As I head back to the USA today, I’m feeling a little nostalgic. Maybe it’s the end-of-vacation blues, or maybe it’s just that traveling always makes me think about all the incredible places I’ve been lucky enough to explore. Either way, it seems like the perfect time to dust off a couple more travel memories!
I shared the backstory in Looking Back (Part 1), so I’ll spare you the long explanation this time. Instead, we’re heading back in time to two adventures that happened long before this blog ever existed. Two unforgettable destinations, plenty of memories, and a few stories worth telling.
Next stops 🧳:
Paris, France & Santorini, Greece!
November 20, 2014 – Paris in the Fall. 🍂🇫🇷
Still one of my favorite photos. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded that some places leave an imprint on your soul, no matter how much or how little time you spend there. Paris was one of those places for me.
Paris was my fastest stopover in any European city. I flew into the City of Lights for work and was on the Chunnel headed to London less than 48 hours later. But gosh, did I make the most of those 48 hours!
I was traveling solo and had absolutely no problem squeezing in as many historic sites as possible once my work meetings wrapped up. That included a trip up the Eiffel Tower and a chance to see the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, years before the devastating fire in 2019.
Looking back, it’s amazing how much of an impression a city can leave on you in less than two days. Paris certainly did that for me!
April 2005 – Oia, Santorini. 🇬🇷❤️🩵
Not a bad view for lunch overlooking the stunning Aegean Sea! And to think, these photos were taken back in the days of carrying an actual pocket Canon camera around. Some views (and memories) never get old.
We based ourselves in Athens, exploring the ancient city and taking several day trips, including a cruise to the islands of Poros, Aegina (where I’m pretty sure I ate my weight in pistachios!), and Hydra.
Then we hopped on a plane and headed to one of the most postcard-perfect islands in the Cyclades…Santorini! 🩵🤍💙
And yes, Santorini is every bit as magical as the pictures make it look. Whitewashed buildings topped with those iconic blue domes, winding streets hugging the hillsides, and donkeys making their way up and down the steep paths of Oia and Fira. Add in sun-ripened tomatoes, incredible white wine, and sunsets I still dream about, and you have an island unlike anywhere else.
But Santorini wasn’t all about soaking in those spectacular views. One of my favorite memories was jumping off a boat into the Aegean Sea and swimming to the volcanic hot springs! How often do you get to say you swam through the Aegean to reach naturally heated waters tucked into the side of a volcanic island? For me it was once. Definitely an adventures I’ll never forget.
Perched high above the brilliant blue Aegean, Santorini’s villages overlook a dramatic volcanic caldera that sparkle in the Mediterranean sunshine.☀️
Greece is one of those places that stays with you long after you leave. Nearly two decades later, I can still picture those blue domes, taste the pistachios from Aegina, and remember the thrill of jumping into the Aegean. And that, to me, is the magic of travel.🌏
