Spring has arrived and so have my first visitors. My parents and our great friends, Charlie and Deb, arrived in April to stay for a little over a week. We saw the sights of Istanbul – the Hagia Sophia and shopping for spices in Eminönü were highlights. We were even able to enter the Blue Mosque after months of renovations and the completion of Ramadan. Jet lag did not slow this crew down one bit.

We spent the weekend in Istanbul and flew to Greece on the Monday following Orthodox Easter. April is still shoulder season so we didn’t have to contend with heavy crowds yet. The weather was perfect for exploring the city.

There was a trifecta which really made our trip particularly great. The first piece of the puzzle was our hotel (Central Hotel) which had been recommended by my brother, Brett, and his girlfriend, Katie. Located right on the edge of the Plaka neighborhood, everything was easily within reach. We were mere minutes from cathedrals, cafes, and even the Acropolis.

The religious history in Athens is second maybe only to Rome. It blew my mind how you could rock up to a tiny Byzantine church and find the capital of a Corinthian column just sitting outside. Created millennia apart but today sitting side-by-side.

The second key to our great trip was the itinerary my dad prepared for our time in Greece. Highlights include a bus ride down the coast to see sunset at the Temple of Poseidon as well as a day trip to the island of Aegina by high speed ferry.

Just off the coast of Athens, the island of Aegina once featured 365 mountain churches, one for each day of the year. We visited just a few of the 180 which remain and toured the island under the guidance of our spirited tour leader, Sandy.

After lunch, we explored the Temple of Aphaea and spent time down at the harbor enjoying the sunlight dancing on the turquoise water of the Aegean.

The last special piece was, of course, the people. By coincidence, Charlie had a childhood friend in Athens at the time of our visit. Steve was visiting his girlfriend, Georgia, who is from Greece and graciously toured us all around her city. It was pretty awesome hearing Steve’s strong Maine accent on the streets of Athens. We had a great time hanging out with those guys and learned a lot about Georgia’s culture.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to Istanbul. Athens could not have been a better host. The welcoming people of Greece, the amazing food, and the company really made it a phenomenal trip. Lots of wonderful memories!