TRAVEL DIARIES
Four short days after their sophisticated nuptials at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York, Victoria (née Mardovich) and Frederick Catanese embarked on a 10-day adventure around the beautiful and culturally rich country of Greece. The excited newlyweds, who had never traveled to Europe before, jumped at the chance to explore three idyllic locales: the capital city of Athens and the isles of Mykonos and Santorini.
Athens, Greece
The first stop on their honeymoon was the political and cultural center of Greece: Athens. Upon checking in to King George, a Luxury Hotel in the very heart of the city, Tori and Freddie quickly went about embracing the history that the location had to offer, as they were only staying for two nights. They made sure to hit all of the major tourist attractions before they departed. “Our hotel was walking distance from pretty much everything – it even had a view of the Acropolis and the parliament building,” notes Tori.
The newlyweds enjoyed immersing themselves in the rich background of the country by visiting well-known spots as well as sites they discovered through their own research. “We learned a lot about ancient Greece and the Greek gods and goddesses,” says the bride. “It was all so interesting and something Freddie really wanted to know more about.”
With a process of trial and error, Tori and Freddie navigated the city on their own accord. After taking Athens by foot each day, the pair indulged in the upscale atmosphere of the hotel, a property they would recommend to other travelers for their Grecian accommodations. Though this leg of their trip was simply planned as a stopover on their way to their next two destinations, the new Mr. and Mrs. found themselves enjoying the environment of the great city.
Following their two-day excursion packed with incredible exploration and a ton of new knowledge, both Tori and Freddie were excited to jet off to their next location for some much-needed rest and relaxation.
Discover travel and honeymoon tips from one recently married couple.
Mykonos, Greece
Upon landing on the island of Mykonos, the travelers checked in to their hotel, which started this leg of their vacation off on a high note. “Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge is possibly the most amazing resort I have ever stayed at,” muses Tori. “The service is beyond exceptional. They give you a cell phone when you check in and say to call them with anything you need – and they mean it. They will be there within minutes with whatever you require.” As they mapped out their itinerary for their four-night stay, both bride and groom agreed to focus on reposing over more strenuous activities. “Our favorite things to do in Mykonos were just hang at the hotel pool, have some drinks, play cards, swim, and walk around the town to visit the shops and enjoy an amazing dinner,” Tori reveals.
When they felt like exploring, the couple sought out seaside destinations. “Mykonos is known for its beaches,” explains the bride. “We really liked Nammos Beach, which also has a restaurant called Nammos. It was quite pricey for a casual lunch restaurant, but the décor was beautiful and the food was amazing – also, it obviously had a gorgeous view of the water.” On a recommendation from Tori’s cousin, the newlyweds ventured to another restaurant called Remezzo, which won the hearts of the lovebirds with its topnotch cuisine and excellent outdoor bar. As their hotel was just a stone’s throw away from the main part of town, it was easy for Tori and Freddie to get around. “We wanted to visit Mykonos because we heard it was the ‘fun’ place to go in Greece, and everyone was right!” she smiles. “The town had so many great shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, and more.” Of their three destinations, the travelers credit this island locale as being their absolute favorite. “We definitely plan to bring family and friends to Mykonos one day!” the bride gushes.