Excited to be embarking on a trip back to Greece, a place I love so much. September is the very best time to be in the Greek Islands (in my opinion) – the big crowds are gone (kids back to school in most countries), the weather not quite as hot but the sea water still warm from a summer of sunshine.

My dream has always been to spend the month of September in Greece – and while this trip is just short of three weeks, it feels luxurious and rewarding to keep this dream alive.

This trip will include Naxos, my third time on this wonderful island. Naxos has a VERY small airport, which makes it accessible from Athens. This puts me in the Cycladic Islands which is my favorite set of islands in Greece. From Naxos I’ll ferry to Amorgos, an island I heard of from my dear friend Michele Doyle. Michele had shared that a good friend has been visiting Amorgos for several years doing yoga retreats. Amorgos is off the beaten path a bit, and I’m anxious to experience it. I learned that Michele’s friend is in Amorgos during my visit and I’ll meet her – in fact, we learned via Facebook that we are staying at the same hotel. A nice surprise.

From Amorgos I’ll take a longer ferry route down to Crete. A ferry from Amorgos goes to Santorini, and from there I’ll connect to another ferry to Rethymno. Let’s hope the Greek ferry system cooperates with no wind delays and no ferry strikes. I’ll spend a few days in Rethymno, then to Chania Crete. These are two very old cities on the northern coast. Crete is the largest of Greek Islands, and I’m excited to explore it. Crete is known throughout Greece for its’ Cretan Food and Cretan Hospitality. Anxious to experience this for myself! As the largest island, Crete grows most of its’ own food. I’ll do a cooking class there and learn more about what makes it unique.

Today my challenge is getting things packed into carryon – perhaps the best challenge of the trip. It’s painful but necessary as I’m moving around a lot. Having said that, my bags will expand with each stop picking up local products like olive oil and honey. I’ve packed away an expandable bag that will be full by the time I head back to the US. Coupled with a few hours at the Athens airport shops, I should have enough oil and honey to last a year.

As I’ve shared before, this blog serves as my traveling companion. It allows me to connect with those friends that are close enough (or kind enough) to follow my adventure. It also allows me to save my own memories and experiences along the way.

Thank you for anyone being willing to share my journey. My hope is that I inspire you to travel to the place that you dream of – wherever it is. I also hope to inspire other solo travelers. Traveling alone can be hard and humbling, but it is also empowering. I’m so grateful for the experiences through my solo travels and also the friends I’ve met along the way. I’m always moved by the kindness of strangers that lean in to make my trip safe and easier.