Imagine being able to visit the one place in the world you always wanted to go. That was Greece for me. Since the sixth grade I have been fascinated with Greek Mythology. The legends of the Gods and Goddesses fascinated me into my adult years. To finally be able to visit the places where these stories were born was a lifelong dream for me, and why my first book series is located in Greece. Walking the streets of Athens, admiring the ancient structures, it was almost like being transferred back in time.
I wanted to make sure to be near everything I wanted to see. So if this is also your idea, I suggest bringing a nice pair of walking shoes. You will have to pay to visit the temples, but it is definitely worth it. Almost everything is in one place, and the sheer size of the temples make you feel so small. I stayed at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens. A beautiful structure outside as well as inside; you almost feel like royalty when you walk in. My favorite part of the hotel was having breakfast on the eighth floor while watching the sun rise with the Acropolis in the distance. The places I visited was the quaint neighborhood of Plaka (a must see). Small restaurants that place their outside patrons at seats that crawl up and down the concrete steps. The beautiful flowers that overflow in pots to incase you. The souvenir shops bring so much joy when you try to find that perfect gift for your loved ones back home. The food; one word. AMAZING. I have never tasted anything so fresh, so flavorful with only a few ingredients. The Acropolis that I mentioned above is a definite place to visit. High above the city of Athens, where you can see almost everything. The structures from history that you cannot believe you are experiencing them. I was in awe of everything I saw. Popular pictures you see on the internet are now in real life. I visited the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Ares, Athena, Hephaestus, and Apollo. My next journey was Santorini. I always feel like being near the ocean, whether you are right next to it, or in the middle of it there is this sense of peace. I went in October; being told there were less tourists, however I noticed during certain times of the is the only time it is truly empty. Early morning and late afternoon due to the cruise liners. Even though it can be crowded, I still enjoyed every bit. The different restaurants to choose from, the fresh gelato, the food of course, and just the all-around atmosphere. I stayed in the village of Oia. If you are a hiker-which I really am not but wanted to try it cause of the views-I did a hike from Oia to the village of Fira. If you stay in Fira, you can do the hike the other way and catch a ride back. The hike takes around four hours, but you will get the best views of Santorini. I went early in the morning before most people were out. I recommend this so you do not run into people while they are, or you are taking pictures. Some of what you would call paths are very narrow. The hike is marked so you do not have to worry about directions-thankfully. One of the most beautiful things about Santorini is the sunsets. Watching the sunset over the water while you’re having dinner, or the sunrise while having breakfast, something I have never experienced on any coast in the States.
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Boston is a great city, with so many things to see, and with every place you travel, not a lot of time to see it all. I took a train from Virginia because it was cheaper than flying, and more comfortable. I stayed in South Boston-about a 15-minute drive to Boston Harbor. The harbor is surrounded by skyscrapers, seafood restaurants and bars. It feels a little newer than downtown-but that could just be me. There was also a lot of construction, so it seemed that part of the city was in the process of expanding. I walked around the harbor and headed to China Town, not realizing it was a four hour walk-but with so much to see in the city, it didn’t seem like it.
When you cross the bridge from the harbor to the city it definitely has a different vibe. Old brick buildings, an inside market with shops, gelato, ice cream, juice bars, food kiosks, and more bars. Music in the streets. I definitely liked downtown. There is also a pedestrian only street downtown. A farmers’ market with crafts and fresh produce, restaurants with outside seating. There is always something going on downtown. Boston Common Park is beautiful. It’s the oldest city park in the United States. Great place to relax, have a picnic, and people watch. I visited Fenway Park-even though I don’t watch baseball, it was cool to see. For those of you who are beer connoisseurs, there is an amazing brewery called Trillium Brewery. One of the reasons to visit Boston was to go to Salem. I’ve been interested in the Salem Witch Trials since I learned about them in school. I’m also very much into the paranormal. I walked the cobblestone streets, ate at Rockafellas restaurant which is rumored to be haunted. The food was amazing and the staff friendly. Every shop I visited was staffed with very friendly and knowledgeable people. I shopped at Crow Haven Corner for my first pendulum. It’s a pretty cool with a magic vibe. Hex Old World Witchery is stocked with everything a new or experienced witch would need. Emporium 32 is fun with vintage style gifts, home décor and many other things. They even have their own fortune teller machine. There are so many different stores to visit in such a small space it can be overwhelming. I took a Salem witch tour, visiting the jail and the cemetery. One day is just not enough time to see everything I wanted to see. What can you say about New Orleans? I loved every minute being there. There are not many places in the United States that I want to visit, but New Orleans is at the top of my list. It is mysterious, dark, alluring and romantic. I visited with a friend of mine, staying at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the French Quarter. We went in September which even though it was hurricane season, we were lucky to only have one day of rain-for twenty minutes. However, it is extremely humid, and depending on where you live and your question of transportation, I would probably fly if you live far. We decided to drive-fifteen hours to save on a plane ticket) big mistake because we had to pay for parking because of where the hotel is located, and we only used the car once. Summer tourism was not high so during the week most people were at work, so the streets were quiet during the day. Every night was a party on Bourbon Street-and carrying an alcoholic drink in the street was pretty cool too. The street was closed off to traffic and even though police were around, they seemed to interact more with the patrons instead of harassing them.
