori mountains (aka White Mountains) via narrow switchback roads. I am afraid of heights, and actually got dizzy winding back and forth on the 180-degree turns that were set on the steep cliffside, with little to no guardrail.

Upon stepping into our boat, we were given a 30-minute hands-on demonstration on how to drive and anchor the boat, and then we were off! Just me, Barry, the motorboat, and the clear turquoise sea!

Below: switchbacks roads over the White Mountains led us to our boat rental in Sfakia, on the south shore of Crete.

The next nine photos are all cell snaps of our secluded beach adventures (because I didn’t want to bring my good camera on a bobbing boat in the middle of the sea)…

Thanks to Notos Mare Marine Adventures for the boat rental and secluded beach excursion experience!

We boated past the Samaria Gorge, one of Crete’s National Parks.

One of many secluded beaches that we swam at.

Cell snap. Yes, all the water in Greece is this bright turquoise in color! You can see the pebbly texture of the beach.

At another beach; we anchored here and swam through the caves ahead.

Motoring past little churches towards the next beach.

Strolls in Chania

The last few days in Chania were spent wandering the colorful streets in the Venetian Harbor, sampling tasty treats and popping into local shops and art galleries.

The cafes and shops surrounding the harbor in Chania.

One of three kittens hanging out with their mom outside the harbor walls in Chania.

Of course, we had to find a spot with the best craft beer in Chania! Thanks, Rudi’s Bierhaus!

Getting “squirreled” by the cats at Rudi’s Bierhaus.

Just a few of the plethora of worldly craft beer selections at Rudi’s Bierhaus!

Daily carriage rides around the Venetian Harbor in Chania.

Sunsets in Greece are *magical*. Every. Single. Sunset.

At Pallas, the best happy hour hot spot in Chania’s Venetian Harbor because it faces the sunset.

Odds and Ends Pictures

Our room and view at the Sansal Boutique Hotel in Chania. This hotel has a *fantastic* location, including a rooftop pool and modern amenities!

We took a 5 mile run/walk along the sea.

“Go where you see crowds of locals” Angelikka, our B&B’s bartender told us when inquiring about dining. So, when we saw a packed house at Mitso’s BBQ, you’d better believe that we dined there that night! It was one of our favorite meals in Chania.

Traveling to Chania, Crete: Part I

After spending some time in Greece in 2019, we had a phenomenal experience of visiting historic sites, hiking, and enjoying the Greek culture. This year, it was on my bucket list to travel back to this country to see if the TikTok hype of Greece’s beaches lives up to reality. So, this past August, we embarked on a trip to the Greek islands of Crete, Paros, and Mykonos.

Days 1-3 Chania, Crete: Hikes, History, Olives, Water and Wine

Our time in Crete was split between two hotels around the town of Chania. The three days were at Giorgi’s Blue Apartments, which had a relaxing swimming pool, onsite access to the sea, gave us spectacular sunset views, and was away from the hustle and bustle of Chania.

Some of my favorite memories at Georgi’s Blue Apartments included:
~Waking up to local church bells ringing on Sunday morning.
~Watching fighter jets roar overhead in the morning.
~Night time relaxing on our room’s balcony, sipping on raki and watching airplanes taking off into the star-studded black sky.
~Listening to night-time soft Electronic music coming from the bar area below our balcony, combined with the sound of the sea’s waves lapping against the rocks.
~Watching the pool’s lights at night silently rotate from pink to green in color, as if awaiting a night party to happen in the placidity of its water.
~Hanging out with the cat Pedro, the local whiskered resident who joined us for breakfast.

Giorgi’s Blue Apartments

<alt>Seaside view at Giorgi's Blue Apartments Chania Crete</alt> — The quaint sea cove at Giorgi’s Blue Apartments.

Sunset at the pool. The picture above and also below are cell snaps from our balcony. You can see the sea access close to the pool. Below are people having a placid night swim in the pool.

A container ship silently floating on the sea at night, the view from our balcony.

Hike #1: Gouverneto Monastery to Katholiko Monastery

<alt>Mountain goats galore around Chania, Crete</alt> — Mountain goats galore in Crete! The above and below pictures depict the hike between the Gouverneto Monastery and the abandoned Katholiko Monastery.

The trail begins at Gouverneto Monastery, pictured above.

<alt>Hiking at the Governeto Monastery Chania Crete</alt>

Same hike. The above is the entrance to Arkoudospilios Cave, which is famous for a stalagmite formation that looks like a crouching bear (below). The goddess Artemis was once worshipped in this cave, according to archaeologists.

The end of our hike; pictures from the abandoned Katholiko Monastery, which is rumored to be the oldest Monastery in Crete, possibly as early as the 6th or 7th century.

Above is the cave of St. John the Hermit at Katholiko Monastery.

After our hike to the Katholiko Monastery, we stopped by Monastery of Agia Triada Tzagarolon. This monastery owns vineyards and olive groves. We sampled some wine and olive oil here in a little cove under the steps.

The wine tasting cover under the monastery’s steps!

Hike #2: Sarakina Gorge

The picture above is a tavern nestled amongst old trees in the town of Meskla. This is where our hike up the Sarakina Gorge began.

If you look towards the top of the mountain, you will see houses in the town Zourva. We hiked all the way up the gorge to those houses!

The picture above is at the top of our hike in the town of Zourva, looking towards the bottom of the gorge where we began the hike.

Farm animals and their owners share the same residence in Zourva, which is the town at the summit of the Sarakina Gorge hike.

We happened upon a quaint little restaurant called Rizinia Taverna on our hike down the road between Zourva and Meskla. It served authentic cuisine from Crete and had a phenomenal view of the gorge!

“What do you say to them?” The owner asked her little son who was serving us the above dish at Rizinia Taverna.

“Thank you!” her little son sheepishly replied, with a hint of pride because of his proper English vocabulary.

This picture above is of a traditional Cretan dish called Dakos, which is rustic bread topped with olive oil, vine-ripened tomatoes and feta cheese. Delightful!

The World’s Oldest Olive Tree and Local Life

We ended our first few days in Chania visiting the world’s oldest olive tree. Afterwards we enjoyed a seaside restaurant, Almyriki, to enjoy the fresh catch of the day, and watch locals lapping through sea waves during the final hours of the sunset.

The world’s oldest olive tree in Vouves, estimated to be 3,000-5,000 years old.

Obligatory cell snap at said olive tree.

Cell snaps of (above) locals in Stavros wading during sunset outside of the seaside restaurant, Almyriki, and also (below) the catch of the day for dinner, barracuda!

Stay Tuned for Our Trip to Greece Part II: Days 4-6 in Chania, Crete!

Richelle and Lenny | Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Wedding

The cloudless sky was a robin’s egg shade of blue, and the sunlight glittered through yellow, orange, and red foliage, producing the most breathtaking array of autumn vibrance. This was the start to Richelle and Lenny’s day; a spectacular scene for their spectacular wedding.

Even more vibrant than the colorful leaves was the smile on Lenny’s face when he turned around to see the stunning elegance of Richelle during their first look. It was so endearing; Lenny doubled over in adoration, his radiant smile staying on his face the entirety of the day! No joke, there really wasn’t even a second during the day when these two wouldn’t gush over each other when they looked at each other! So sweet!

Take a scroll through these pictures to see what I mean…