With the beautiful Athens background, our guide and host, Danae Kousouri, giving her farewell and wrap-up speech at our farewell dinner. As we depart, another Rick Steves tour is beginning its journey of Greece. I’ve learned so much and seen so much in two weeks…that I am not the same person…so I wish them well on their journey! Texas, here I come! May 30, 2015

My buddy, Ken…It’s been great to have a buddy looking out for me…thanks Ken! May 30, 2015

My Greece tour roommate, Rosanne (Rosie) Zafferano-Smith, along with Alice and Tammy…whom I met and hung out with from Turkey to Samos to Greece gather for our farewell dinner in Athens. Alice and Tammy have taught me a lot about food and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed their vibrant company. May 30, 2015

My four-week adventure is coming to a close, but here I am enjoying my last evening with this beautiful night view of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, as a backdrop.
And truth be told, I’m ready to go home. I miss my family, my friends, my bed and my routine. But in a couple of months, I’ll be ready to plan my next adventure…I hear Eastern Europe calling my name. May 30, 2015

The Temple of Hephaistos at the Agora is considered to be the best-preserved and most typical of all the Greek temples. Started in 450 B.C., just before the Parthenon, it was built at Athen’s peak as part of the massive reconstruction of the Agora after invading Persians destroyed the city (480 B.C.) But the temple wasn’t completed until 415 B.C. as work stalled when the Greeks started erecting the buildings of the Acropolis. May 30, 2015

A decked out statue of Emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117-138) at the ancient Agora in Athens, Greece shows Romulus and Remus, being suckled by the she-wolf who supports Athena on its back, carved onto the insignia of Hadrian’s breastplate. May 30, 2015

Inside the Chora Church in Istanbul. May 5, 2015

Inside the Chora Church in Istanbul. May 5, 2015

After a full day of walking, came the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. This is entrance number one and its best to know where you enter because it is a maze of streets under one roof. May 5, 2015

Before arriving in Kardamyli, our group had a vegetarian feast for lunch and a beautiful view of the Greek countryside. Greek salad, rice mixed with spinach, black-eyed peas mixed with greens, eggplant and potato wedges covered in olive oil, garlic and sprinkled lightly with cheese. May 22, 2015

The beautiful bougainvillea at the restaurant we ate at for lunch today. May 22, 2015

The town of Delphi has two sets of these stairs for the townspeople who live and work along the mountainside. Yikes, that’s a lot of steps. May 20, 2015

This is pork in a lemon sauce, also a choice from tonight’s dinner.

For the food lovers…this is Rooster and pasta, one of the meal choices from tonight’s dinner in Lagkadia. This is the main meal that comes after a Greek salad and other edible goodies. May 21, 2015

And this is the view I saw from the restaurant after the hike and a shower. Grilled fish, Greek salad, two glasses of white wine and a bottle of water with Advocare’s Spark and Re-Hydrate mixed in…thank you Sydney Wells for keeping me supplied. May 23, 2015