Jazz musicians perform on the streets, shops from everything touristy to the macabre entice tourists inside. The food was incredible! We had Jambalaya at a bar/dance club, and I have to say it was amazing. Shrimp creole and alligator bites at Pat O’Briens-highly recommend-and gumbo at ‘The Gumbo Shop’ and Café Du Monde for beignets and coffee. For those looking for a different experience, ghost tours are what you want. I highly recommend because the guides are very knowledgeable. Most are at night, but one day tour was to St. Louis Cemetery #1 where the Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau’s tomb is located. It is a small cemetery, but the history-just like most of New Orleans is wonderful. One place that was also magnificent was Lafayette Cemetery #1 in the Garden District. It’s one of the most beautiful cemeteries I have ever seen. The architecture of the tombs and the trees are what give it that incredible factor. We rode the trolly (which for an inexpensive price you can ride it all day), and just walked around. I love anything with the paranormal. I love ghost stories and what some people say, ‘other worldly’. If you are like me, New Orleans is a must see. I can just imagine: ‘On a dark evening, fog rolling in, a mysterious man wearing a top hat walking through Jackson Square. The streetlamps that are lit with fire, flicker on his face. He smiles and fangs elongate past his lips.’ New Orleans is a very unique place. I would definitely put it on my list of places to see. Just to experience something completely new. I don’t know if it is the atmosphere, but it feels like you might be in a different world-especially at night. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’ I believe this is true in many aspects of life-especially in travel. The world offers so many wonderful places to explore, the only hard part is deciding where to visit. Growing up in a small town, you can sometimes get comfortable in your own backyard. Small towns are great to grow up and eventually retire. Some people are satisfied to spend their entire lives in one. I think I knew from a young age that I was not one of those people. I understood there was a bigger world outside my door. Over the years, I began to feel comfortable where I was. Change is not something I adjust to very well. I’ve realized in almost every part of my life, I fight the need for change because even though it might bring me happiness and be beneficial, I am afraid. I’ve always wanted to travel but living in that small town you get tunnel vision. It was safe and known. The fear is diving into the unknown. It wasn’t until I moved away that I felt free to explore.
The first place I traveled was to Ireland. My favorite author Karen Marie Moning had Ireland as the location for her ‘Fever Series’. I wanted to visit the places she spoke about-see if it was as wonderful as she spoke of. I was excited to visit an entirely different place then what I was used to. I went with a friend of mine at the time who had traveled almost all over the world. We went with a singles group through a travel site. The people we met and traveled with were amazing-and so was the tour guide. I was the youngest of the group, but I never felt like I was. Everyone was up for going to the local pub and hanging out till early in the morning. We stayed primarily in Dublin-which is an incredible city. One place I wanted to visit was the Temple Bar District which is very prominent in the ‘Fever Series’. It is exactly how it is described in the book-even the bar itself. The food in Ireland is second to none. I had Irish stew, delicious salmon, and many other great dishes. The Guinness Storehouse is something to see-even if you don’t like Guinness beer. Its seven floors with a sky bar on top. Other places we visited was the city of Kilkenney, and the town of Killarney. Beautiful castles and wonderful towns. We visited Blarney Castle near Cork, Waterford where the New Years Eve ball is created, and even visited where they filmed Castle Black from Game of Thrones. There were so many spectacular places in Ireland to visit. Outside the group, my friend and I stayed a few more days to visit Belfast where the Cliffs of Moher and Giant’s Causeway are located. Some days were a bit overcast even though we went in June. The temperatures ranged from warm during the day and a bit cooler at night. Comfortable walking shoes were a must and a light windbreaker just in case. Everything that you see in the pictures of Ireland are nothing like experiencing the real thing. It is a place filled with mystery, legends, beauty and amazing people. For being the first place to travel, I would always remember it. I would love to go back-a week and a half is never enough time. I can see why it is called the Emerald Isle; its beauty is unparalleled. |