We started our trip in Athens. We stayed in Monastiraki which was a perfect location. The flea market and city square were full of life at all times of day. We arrived in the evening, settled into our hotel - which had a beautiful roof top view of Athens and the Acropolis - and found our first greek restuarant with outdoor seating and live music. A perfect start to the trip.
On our first full day we visited the Anicent Agora (city), Zeus's temple and the Roman Agora/Tower of the Winds.
Sidenote story: Paul and Donna bought these watercolors from this nice and talented artist. It was mesmorizing to watch him paint from memory. Afterwards we walked to the Tower of the Winds and toured around those ruins. Harvey was being cute and Harvey told me to "hurry, take a picture". About an hour later (after the site had closed) we realized I'd set down the watercolors and forgotten them. Paul ran back and all the gates were locked shut. I was so mad at myself for being careless and I wanted to make it right. I went back to the ruins while Donna, Paul and Harvey went back to the hotel. I though about hoping the fence - I knew right where I'd left the prints, and was scouting out a good spot to jump when I noticed survellience cameras. I decided I probably didn't want to risk ending up in jail. Then I noticed on the gate a phone number for the security office. I noticed two women about my age hanging out nearby so I asked them if they could help me out and call the number. They were so nice, helped me out and invited me to sit and chat with them while we waited for the security guard. He came about 10 minutes later, let me in to grab the prints, held me hostage to talk about the US Presidential race for a few minutes and then let me back out of the gates (that part was actually kind of freaky). I went back to the hotel beaming with joy that I'd saved the prints. Donna and Paul laughed and said "of course she would figure it out!". I also realized that our tickets to the museums and our ferry tickets were also with the prints - it was a very expensive mistake and I'm so glad it worked out. PHEW!
The print-losing picture. :)
On our second full day we visited the Acropolis (Parthenon, Athenas Temple, Erechteum, Temple of Nike, Theatre of Dionysus) and the Library of Hadrian. Paul and Donna also visited Keramikos/Ceramicus while I stayed with Harvey at the hotel.
Harvey played on these rocks forever. Pretending they were slides, finding interesting pebbles, and making all the tourists laugh. He's not asleep here, just reaching for a cool rock.
The next day we took a ferry to an Island in the Cyclades - Paros. It was beautiful and quiet there. I loved the whitewashed walls and blue doors, Paul loved the sunsets, Donna love everything (okay we all did) :), and Harvey loved the "kittycats". 
Meow! Harvey is standing in front of the Frankish castle here. Super cool, old, and built from materials from other ancient temples.
The next day was my birthday! We toured the island of Paros, had a picnic, and went swimming in the Mediterranean. The water was beautiful and we loved the rock formations too. We watched another sunset from our perfect spot and I reviewed the goals I'd set for my 29th year and made some new ones for this coming year. That night we visited the Panagia Ekatontapiliani - probably the coolest church I've ever been in. Rugged and beautiful. We had a nice dinner and ice cream instead of cake where some nice girls sang me the Greek version of happy birthday. It was a really amazing birthday.
Our next stop was Santorini. We took a ferry there. We stayed in Oia (or Ia) in a traditional cave house. The sunset view was crowded with tourists but still really neat to see. It's one of the most famous sunset spots in the world.
On Friday we visited the other end of the island. Akrotiri was a city that began around 4,000 B.C (!!!). Around 1700 BC it was buried by a volcanic eruption, much like the more famous Pompeii. There were the most amazing things, pots still in tact (Harvey called them BB8s), advanced building structures. It was so cool. After that we went to the Red Beach of Santorini. It was beautiful and an even warmer day for a swim. I fulfilled my Greece dream of cliff (or small rock) jumping there. We spent the bright afternoon and evening back in Oia. We found the bookstore of our dreams - every single thing about made our hearts happy. We never met the owner but he is a kindred spirit.
On Saturday morning we had one last balcony view breakfeast, did a final hike around Santorini (up and down the cliff stairs with Harvey on my back), found the place I think Lena and Kostas fell in love when she fell in the water :), and enjoyed the tourquise water and white city on the cliffs one last time before our flight back to Athens.
I am so glad we made this Greece trip happen. It was perfect in so many ways - weather, experiences, accomodations, company. Harvey really made the trip so much fun. I love having him by our side whenever we go.
