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  • Five Things in Poros, Greece, that make it better than Paros.

    Five Things in Poros, Greece, that make it better than Paros.

    Paros is an island in Greece that grows in popularity every year, even being named the World’s Best Island in 2025. While this is great for Paros’s economic wellbeing, this can also mean we will start to see higher prices, more tourists, and an decrease in Greek authenticity. While in Greece, I traveled to a smaller island called Poros and had the greatest time. Here are five reasons why:

    Where is Poros?

    Poros is about a 1 – 2 hour ferry from Athens, as it is about 52 miles from the Piraeus port. Once we arrived, we were very easily able to find our airbnb and Ubers were readily available.

    1 – Rent a Scooter at Fotis Moto Rental

    From about 20-30 euros per day, you can rent a 2-person scooter to drive you around the island. Not only is it super fun to drive around the island, but it is super safe! None of the roads are crowded or dangerous and the island is small enough to be explored fully in one day. Be warned: you are required to have a driver’s license to rent one!

    2 – Travel to the ancient ruins

    Situated in the center of the island, the ancient ruins are accessible via Uber or scooter. Once there, you are able to walk around for free and discover remnants of temples and more. It was eerily silent, as we were the only people there. It was really cool to step into history like that.

    3 – Visit The Love Bay

    This place was – like all the beaches on the island – nearly empty and absolutely stunning. The sand was soft under our toes, something not common in Greece, as beaches are typically more rocky. There were small nooks and crannies everywhere to explore and we ended up spending a few hours here.

    4 – Lounge on the Russian Dockyard Beach

    Having been held by the Russians until 1900, this historic landmark was rested right on a beach with refreshments and food nearby. Though a little more popular than the other beaches, this is at least worth stopping by and learning about its history.

    5 – Dance the night away in Malibu Club

    Situated right by the water, this is where all the European yachets and cruises stop in Poros! It was an absolute blast, and as an American, I knew every song in there. I even saw these two girls have a dance off!

    Overall, this island was my favorite from my time in Greece, and I hope it remains relatively undiscovered for a long time. Thank you for reading, and let me know if you have any questions or comments!

  • 5 Reasons you Shouldn’t Skip the Beautiful Streets of Venice during Carnival Season

    5 Reasons you Shouldn’t Skip the Beautiful Streets of Venice during Carnival Season

    When I visited Venice, I did not even realize I had come during their Carnival season, and was thoroughly surprised to see how committed the entire city was the week-long celebration. Venice ended up being my favorite city in Italy, and it was undoubtedly because of the Carnival festivities.

    The dates for the next few years are:

    • 2027 – January 30 to February 9
    • 2028 – February 19 to February 29
    • 2029 – February 3 to February 13

    Below you can find everything you need to enjoy the annual celebration:

    What is Carnival?

    Have you ever heard of Lent? Carnival is essentially the final period of “indulgence” before sacrificing something for the Christian Lent period. Though initially suppressed by a Napoleonic rule in 1797, two centuries later in 1979 it was revived by Venetians to celebrate local culture. Below are my favorite parts of this Venetian holiday (#5 is my favorite)!

    1 – The Famous Masks

    When you think of Carnival, you probably think of the quintessential masks worn by most people there. I got one of my own for about 30 euros! They are sold in almost every nearby shop, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some were more modern and colorful while others leaned more into traditional design. Overall, getting to connect with such a fun part of Venetian history was one of my favorite parts of my Italy trip!

    2 – Try One of the Classic Gondolas

    The gondolas are already a Venetian staple, but during Carnival they are decked out! Most gondolas have special Carnival related decorations with special ribbons, and some even have live performers! Prices are mandated at 90 euros for 30 minutes during the day and 110 euros for 35 minutes at night. They also carry 5 people max!

    3 – Witness the Types of Performers

    The one part of Carnival that really blew my expectations was that there was at least one performer on every street we walked on. They ranged from mimes, to singers, dancers, musicians, and more. My all time favorite performance (see below) was a man playing the notes to different songs by simply using water and different sized drink glasses. I was blown away!

    Another one of my favorites was a group of teenagers who came and performed a song with their drums:

    4 – Wander the Riva Degli Schiavoni

    The Riva Degli Schiavoni is a street on the water next to St. Mark’s Basin is a tourist hotspot year-round, but lights up even more during Carnival. This is the primary location for souvenirs, most importantly the masks. This is the best place for professional photography as it is right on the water and there are performers who take pictures with people. I actually took a nap on a bench out here!

    5 – Watch the Costume Contest

    The costume contest was by far the most entertaining part of Venetian Carnival. It is held at St Mark’s Square, and showcases various costume artists on stage. Some of them were absolutely PHENOMENAL (see below). They even put costumes on some dogs! The entire celebration lasted a few hours, as each contestant was given a moment to showcase their work.

    While Venice is beautiful enough to be visited during any time of year, coming during Carnival was a once in a lifetime experience that I will treasure forever. Let me know if you have any questions or comments below!