Hey Yall. So today I am writing a post about my solo trip to Greece and Turkey. This was a trip I took back in 2012 to celebrate my birthday. I just love to celebrate meš. This was an eight day trip, there was no visa required for entry so I didn’t need to make any additional preparations. I did order some foreign currency from my bank before I left because I like to have money in my pocket when I get there. However, you can always exchange currency at the airport or go to ATM/bank when you get to your destination. Please be aware of the international ATM fees.
I left for this trip the day after my birthday. My birthday is in July so the weather was pretty hot. I would say the average day time temperature was in the 90’s. I love summertime heat so I didn’t have any complaints. I got a nice lil sun tan…there were some moments where it got to be a little much when we had to do a lot of walking but nonetheless I enjoyed myself.
This was a trip that I did as part of a tour group. The good thing about joining a tour group is that you can purchase a package that includes all your travel accommodations to and from your destination, travel within the country along with an English speaking tour guide and hotel accommodations all in one package. Most companies do charge extra for “single accommodations” if you don’t have a roommate. I don’t mind paying extra. I need my privacy, but some companies will offer you the option to be placed with a roommate if you desire. No Thank You. I like to mix and mingle with people sometime but I need my “Me Time”. That proved to hard for me to do on this trip (more about that shortly).
I don’t remember exactly how many people were in the tour group. There was another solo traveler in the group, an older White lady. There were also two couples that were on their honeymoon. An Hispanic couple and a Black couple. I also recall a couple of family groups one with small children that seemed to be an irriation to some on the trip because they were noisy and couldn’t keep still (like most young children). They didn’t bother me cause I mind my business, but I saw several eye rolls from others in the group from time to time.
I flew from St. Louis, MO to Toronto, Canada and then on to Athens, Greece. There was a longer version of the trip that was maybe 10-12 days so I got to Athens a couple of days later than some who had already been in Athens a couple of days. The Hispanic couple happened to be starting the trip on the same day so we ended up sharing transportation for the airport to the hotel. So this was the beginning of what would prove to be a challenging trip where I struggled to get time to myself. So the first mistake I made was when the wife asked me what I did for a living and I told her I worked in mental health. She began to tell me how she had recently suffered a miscarriage and proceeded to ask me my clinical opinion on how to handle her grief and how long this process would take. I thought to myself oh no. Don’t get me wrong I am a very empathic person, thus the reason I went into this profession but I don’t work while on vacation. I don’t understand why people think mental health services are free. I went to school for this Yall, its how I make my living. It’s not free “advice”. She got teary as she told the story and the husband looked at me with pleading eyes for help. So that’s how my trip started. Me providing free therapy in the ground transportation vehicle on the way to the hotel. I am now very hesitant to tell people my profession while traveling on vacation.
I decided that I would not spend much more time with that couple on this trip. When we got to the hotel I excused myself and went out to explore the city. The next day I get up and I am excited to join the tour to see some of the hot spots in Athens. When I get downstairs, I meet the older White lady, who becomes very excited after she finds out I am traveling solo. She says to me “good, we can hang out”. I’m thinking, “not really”, but she sat down and got comfortable and proceeded to tell me how she is now traveling solo because her husband recently passed away. They used to travel together yearly and on his death bed she promised him that she would continue to travel and live her life to the fullest. I’m not making this up Yall. I’m like ok. Again, I am empathic person but I don’t want to get roped into being her counselor while on vacation. However she decided we would be best buddies and so it went…..
As the tour got started I met the others in the group including the second honeymooning couple from Tennessee. They were very nice. This was her second marriage after losing her first husband in an auto accident. It seems that tragedy was everywhere. I was determined to have a good time though.
In Athens we visited some famous landmarks such as Panathenaic Stadium (also known as the Olympic Stadium), The Ruins of The Temple of Greece, The Acropolis and museum. It was very educational, enlightening and fun. I worked on my suntan and got my exercise while walking. My new “buddy” stayed close by. I had dinner with her after our day was finished but was able to sneak away and have some alone time later.
The next part of the trip included a cruise to the Greek Islands. We spent four days on the cruise ship. The first day I got sick from something I ate which gave me an allergic reaction, my face swelled up, so I took some Benadryl and spent most the day in my room. I tend to prefer land vacations to cruises and this lil cruise cabin did not make me happy. It was very small with no windows. Whenever I was in there, I did not know if it was day or night. I didn’t like it Yall. Fortunately the next day I felt better and didn’t miss the tour. The first island we visited was Mykonos. All the Greek Islands were absolutely beautiful. We also made stops in Ephesus, Turkey and Patmos Greece. Did some sightseeing. While in Turkey the tour stopped in this carpet factory (they are always trying to get you to buy stuff on these tours). We watched how they make the carpets, but I passed on making a purchase. I did go shopping later and found a nice leather jacket.
Later back on the cruise ship I hung out at the pool and had a nice dinner with my new “buddy” and the couple from Tennessee. At this point I am starting to feel that my “buddy” is being a lil to clingy but I endured.
That night we sailed to Rhodes, Greece and explored that island the next day. I had an amazing time. One of the highlights was the donkey ride. Of course my “buddy” joins me for lunch and is rambling about multiple things. I tune her out but I am now getting a lil bit annoyed. So when she tries to join me for dinner that evening, I politely explain that I would like to eat alone. I knew her feelings were hurt, but hey this is my vacation I don’t want to hang out with this lady the whole time. Leave me alone please.
The next day we explore Crete, Greece and then head to Santorini, Greece which was my favorite island. My “buddy” leaves we alone for most of the morning although I catch her glancing at me a couple of times. I also see the honeymooning couple looking at me too because she joined them for dinner when I requested to be alone. She no doubt told them she had been rejected. By midday she makes her way over to me and says, “I know you like to be alone, but I wondering if we could hang out”. There was leisure time to explore on your own in Santorini and I guess she didn’t want explore on her own (this is usually the highlight of these trips for me). Now, I will tell you I would have preferred to be by myself , yet I endured… Evidently she was not comfortable being alone so I did my good deed. I enjoyed the shopping and found some really nice bracelets. I always get compliments on them every time I wear them. I also bought some really nice body lotion, but I absent mindedly packed it in my carry-on forgetting about the TSA guidelines. The containers were too large and I had to dispose of them at the airport. Sometimes I still think about that lotionš¤£.
The next day we disembarked from the cruise in Piraeus and then headed back to Athens. I took a flight from Athens, Greece back to Toronto, Canada, which took me to Chicago, where I caught my final flight and headed home. Overall I enjoyed my trip but I beg of you please do not travel solo and then cling to others all day and night. Some of us solo travelers really do like to be alone.
