10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Turkey

Continued our journey from Greece to Turkey on our 10-day Mediterranean cruise 🇹🇷 It’s probably my least favorite country I’ve visited.

📍Kusadasi, Turkey 

📍İstanbul, Turkey 

📍Attractions: The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar.

It is very crowded, with both locals and tourists. We were constantly approached by aggressive carpet, leather, jewelry sellers. The experience was rather overwhelming. On a positive note, Turkey is a country with a rich history, beautiful landscapes and vibrant culture. If you’re going to visit just one tourist attraction in Istanbul, I’d make it the Blue Mosque. It’s truly beautiful! Glad we got to see all the main big attractions of the city but honestly, Istanbul is not a destination I’d go back. Up next, Italy!

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10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Turkey

10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Greece

My husband and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary last September. We took an incredible 10-day Mediterranean cruise sans kids and we loved it so much. I wanted to share our experiences just in case you're interested. There were 2 of us, 4 countries, 10 destinations and a lifetime of memories. I've done quite a bit of research and decided to go with Norwegian Cruise Line on the Viva. As with everything in life, cruises have their pros and cons. Depends on what you’re looking for. A cruise could be the perfect vacation. For our anniversary, I wanted to sample the Mediterranean countries but didn’t want to deal with different airports, pack/unpack multiple times and plan activities for 11 days. We booked the 10-Day Mediterranean cruise with NCL almost a year ago and couldn’t be happier. Some days we were out all day and some days we just chilled by the pool. Woke up every morning to a new beautiful destination but slept on the same bed every night. I’ve been on 6 cruises with Royal Caribbean in the past but this was our first time cruising with Norwegian. The Viva made its debut in August 2023. The ship is only a year old. Everything still looks and feels brand new. While RC cruises are loaded with family-friendly attractions, NCL cruises are a bit more adult-oriented. I only saw a few kids onboard. I got to check a few destinations off my bucket list. It was a positive experience for us and we would cruise with NCL again. 

📍Athens, Greece

📍Santorini, Greece

📍Mykonos, Greece

📍Attractions: Fira, Oia, Red Beach, Paradise Beach, Kamari Beach. Three Bells of Fira.

First up is Greece 🇬🇷 We flew into Athens a day earlier just in case there were delays but thankfully, everything went smoothly. Athens is a vibrant city that worth a visit. We stayed at Nikiou Suited and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I love to experience independent/boutique hotels while traveling. The apartment is modern, absolutely spotless and the location can’t be beat. It’s walking distance to the Acropolis and lots of great restaurants and shops. From Athens, we took off to Santorini then Mykonos. Greek islands are beautiful! I can’t get enough of whitewashed houses and blue domed churches. As someone who always book things way in advance, you don’t need to do that. Taxis are readily available as soon as you get off the ship. The driver drove us around the island for 6 hours for 100 euros. It’s the best way to explore the island. In Mykonos, we took a bus to Paradise beach for 2 euros/person. Greek islands are walkable destinations. Public transportation is also great. If I have to pick between Santorini and Mykonos, my vote goes to Santorini. If you want beach time, Mykonos is a better choice but they are pebbly/rocky beaches. Those 2 are the most popular ones but there are so many other gorgeous islands in Greece 💙 Up next, Turkey!

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10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Greece

Happy New Year! 🎉🥂

I hope you all had a Happy New Year and are staying warm. 2025, we are here! Where did the time go? Our 2024 certainly had its ups and downs. We lost my mother in law unexpectedly at the end of January. My husband lost his job 2 weeks later. Followed by a couple of trips to the ER due to health conditions. At one point, we couldn't seem to catch a break. Thankfully, things started to turn around the 2nd half of the year. My husband and I both landed a new role and we couldn't be happier. We also welcomed our new nephew to the world. Our AirBnb survived Helene and Milton with 0 damage. We went on an epic trip to celebrate our 15 year anniversary. The kids are doing well. Courtney is a sophomore and thriving. She is a busy kid with school, volunteering and shadowing medical professionals. Madelyn is in 7th grade. She brings light wherever she goes. As for us, we always have this deep desire to travel but 2024 was a year for the books. The year 2024 in travel:

• Jan - A ski trip in PA
• Feb - Seattle, WA
• March - Jamaica
• April - St. Pete, FL
• June - Honolulu and Maui, HI
• July - Chicago, IL
• Sept - France, Turkey, Italy, Greece
• Dec - New York

Here's to a fresh new year filled with success, happiness and more trips around the world (Vail, London and Switzerland are our destinations so far for 2025). I don't set goals but instead, I focus on daily intentions and making every day more productive. I am a list lover! I have several to-do lists on my phone. They keep me focused. Ticking off a to-do list is so satisfying. Complete a bunch of small accomplishments will make up a big achievement at the end of the year. Here's to 2025! Link to my dress here.

