Unlike my other four weeks, I spent the weekend out of Ireland. After a rough wake-up call at 3 a.m., Kayla and I caught a bus to the airport to fly to Skiathos, Greece! Greece is officially my favorite country I have ever visited. Being away from the more touristy towns allowed us to talk to the locals and not be overwhelmed by crowds. We spent one night in Skiathos, filling our day with shopping, eating, and relaxation.
Our final destination was Skopelos, better known as Mamma Mia Island, so we had cabs, ferries, and flights to catch. After being in Ireland, the sun and the ocean were a sight I quite missed. This time of year, Greece isn’t too hot, with the highest temperatures only reaching 83 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for me. Compared to northern and western Europe, Greece is so much more affordable! I loved not having to spend more than 3 euros on an entire liter of water and get amazing food for under 10 euros!
THE FOOD!!
The food is soooo good!
In Skiathos, we went to a little mom-and-pop shop, where I got grilled cheese-stuffed squid. We sat outside in a secluded alley, which sounds a bit scary on this blog, but it was gorgeous—just like the movies! We got gyros and giant pita sandwiches right before we went back home. Delicious! In Skopelos, we splurged and went to this beautiful fancy restaurant. Again, we sat outside and enjoyed the amazing weather. I had the best scallops of my life and tried moussaka for the first time. It is now my favorite food, and I can’t wait to make it when I get back home and have an oven.
The beaches were what we came to Greece for. The rocks are not my favorite, but I had no complaints. After a steep hike up to the Mamma Mia chapel, I could not wait to jump into the water. The beaches are very private, so we were the only ones there for most of the three hours we swam. What is surprising is that the ocean water doesn’t get warm! It stays cool and refreshing, a stark difference from New Jersey beaches. Kayla and I loved the beach so much that we woke up at four the following day to get a morning swim before leaving for the airport.
This was an amazing trip where I felt like a totally independent and capable adult. I am super grateful to be in Dublin, where trips like these are possible. Of course, I’m extremely thankful to Kayla, who really took me under her wing; I wouldn’t have wanted to be there with anyone else!!
Stella, I completely agree! I could not imagine this trip being even half as amazing as it was with anyone other than you! Thank you for pushing me to try new things and really make the most of our trip <3