5 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Winter Athens

My 2024's First Trip on my quest to go beyond #lakbay100... Jan. 28 to Feb. 26, 2024

3 Days Budget DIY Trip in Winter Santorini

Athens is the capital city of Greece and in many ways the birthplace of Classical Greece and a large part of Western civilization. The design of the city is marked by Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman civilizations. Today, greater Athens is by far the economic, political and cultural center of modern Greece, with nearly half of the country's population.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Athens

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ATHENS

1. Athens is the oldest capital of Europe

2. Athens was Named after Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom

3. Athens is the Birthplace of Democracy

4. Ancient Greek Philosophy Thrived in Classical Athens

5. The Parthenon of Athens Was Once A Church and A Mosque

6. Marathon Originated in Athens

5 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Winter Athens (Meteora Monasteries Day Trip - €93)

3 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Winter Santorini

My 2024's First Trip on my quest to go beyond #lakbay100... Jan. 28 to Feb. 26, 2024

8 Days Budget Solo Trip in Winter Greece Introduction and Itinerary

Santorini is one of the great natural wonders of the world, and its main attraction is the landscape and seascape of the island itself, a volcanic island in the Cyclades group of the Greek islands. It is famous for dramatic views, stunning sunsets from Oia town, the strange white aubergine (eggplant), the town of Thira, and naturally its very own active volcano. There are naturally fantastic beaches such as the beach of Perissa, maybe the best beach in Santorini, the black pebble beach of Kamari, white beach and red beach. The ancient name of Santorini was Strongyli due to the shape of the island. Santorini was named by the Latin Empire in the 13th century, and is a reference to Saint Irene, from the name of the old cathedral in the village of Perissa – the name Santorini is a contraction of the name Santa Irini.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Santorini

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SANTORINI

1. Despite the fact that only 15.500 residents live in the island, over 2 million tourists visit Santorini each year.

2. There are more churches than houses in Santorini. However most of them are small and private.

3. There is so little rain on the island of Santorini during the year, with the result that wine is more abundant than water.

4. The caldera of Santorini is the only inhabited in the world. I

5. There are over 100 varieties of grapes in Santorini.

6. Santorini’s buildings have the typical greek architectural style and are shaped as strikingly white cubes.

7. The entire island is a volcanic rock.

3 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Winter Santorini (Oia blue dome)

8 Days Budget Solo Trip in Winter Greece

My 2024's First Trip on my quest to go beyond #lakbay100... Jan. 28 to Feb. 26, 2024

“Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.” ― Aristotle

Greece is the 41st country on my quest to visit all 44 countries of Europe, the last country on my quest to visit the 26 countries of the Schengen Visa agreement and the 139th country on my journey beyond #lakbay100 Countries.

Greece is a country in Southern Europe, on the southernmost tip of the Balkan peninsula, with extensive coastlines and islands in the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. It shares borders in the north with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. It has an ancient culture that has had a significant influence on the arts, language, philosophy, politics, and sports of western society, including the genres of comedy and drama, western alphabets, Platonic ideals and the Socratic method, democracies and republics, and the Olympics. Furthermore, it's a geographically appealing place to visit, with a mountainous mainland and idyllic island beaches.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Greece

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GREECE

timezone - UTC +0200H   capital - Athens    language - Greek    currency - Euro (EUR)

visa - Philippine passport holders need to apply before arrival.

1. Greece is home to up to 6,000 islands and islets, with only around 200 of them being inhabited.

2. Greece has 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

3. 80% of Greece is made up of mountains.

4. More tourists visit Greece every year than the entire Greek population.

5. Greece is the third largest producer of olives

6. With more than 110 archaeological museums, Greece takes out the top spot for the most in the world.

7. The capital of Greece is named after the goddess Athena.

Greek Basic Phrases:

Yassou (YAH-sue) = hello                                  Ne / Ohi (Neh / oh-hee) = yes / no

Kalimera (kah-lee-mehr-rah ) = good day          Kherete (Khe-reh-tay) = bye

Efkharisto (eff-kah-rees-toh) = thank you

Signomi (seegh-no-mee) = sorry

8 Days Budget Solo Trip in Winter Greece (Acropolis combined tour - €30)

How to Apply for Schengen Visa (Greece) as Philippine Passport Holder

The quest to visit all Schengen Member States 2013-2024 as Pinoy Solo Backpacker

Highlight: I applied as Filipino Solo Traveller with Philippine passport only, with NO WORK (ex-OFW, retired Engineer) and with NO BUSINESS (Dec. 2022). I provided proofs of enough savings, investments and previous 4 Schengen visas per below link.

Schengen visa is a special document that allows a Schengen visa holder to travel freely within the 26 Schengen zone (European Countries) member states. Apply for the Schengen visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country where you spend the most time. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit or tourism, but not for employment or family reunification purposes.

26 members of the Schengen Agreement are (1)Austria, (2)Belgium, (3)Czech Republic, (4)Denmark, (5)Estonia, (6)Finland, (7)France, (8)Germany, (9)Greece, (10)Hungary, (11)Iceland, (12)Italy, (13)Latvia, (14)Lithuania, (15)Liechtenstein, (16)Luxembourg, (17)Malta, (18)Netherlands, (19)Norway, (20)Poland, (21)Portugal, (22)Slovakia, (23)Slovenia, (24)Spain, (25)Sweden and (26)Switzerland.

How to Apply for Schengen Visa (Greece) as Philippine Passport Holder (Schengen Visa 2024)

Monthlong Budget DIY Birthday Solo Trip in Winter Europe

 My 2024's First Trip on my quest to go beyond #lakbay100... Jan. 28 to Feb. 26, 2024

“Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.” ― Aristotle

My 112th solo backpacking trip and trying some usual budget do-it-yourself (DIY) itineraries from arrival to departure. This trip served also as my 5th visit to Europe Schengen States following the Winter Northern Europe (2023), Spain (2018) and some Western/Southern parts, Germany (2015) and some Southern parts and France (2013) and some Central parts of Europe. Moreover, this trip also served as the completion of my visit to 26 countries that composed the Schengen visa agreement.

MARAMING SALAMAT. 2024 BIRTHDAY WINTER EUROPE TRIP. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Pinoy Solo Backpacker. Applied Schengen and Ireland Visa. Return flights from MNL. Monthlong budget DIY Itinerary.

6 main destination. GREECE. MOLDOVA. IRELAND. NETHERLANDS. ICELAND. NORWAY.

2 highlight trip. SANTORINI. SVALBARD.

2 side trip. BELFAST. BEIJING.

2 Main Objectives. REACHED 78'L NORTH. SAW THE NORTHERN LIGHTS.

Philippine passport holder only. MY NEW RECORD OF 141 COUNTRIES.

 

#livealifeyouwillremember #philippinepassport

#pinoy #solobackpacker #solotravel #travel #pinoytraveller #europe #winter #backpacker #traveltips #norway #oslo #tromso #svalbard #northernlights #greece #santorini #moldova #ireland #dublin #athens #chisinau #netherlands #amsterdam #windmill #iceland #reykjavik

Monthlong Budget DIY Birthday Solo Trip in Winter Europe (Iceland's Snaefellsnes Peninsula tour)