Santorini Wine Tour

We wanted to do something different so we signed up for a private wine tour.  Keep in mind that I don't even like wine all that much. I'm a beer or champagne girl. Anywho, it sounded fun so we did it.

We signed up with a private expert sommelier, Vaios. Usually it's a group of up to 8, but we were surprised to learn at pick up that we were the only 2 people for that day! You get roughly 3 hours and you visit 3 vineyards/winery's, all of which are family owned.  I highly recommend doing this, even if you aren't a total wine lover. It's a lot of fun.

You can check out the website and look at all the different packages that are offered at www.santoriniwinetour.com or email info@santoriniwinetour.com or call his mobile at +30 6937084958.

Now to see a few pictures from our wine tour day:

We had a great time and learned so much! He also picks you up from your hotel and drops you off so you do not have to worry about transportation!  One big thing that I learned was that all white wine should lay down and not stand up due to oxygen getting in and changing the flavor of the wine.  I was also told that you should wait 15-30 minutes after pouring a glass of wine especially red before drinking it so that it can breathe and all the true flavors have a chance to come out.

www.santoriniwinetour.com

Cheers,
WMMc

The food of Oia

Tasty gyros at Oia! Mike preferred the pork gyro but I loved the chicken. Most of all we loved the prices, we got 2 gyros, 2 large beers, and 1 large bottled water for 11 euro!

This place is located next to the bus terminal, next door to the place with the "Best Gyros" sign.  Now for a picture of our gyros!

Yum! Oia Gyros knows what they are doing when it comes to gyros!


A review from tripadvisor:

www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g482941-i9230-k3555799-Favourite_eating_places_in_Oia-Oia_Santorini_Cyclades.html

Flora, in Oia, we ate a Greek salad here almost every day. It was so tasty. The tomatoes were amazing, so ripe, red and juicy, the feta was perfect and the capers were the best we had ever eaten.

Greek salads from Flora, they have a great rooftop with a view of the caldera.  The prices are also very reasonable.

Flora is located right on the main walk way in town.

This picture is of our "nice" dinner that we had at Federini, an italian restaurant with delicious homemade gnocchi! Pictures of our gnocchi below.
 
Federini is located right on the main walk in the town of Oia.

Mikes gnocchi.

My gnocchi.

Our fancy artichoke starter at Federini. This may of turned me on to eating more artichokes.

Tomato balls (fritters) something that Santorini is known for. Other than the mint. I liked them. We got these at Anemomilos Taverna (across the street from our Perivolas market. I don't recommend going here unless you want to nap immediately afterwards. A lot of grease and heaviness packed into their meals.

Perivolas market. They have everything you need and reasonable prices to boot. Located right on the main walk in and out of town (Oia)

Roasted Eggplant and Fava bean dip at Sigalas Winery. I LOVE THAT FAVA DIP!
Sigalas Winery is a somewhat short walk down hill from Oia. Well worth it, we really liked it there. Prices were reasonable. You can find their menu online at 

www.domaine-sigalas.com

McDaniel's located in the heart of Fira (the next town over from Oia)  We had of course, more gyros, and they were good and cheap! Not as good as our Oia gyro place but still good.

Meteor, a very cute bar, but in my opinion terribly expensive. We got a draft "Craft" bier and they were TINY and a little over 7 euros EACH. Just wasn't worth it in my opinion.

Santorini capers being sold outside of a market in the main strip of the village. Something tells me these are not bottles straight from the factory...aka... used!






I miss you Oia!

Cheers,
WMMc

Ikies, Part II (Oia) House of the Collector

I was fortunate enough to be allowed to see one of the other units at Ikies.  My curiosity was getting the best of me.  I toured the "House of the Collector" one of their amazing villas.  Hold on to your seat because you are gonna love this place.

Now that is a villa!

Cheers,
WMMc

Santorini, Greece (Oia)

Next to Mike,  Oia (Santorini) is the love of my life.  I fell in love at first sight and missed it the minute I got in the cab for the airport.

There are so many great things I want to say about this trip so I'm gonna need to break it down into a few blogs.  Today I will begin by sharing with you the place we stayed aka my new Home Away From Away (a girl can dream can't she?)

