Greece

UPDATE (December 27 - January 3)

I stepped through the last set of automatic doors in the Athens Airport and scanned the crowd. Two figures jumped up and down, waving. I raced over and they pulled me into their embrace. Finally, finally, we were back together again, my beautiful mother, my brilliant sister, and I.

SANTORINI

The weather report predicted inclement weather for our time on the island of Santorini. "No, we don't get hurricanes in the Mediterranean," our hotel concierge assured my mother. Even still, it poured and poured as thunder rolled overhead and wind ripped through the steep and narrow footpaths, which made for quite the terrifying combination considering the town of Oia clings to a cliff. As my mother put it, "I think we experienced Santorini's first hurricane."

Luckily, on our last day, the sun mustered strength enough to break through the clouds and we enjoyed a glimpse of the honeymoon worthy Santorini. 

And, of course, the most important part was just being together :) 

ATHENS

My mother found an Athens street art tour, a great way to get to know a city's hidden gems! Our guide introduced us to some rough areas but we were inspired by the beauty created despite and because of the challenges the inhabitants face.

We also experienced the classic, touristy side of Athens: ancient ruins! Coming from Rome, the abundance of ruins did not surprise me, but I still struggled to wrap my head around the age of the detailed carvings and structures.

A piece of a column on the Acropolis. Probably 5th century BC.

Row of columns in the Roman Agora. 1st century BC.

We saw many incredible sights, but the Acropolis took the prize as my favorite.

First, the Parthenon exceeded expectations.

The surrounding architecture does not disappoint either.

The views are absolutely INSANE. I didn't realize how extremely massive Athens was until standing atop the Acropolis. 

We also had a blast ringing in the New Year in Athens, but it wasn't full of all the fanfare that we're used to in the States. We shared a nice dinner and dessert, then headed up to a rooftop bar as the clock approached midnight.

11:59 pm. Why aren't people starting to stand and where is the countdown clock?

11:59:30 pm. Now people are starting to stand, but seriously, where's the countdown?

11:59:57 pm. "Three, Two, One! Happy New Year!" What about counting down from 10?! 

12:00 am. **Cheering, fireworks**

12:01 am. Everyone returned to drinking and talking, like any other night. 

5:00 am. I helped my mom and sister bring their bags to the metro the next morning for their flight home. Partiers dotted the streets, still making their way back from the clubs and bars.

While I didn't want to see my mother and sister go, part of me celebrated the return to solo travel. The addition of two more, very strong, opinions had tested my patience and required much deep breathing. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.

Looking back, my 2016 held risks, rewards, new friends, new experiences and new clarity. And, since this post is 6 months late, I can say that 2017 is on track to follow suit.

Oh, one last thought: I do not recommend fish pedicures.