Greece

Gyros in Greece

In the summer of 2021, seven friends and I booked a-week long vacation to Crete, Greece. My American ass did not even know where Greece was on a map, but I sure knew how beautiful it was and how much I would love visiting!

If there was any vacation that I did not know that I needed, it was this one! From start to finish, it was a dream come true. Vodka shots on deck, a pool at our disposal, and plenty of Greek salads.

18 year old Tina, graduating from high school with her best friends, would never in her life believe that she would be in Greece on a German vacation! I mention that because everyone I went with spoke German as their native language, so of course, we spoke German non-stop. I am not going to lie, it did get a bit frustrating at times because my native language is of course, English, but I still loved it. You see, I live for the struggle; in a way, one could say I am addicted to it. And going on vacation with seven native German speakers, was a struggle. Yes, I am fluent in German, and speak German about 90% of the time, but it is not my native language, and I have yet to master it. Nonetheless, the beautiful souls that I was with made me feel 100% accepted despite my language barrier. They even translated our game cards when we played German charades.

Our accommodation, rental cars, and everything organizational was planned by the wonderful Herr Happy.

Please enjoy these photos and distract yourself from my level of corniness.

For the duration of the vacation I learned Italian dances, shared stories about the origin of my middle name, killed it in pool volleyball, fell down stairs, and had the time of my life with some of the most incredible people I have yet to meet. This vacation was the perfect mixture of group activities and alone time. We often went out together to explore the island and have dinner, but I also spent some much needed alone time working out or reading in my bedroom.

For me, this trip replaced years of negative friendship experiences, with a plethora of positive ones. Part of the reason why this trip was so incredible is because I was laughing from start to finish. I had heart-to-hearts with people I never expected to have heart-to-hearts with, I felt comfortable in my skin and body, and most importantly, I enjoyed every part of this experience. Real, raw, and refreshing; just the way I like it.

Fresh-pressed orange juice wherever we went, amazing conversation, top of the line customer service, and extremely high quality food. Yes, I did have a Gyro in Greece and it was the most delicious Gyro I have ever eaten in my life. Not to mention my love to Feta cheese simply skyrocketed.

Oh! This was also the first time that I enjoyed summer weather. In Minnesota, where I am from, summers are sticky and humid, just like they are in Cologne, Germany; where I now live. But in Crete, Greece, I experienced dry heat for the first time in my life. Temperatures were easily above 100 degrees Fahreinheit (around 37.8 degrees Celsius), but I did not hate it. That is saying a lot coming from me. I hate summer more than I hated the American president that proceeded Obama. My point is, even the weather did not disappoint.

If you are ever considering a trip to Greece, I would highly recommend Crete!