How We Found Ourselves on a Rick Steve’s Tour, with Friends, Having the Adventure of a Lifetime
Let’s start at the beginning…
This year, Scott and I wanted to do something different. Something epic.
But also – let’s be honest – we were tired.
Our friends Camilla and Allan had already gone on several Rick Steves trips and came back glowing. Not “nice vacation” glowing – the why didn’t we do this sooner glowing. They talked about the variety of activities, the depth of experience, and the absolute luxury of not having to do any of the work.
Now, historically, we were that couple. The planners. The researchers. The ones who came home to texts from friends asking for itineraries, locations, and links to “that amazing place you stayed.” We loved the hunt – combing the internet, scouring forums, finding just the right location that let us do all the things we love.
But life shifted.
Scott launched his tax business in 2020. My own work picked up momentum after a leadership change. And suddenly, the idea of researching, planning, and executing a complicated international trip felt less exciting and more… exhausting.
So we did something new.
We signed up for a 14 day Rick Steves Europe tour, to Greece, with another couple. The catch? The trip was already booked.
So we got on a waitlist.
And then we waited.
…the most stressful part of the entire Rick Steves experience was waiting to see if we we could get in.
Looking back, this was the most stressful part of the entire Rick Steves experience. Even after customer service kindly told us they were “99% sure” we’d get the email letting us know we could complete the sign up, trusting the waitlist required a level of patience I do not naturally possess.
Letting go of control. Trusting the system. Deep breaths.
Eventually, we got the email.
We were in!!!
Preparing for our Trip – Packing, Repacking (and Repacking Yet Again)
Once our group of four was officially confirmed and deposits were sent, it was time to prepare – the Rick Steves way. This meant rethinking everything we thought we knew about packing.
We are the people who travel with snorkel gear, water shoes, beach towels, snacks, electronics, and enough outfit options that our photos don’t look like they were all taken on the same day. Minimalists, we are not.
Finding the right luggage became a project onto itself. After watching more YouTube videos than I care to admit – pros, cons, spinners vs. backpacks – Scott committed to a new travel backpack, while I went with a properly sized, carry on rolling suitcase. A bold departure for both of us.
Then came the great paring down.
Pack. Unpack. Re-evaluate. Pack again.
Repeat. And repeat again.
The race to prioritize was real. And while we mostly stuck the landing, we did allow ourselves one packable “cheater bag” for bringing home treasures.
Here’s the thing: our preparation was gold.
Rick Steves didn’t leave us guessing. The guidebooks, packing videos, audio guides, and clear instructions gave us confidence we weren’t just pulling advice from the depths of the internet and hoping for the best. We had good information – and it paid off.
By the time we reached the airport, we felt ready. And that readiness let us fully enjoy what turned out to be one of the best trips of our lives.
Trying Something New
We tried something new on this trip that wasn’t on the list: Flykitt. Their tagline “The All-In-One System for Healthy Travel – built on research with Navy SEALs and fighter pilots” sounds a little dramatic, but hear me out. It’s designed to eliminate jet lag, especially for those of us who are extra sensitive to routine changes, so we gave it a try.
We started our bedtime adjustments and B vitamins a day early, followed the app instructions, used the supplements and blue-light blockers – and somehow, miraculously, hit the ground running with zero jet lag. We’ll absolutely use it again for future trips with a three-hour time difference or more. Future us already says thank you.
Getting to Greece (With a Few Pleasant Surprises)
We flew from Seattle to Athens on Turkish Airlines – new for us – and were immediately impressed. Even in economy. Especially in economy.
The amenity kits were fancy (socks, slippers, eye mask, ear plugs, headphones, a toothbrush and toothpaste!), the service was friendly, and the meals were genuinely good. I know. Airline food praise should be given sparingly. But this included metal utensils, free wine and cocktails, and hot rolls. Hot. Rolls. Passed out with tongs from a steaming bread basket after the meal was served! Did I mention we flew economy? So cool!
With only a short layover in Istanbul, we disembarked with two very specific goals:
- Find the “enchanted” Turkish Delight I’d only ever read about in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and
- Track down a proper cup of Turkish coffee.
Turkish coffee, we learned, is remarkably similar to Greek coffee. It’s strong, unfiltered, and made from finely ground Arabica beans cooked in a special pot over low heat. The slow heat produces an intense flavor with a thick, velvety foam (and the foam is very important!)
In Turkey, this was traditionally done with a copper pot nestled in heated sand to provide that slow, even heat. It was thick, rich, and deeply satisfying.
It also had me fully committed to drinking as much Greek coffee as possible once we arrived.
Settling In (and Powering Through)
Finally – we arrived.
For our first night in Athens, we chose one of Rick’s recommended budget stays, the Athens Psiri Hotel, located on the north end of the city. The idea was to explore a different neighborhood before settling into our tour hotel, the Hera Hotel, the following day.
The room was charming, the hotel manager was friendly, knowledgeable, and kind – but then there was the one detail we learned at check-in. No hot water.
This would have been fine if the weather had been hot and the water merely refreshing. But in mid-September, Athens was cool. And the water was cold. After 21 hours of travel, a warm shower had been high on both of our wish lists.
Nevertheless, we had arrived in Greece. Slightly rumpled. Mildly fragrant. Fully committed.
We headed out to explore and see the sights.
The streets twisted and turned through narrow alleyways filled with people shopping, dining, and simply living life. We wandered past the Ancient Agora, up toward the Acropolis, and stood in quiet awe of… well, everything. We made a mental note to come back the next day with Camilla and Allan and continued wandering.
An impromptu snack and cocktail stop at The Attic – one of Athens’ rooftop bars overlooking Monastiraki Square – sealed the day. The sunset was lovely – but the view of the Acropolis glowing above the city at night was unforgettable.
Church of Kapnikarea
It was also here that I stumbled upon my second favorite church in Athens: the Byzantine-style Church of Kapnikarea.
Nearby, a trio of brass-playing street musicians filled the square with recognizable pop tunes with a Greek-ish flair, while a vendor scooped out salted and spiced nuts into paper cones. Several cats perched in a row along a tall rock wall nearby, creating one of those moments that feels both completely unexpected and exactly right.
We eventually walked back to the hotel, endured the cold showers (character-building,) and slept hard.
Greece had officially begun.
