The majority of our vacation was spent at a conference center on the island of Evia, off of the Eastern coast of Greece. It was beautiful, green, and sunny. Hot enough to swim and enjoy the water but still a good 30 degrees cooler than what we were used to in the UAE.
To be honest, I don't have many memories from this time. Ian and I were there for a conference that had childcare so it was a definite vacation for us. We would wake up, go down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, drop the girls off with some awesome childcare workers who had come all the way from the States to take care of the kids, then sit in meetings and seminars all day.
We got to eat lunch every day without the kids and catch up with old friends of our who were there for the conference as well. In the afternoon, we would finish at 3 pm, pick the girls up, change for the pool and swim until 6 or 7.
Yes, it was definitely Grace's favorite memory to date. She loved going to "class" all day and loved swimming all afternoon. She loved getting to choose her own food at the buffet and getting ice cream at the pool and after dinner. A preschooler's paradise.
Grace got much more comfortable swimming in the awesome pool there. She would lay on her belly in the shallows, submerge her face and swim for a couple of feet before coming up. And every time she would stand up and cheer. She was so proud of herself!
Sophia had a great time too but she is much more along for the ride at this age.
One night the childcare workers watched the kids for all of the parents and the conference arranged for a special dinner at a local Greek farm out in the mountains. We sat outside underneath the trees, ate delicious foods, and watched a performance of the local dance. They invited us all to join in and though I wanted to, and knew that Ian would if I really asked him to, I knew he wouldn't really want to do that, so we didn't. Ha. I regret that now. I wish we had done joined in.
One evening we went into the nearest seaside village for dinner (Pork!) and ice cream with our dearest friends. It was such a good time for our hearts to be refreshed and spend time with people who understand our passion and calling.
The conference workers also put on a 4th of July party for all of us and we had such a good time. They blasted American patriotic music and had watermelon and ice cream and games for everyone to participate in. I most loved watching other hotel guests wander in to the outdoor amphitheater thinking it was a hotel event, trying to figure out what was going on.
When the conference was over, we were supposed to be flying to Santorini for our "real" Greek experience. But, due to a miscommunication from the booking site, we didn't go but still had to pay. Good times. We decided to cut our losses and not try to go out there and book at another place last minute. Instead we stayed on at the conference center a few more days. We had some friends who were staying as well and it was good to get all caught up after the hubub of the conference was over.
We went into town with them one day and did a little souvenir shopping before eating on the beach. It was such a beautiful place. We went down to the beach twice as well, as the temperature dropped a little bit and made the pool a little too chilly for my desert babies' comfort.
It really was a great trip but rather uneventful. I am sad that we didn't get to explore more of Greece and see more of the sights. Ian and I have added it to our list of places that we want to go together, sans children. It would be such a romantic, interesting place!
To be honest, I don't have many memories from this time. Ian and I were there for a conference that had childcare so it was a definite vacation for us. We would wake up, go down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, drop the girls off with some awesome childcare workers who had come all the way from the States to take care of the kids, then sit in meetings and seminars all day.
Yes, it was definitely Grace's favorite memory to date. She loved going to "class" all day and loved swimming all afternoon. She loved getting to choose her own food at the buffet and getting ice cream at the pool and after dinner. A preschooler's paradise.
Grace got much more comfortable swimming in the awesome pool there. She would lay on her belly in the shallows, submerge her face and swim for a couple of feet before coming up. And every time she would stand up and cheer. She was so proud of herself!
Sophia had a great time too but she is much more along for the ride at this age.
One night the childcare workers watched the kids for all of the parents and the conference arranged for a special dinner at a local Greek farm out in the mountains. We sat outside underneath the trees, ate delicious foods, and watched a performance of the local dance. They invited us all to join in and though I wanted to, and knew that Ian would if I really asked him to, I knew he wouldn't really want to do that, so we didn't. Ha. I regret that now. I wish we had done joined in.
One evening we went into the nearest seaside village for dinner (Pork!) and ice cream with our dearest friends. It was such a good time for our hearts to be refreshed and spend time with people who understand our passion and calling.
The conference workers also put on a 4th of July party for all of us and we had such a good time. They blasted American patriotic music and had watermelon and ice cream and games for everyone to participate in. I most loved watching other hotel guests wander in to the outdoor amphitheater thinking it was a hotel event, trying to figure out what was going on.
When the conference was over, we were supposed to be flying to Santorini for our "real" Greek experience. But, due to a miscommunication from the booking site, we didn't go but still had to pay. Good times. We decided to cut our losses and not try to go out there and book at another place last minute. Instead we stayed on at the conference center a few more days. We had some friends who were staying as well and it was good to get all caught up after the hubub of the conference was over.
It really was a great trip but rather uneventful. I am sad that we didn't get to explore more of Greece and see more of the sights. Ian and I have added it to our list of places that we want to go together, sans children. It would be such a romantic, interesting place!
1 comment:
Ahhhh.... is what I think when I think of Greece. (Not so much the not sleeping part...but the rest of it!) I think we need a couples vacation BEDOON children!
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