Greek Islands Mykonos and Santorini

blood roofs of Santorini

The famous blue roofs of Santorini, Greece.

Santorini was one of the stops on our cruise that I was really interested in visiting.  I had originally hoped we could stay on the island for a few days on our own prior to the cruise.  I pictured it a much more quaint island than it was.  It was mostly packed with tourists waiting in long lines at spots made famous, or infamous, through Instagram and other social venues.  We were one of four large cruise ships invading this tiny island.  Mykonos was more of a pleasant stroll in comparison.  Both islands showed off the beautiful architecture and the white and blue of the Greek Islands.

Continue reading

Chipping Campdon, England (the Cotswalds)

Row Houses

There is not a single new looking building in this quaint old town that has managed to retain loads of charm and avoid all forms of commercialism.  Closer inspection will reveal that many of the homes are recently built, but are of a similar quarried yellow stone so they all fit into this old town feel.  They may be adjacent to an authentic thatched roof home dating back hundreds of years.
Continue reading