Greece: The Last Day of the Ultimate Vacation

Today was an incredible day, and my last full day in Greece.

As my plan for the day was to laze around on the beach and soak up the rays, I started the day with a vanilla and chocolate chip muffin in my room and then took the tram to beach.

On the tram, I met a very nice older gentleman who introduced himself to me (first in Greek, assuming I spoke it – I’m telling you, I love this dark complexion I’ve got going on!) and wished me a happy Easter, as today is Greek Orthodox Easter.

I disembarked the tram a few seconds later (pre-planned, not subtly trying to get away from the man) and headed for the beach I found yesterday. At this point, I must explain the beaches in Glyfada. They are all very small and separated by marinas or long shoots of rock, I’m assuming to protect the beach. (I learned the term for those back in school, I just can’t remember what it was.) If not for these separations, the beach would go all the way up the coast to the Port of Piraeus. Instead, there are many smaller beaches, each as lovely as the next, and many with a restaurant or café along the separation.

The beach was busier than I’d seen it since I’ve been here. Families had parked their cars on the beach-side parking and set up tiny, portable barbeque grills. I never saw what it was they were grilling, maybe lamb or pork, but it all smelled delicious.

I continued down past the grillers and found a suitable spot on the sand near the water. I laid out my towel and settled in for the next few hours, soaking up the sun and enjoying the perfect weather. The cool water was a striking shade of turquoise, exactly like the Australian opal ring I bought myself in Santorini, and just as shimmery.

Later on, I went to get a snack at one of the restaurants on that part of the beach. I went to the second one because the first one was closed due to some sort of private party, complete with festive Greek music, dancing, delicious-smelling food, and lots of ‘OH-PAH!’ It looked like a lot of fun! If I spoke Greek, I might have tried to party-crash!

For my final evening, I went to see the sunset from the marina closest to my hotel. It is also the marina with the best view in the direction of the setting sun. I got some remarkable photos.

It’s a good thing I’m leaving Greece tomorrow because I’m running out of superlatives. Tomorrow morning I leave Athens at 7am, fly to Rome, then New York City, and then Orlando. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and each flight will takeoff and land on time.

Here’s to safe travels and an amazing week at home before heading back to Korea for another year!