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Happy New Year! 🎉🥂

Hawaii Recap :: Oahu

From Maui, we took a short flight to the island of Oahu. I decided to stay in Waikiki because we didn't have a rental car. Parking can be super expensive and challenging in Waikiki. We took a doors-off helicoper ride over Oahu. A bucket list item for sure. To see the island from the air was awe inspiring. The experience was a thrill of a lifetime. That was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. We were able to squeeze some of most popular tourist attractions in 3 days. All in all, we love Hawaii. It was my 2nd time being in Hawaii. My husband and Madelyn's first time. Such a beautiful state. We'll be back for sure.

Locations/points of interest/companies we have used:

🏨 Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach

👨‍🏭 Pearl Harbor National Memorial

🚁 Magnum Helicopters

🦐 Giovanni's Shrimp Truck - OMG! Mouth watering

⛰️ Diamond Head State Monument

🐠 Shark's Cove in North Shore - Absolutely amazing!

🐠 Hanauma Bay - This is the #1 spot for snorkeling in Oahu. You need a reservation in advance. If you cannot get a reservation, try Shark's Cove. It's just as amazing.

🌺 Toa Luau - Recommend to book in advance

🛍️ Ala Moana shopping center

🚘 Used Turo for one-day car rental to visit North Shore

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Hawaii Recap :: Oahu

Hawaii Recap :: Maui

Sharing our trip to Hawaii back in June. It's probably one of our top 3 favorite destinations we've visited. Such a beautiful state with lots of stuff to see and do. We started our trip in Maui. We rented an Airbnb in Kihei. It's a little dated but the location is amazing! The condo is located steps away from Kamaoke beach. It's walking distance to everything. Also, it has an in unit washer/dryer which I love. I intended to do laundry before we take off for the 2nd part of the trip. Those who know me know that I never check a bag when I fly. No matter how far/long I travel, I always travel with a carry on. To be able to do laundry during the trip was definitely a plus. We rented a Jeep Willys and it was so much fun to drive.

Locations/points of interest/companies we used:

📍Airbnb in Kihei

📍 Napili Beach

🧑‍🍳 Mama's Fish House - Need a reservation in advance. It is a fine dining restaurant, so it is on the higher end for pricing, but well worth it.

📍Twin Falls - Mile Marker 2

📍 Waikamoi Ridge Trail - Mile Marker 10

🍞 Aunty Sandy's banana bread - Mile Marker 10 - Recommended by Gordon Ramsey

📍 Honokalani Black Sand Beach - Mile Marker 32. Maui's famous black sand beach. It was created hundreds of years ago from the flowing lava of volcanoes

📍 Ho'okipa beach - It was amazing to see massive sea turtles sunbathing

🍧 Ululani's - We got fish tacos and shaved ice to end a beautiful day in Maui

🚙 White Glove car rental - It's a small business. Highly recommend

🌊 Maui Waveriders for surfing lessons

⛰️ Skyline Hawaii for zipline adventure

While in Maui, Madelyn took a surfing lesson. She did so well. The next day, we drove to Napili beach. Hawaii beaches have some of the softest sand I've been experienced. It's unreal! Ended night 2 at Mama's Fish House. I made a reservation 6 months in advance. Such a beautiful setting with the best food, service and ambiance!

We woke up early on day 3 and start the famous Road To Hana drive. It's such a long and beautiful drive that features incredible signs and stops. The last day in Maui, we went zip-lining before taking a short flight to Oahu. This is one thing I probably would have skipped. I've done it several times in other countries so this particular one didn't wow me. If I could plan this trip all over again, I'd include Haleakala Crater Trail but there's always next time. Stay tuned for part 2 of our trip in Oahu! 🌺

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Hawaii Recap :: Maui