30/11/2023
Have you ever been on a trip where you knew there was no way it could measure up to the expectations? And then it blew them out of the water? The very first big trip I ever booked was to Greece. I was very young and it was my dream trip and always at the very top of my travel list. I scrimped and saved until I could finally go. I loved the history and I couldn't wait to explore. Just before the trip was to take place I was hospitalized with pneumonia.
I was devastated and it took me a few years to decide to go again. I scrimped and saved and then finally made all of the arrangements only to come down with pneumonia again! I have now had pneumonia 3 times in my life and I decided that it was a message and I had to give up my dream of going to Greece.
Fast forward several years and I am talking with Mario about travel dreams and he can't believe that I never tried to go to Greece again. I have been to numerous places since then, but never tried Greece again. So he says to me 'we are going to Greece'!
We booked and prepaid for everything in early 2020 for a trip that June, and then guess what? COVID hit! I told Mario 'see, now you know why I should never try to go to Greece'! Although not pneumonia, it still felt reminiscent of the time! We had credit for flights and all of our accommodations and sightseeing ventures, but I was still devastated once again! Three strikes and your out, so what was the point of trying again!
In 2021, Greece was the first European country to open back up for tourism. I decided to let destiny make a stand and we used all of our credits and I rebooked everything for June 2021. By this time, I had 45 years of anticipation built up and I knew I would like Greece, but I had no idea what was in store for us.
Mario and I arrived into Greece on the first day they had reopened for tourism and we were greeted like celebrities all throughout the airport. They knew we signaled that the end was in sight and tourism would get back to normal We were treated like this everywhere we went and we fell in love with not only the country, but the people as well.
I knew that 45 years of anticipation would probably end with some disappointments, but boy was I wrong! It surpassed all expectations and every dream came true! It was only on the 4th attempt that I finally made a life long dream come true, but come true it did!
Odeon of Herodes Atticus at the Acropolis in Athens.