Goddessing in Greece

At the time of writing this, I’m tucked in bed (or how I prefer to call it, home office), covered with my mermaid blanket (this is a thing, serious). Yellow leaves and gloomy skies are all I see out of the window from my flat in London, telling that, yes, autumn is here. This might be some people’s favourite season but for me it means the start of colder, shorter days, boots instead of flip flops and scarves, gloves, beanies instead of swimsuits, sunglasses and wet, salty hair. To cheer myself up I’m revisiting the sunny memories from my trip to Greece. I hope they’ll bring some sunshine to your day too.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak at the first Digital Fashion Forum in Athens, which meant I spent a few days in and around the historical capital of Europe and the nearby islands. 

Athens’ long, fascinating history makes the city an attractive modern metropolis with unrivalled charm. A large part of the town’s historical centre is actually converted into a 3-kilometre pedestrian zone (the largest in Europe), leading to major archaeological sites. If you can only choose to see one of those historical sites, be sure to head to the Acropolis – a key symbol of the Greek legacy and the glories of classical Greece. The ancient citadel is on a rather rocky top above the city, which makes for a breathtaking view of Athens. It was at the Acropolis where every four years, citizens held a festival called the Panathenaea that rivaled the Olympic Games in popularity. You’ll find yourself feeling like a Greek goddess as you walk past the remains of the ancient buildings. So plenty photo opps.

After a solid couple of hours soaking up sun and knowledge about Greece’s history at the Acropolis, we chose the exquisite Grande Bretagne Hotel for a relaxing afternoon. The hotel’s award-winning roof garden bar and restaurant was the perfect spot for magnificent views of the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill and the Parliament while enjoying the finest and most beautiful cocktails in the city.

I tried to see as many places as possible during my stay, so for one day, we jumped on a cruise to discover three of the nearby islands in the Saronic Gulf – Hydra, Poros and Aegina.

Hydra is undoubtedly my favourite of the three. The island is beloved by painters, photographers and jetsetters all around the world. No cars are allowed on Hydra but you can walk everywhere or take the local mean of transport – a donkey ride. There are many unique art, craft and jewelry shop and the clothing is mostly influenced by nautical and marine trends, perfect for the lifestyle there. I made quite a few friends there. Most notably, tons of fabulous cats and my mermaid twin.

Poros’ narrow and long streets are ideal for fun, uninterrupted walks from the top of the island down to the port where you can see more shops or wine and dine at the local cafes and restaurants. The place is not so much touristy as it gives you a taste of what the local life is like at the island – calm, unpretentious and relaxed.

Now brace yourself because Aegina will drive you nuts. No joke. The island produces the best pistachios in the world and for a nut-junkie like me it felt like paradise! Want something more? Try the pistachio ice cream (you can find it pretty much everywhere in Greece) for a sensational tasting experience. For an exploratory tour of the island, make sure to visit the temple of Aphaea and the Monastery of St Nectarios. I went for a more relaxing option and took a walk along the beautiful beaches of Aegina, devouring the biggest pistachio ice cream before boarding on the catamaran back to Athens.

Athens was a fabulous way to extend your summer with a few more days of sunshine.