Solo Trip to Greece

About a month had passed since my trip to Kazakhstan. Still overwhelmed by the grandeur of nature and lingering in its afterglow, I found myself soothing my wanderlust by watching travel YouTube videos and tourism clips. It was during this time that a country I hadn’t even considered caught my eye—Greece. Greece, a country famous for the Acropolis, Zakynthos (popularized by the drama "Descendants of the Sun"), the stunning island of Santorini, and numerous picturesque rural villages. Despite its beauty and fame, it’s oddly a place not many people seem to have visited personally. As I started diving into materials and videos about Greece, I soon realized that my mind was already busy planning a detailed itinerary for a trip there. And so, in September, I boarded a flight to Greece to embark on my adventure. However, the journey didn’t start smoothly. My flight to Athens was delayed by a whopping four hours, leaving me to spend a sleepless night at the airport. As someone who thrives on structure, I was more stressed about my disrupted morning schedule than the fatigue itself. Eventually, I arrived in Athens and headed straight to the Acropolis, only to face another setback. Due to its immense popularity, the site limits the number of visitors per day, and I couldn’t get in. Swallowing my disappointment, I explored the nearby Agora of Athens instead, which somewhat eased my frustration and helped me wrap up the day. On the second day, I planned to visit Meteora and had reserved a rental car. But to my dismay, I realized I had lost my international driver’s license, rendering me unable to pick up the car and losing the reservation fee. I ended up renting a car at the airport, only to face another challenge—the car broke down in the middle of the highway. Despite these hurdles, I found joy in the unexpected. I hitchhiked for the first time, spent time in an unnamed rural village (whose name I still don’t know), and shared meals with local residents. These experiences, though unplanned, were unique and memorable—something you can’t easily replicate even if you try. The rest of the trip went relatively smoothly. I explored various areas in Zakynthos, enjoyed sightseeing in Santorini, and kept myself busy discovering new places. One thing to note is that domestic flights in Greece are notorious for delays, so I recommend keeping your schedule flexible. Luckily, I didn’t experience any delays despite my tightly packed itinerary. As for the food, while it’s slightly salty overall, it’s far from unpalatable. In fact, it suits the Korean palate quite well and is delicious. For those considering a trip to Greece, I highly recommend venturing beyond the famous spots like Athens and Crete. Exploring less touristy islands or regions can offer a truly rewarding experience.