We stayed at the Ikies (www.ikies.com) and although I can barely pronounce it correctly I absolutely love this place and everything thing about it. The staff was out of this world amazing, to the point that I would totally invite them over to hang out and we could all be friends. Simply terrific people.  Even the other guests who we met were super nice and friendly.  I miss them already and can not wait to go back. No wonder they are #1 on www.tripadvisor.com. I wanted to give them all hugs upon our departure.

We stayed in the "House of the Sailor" where we learned sailing terms like "running rigging for the staysails and spanker the jibs" (or something like that).  Here are a few pictures of snazzy pad.



This picture is of the pool, it was located in front of our balcony but done in a very private way.

Our home away from home in Oia (northern part of the island)

View to the left of our balcony

The glorious view from the inside of our place... looking out into the caldera (where I later almost drown)

Downstairs area...We even had wifi! And a complimentary bottle of local wine waiting for us

Looking in from the front door

The bed that assisting me in sleeping in my first cave house. I decided to be edgy and not make the bed prior to picture taking...

Oia loves steps... steps... steps... and more steps... these beauties allowed us to go to/from the upstairs area

View once your downstairs

I loved this cave shower

The bathroom...sorry for not picking up our dirty towels prior to picture taking... I was in a hurry...















And to save the best for last.... DRUMROLL PLEASE....

My daily breakfast on the patio... It came with our room (insert big smile)

I miss you Ikies! I hope to be back soon!

Cheers,
WMMc

Athens, Greece

Athens, Greece~ May 2010
Mike & I finally took a trip that lasted longer than 2 days somewhere. Yah!

I have been nagging him for years to go to Greece and so we finally made it! 9 glorious days! A couple in Athens and the rest in Santorini (Oia).

We started out the trip by freaking out over the news of the protesting by their Parliament.  I called our hotel and they told me we weren't even close to the area where they blew up the bank. Well... when we got there we learned it was just around the corner... Oh well...

I took pictures of it, but I'm second guessing posting them.

We stayed at the AVA Hotel located in the Plaka, our balcony had a view to the left of Hadrian's Arch and the the right was the Acropolis (yes I'm spoiled) and I also have a husband who is terribly picky when it comes to his hotel.

Yes, that's an American flag you see waving majestically from our hotel room balcony, our door opened up right where the American flag was.
www.avahotel.gr





Some Highlights of our time in Athens:

Our AVA hotel room #202:

The Parthenon (insert a dream come true here)

Tasty Greek food & beverages by the bay at a place called Aapafka (I think)

Temple of Zeus (located beside the Hadrian's Arch)
It started with like 104 columns and today only 15/16 remain. The last column fell during a storm in 1852.

Acropolis behind me (can't help but smile when I type that)

Changing of the guards at Parliament

www.brettosplaka.com

 Brettos, a very cute place to have a drink. However, we didn't actually like the drinks we ordered. I actually ordered a rum cocktail, a specialty of theirs, and Mike ordered Ouzo. Both were bad, at least in our opinion. Next time I will stick to beer or order some of their wine. It's a place cute enough to go back to. Located in the Plaka.


We also had dinner and then lunch the next day at a place called Moma Rest & Cafe, their Greek Salad is one of the best that we have ever had. Risotto was oh so tasty! Fava Bean Dip was delicious and not what we expected. Mike got a grilled platter and loved it.



Just a couple not so great moments:

Mike's sun burn. OUCH! He even got burned on the backs of his knees. Double Ouch!

• Another low moment was when yet another taxi driver ripped us off. Fare should of been 7 and he charged us 15 and tried to push us to eat at his buddies restaurant. No worries though because I tracked his butt down and told him off afterward. Those guys give cabbies a bad reputation.

• Oh yeah, one more thing DO NOT DO THE CITY SIGHTSEEING TOUR it is 18 Euros and SUCKS. Do the 5 euro train ride instead. It does the exact same route. The bus tour was awful. Lesson learned.

• We flew Olympic Airlines there and then again to Santorini. I gotta admit these guys are new, but definitely know what they are doing.

Off to Santorini! Happy 6th Wedding Anniversary!


Cheers,
WMMc