Fun activities in Santorini: Wine tours!

Venetsanos Winery vineyard

The island of Santorini is famous for various different things, one if which are the wines that are produced there. Half, if not more, of the island is filled with vineyards, that look amazingly beautiful during summer when they have blossomed. In August, when it is time to gather the grapes, the whole place smells like wine. The reason is that part of the grapes are left to ripe in the sun, so that they could be used to produce the sweet, dessert wine Vinsanto.

Because of such a rich wine making history, and the fact that the island still produces one of the best wines globally, it is only natural for Santorini to have a great number of different wineries. There is the Venetsanos Winery, the Boutari Winery, the Sigalas Estate Winery, the Koutsogiannopoulos Wine museum, to name a few. All located in different areas of Santorini, and with each winery offering a different wine tour and wine tasting.

Wine making machinery at Venetsanos Winery

Taking a wine tour and wine tasting is not just an interesting activity to do when visiting Santorini, alone or with your family and friends, but is also a great idea for a "cocktail hour" at your wedding. Agreeable, a wine tour is not your traditional cocktail hour, but from my experience your guests will find such a tour really interesting, amusing, and unique for a wedding.

Don't wish to have your guests spending too much time in a bus on the wedding day? Arrange the wine tour to be part of your pre-wedding gathering on the island. Your guests would love to visit a Santorini winery anyway, since it is a really popular activity on the island, so why not give them a chance to do so all together? A great advantage of such a pre-wedding gathering, is that your guests will have an interesting topic to discuss on the wedding day! You'll give them the best ice-breaker ever!

My two personal favorite wineries of Santorini are the Venetsanos Winery and the Koutsogiannopoulos Wine museum, each for different reasons:

VenetsanosWinery:

Wine stating at Venetsanos Winery

Venetsanos Winery is located on the cliffside of Megalochori, over the Athinios port, making a winery with amazing caldera views. The winery was built in 1947 by the Venetsanos family, and it was carved in the mountain. A tour there is really interesting, as you get to learn the history of the place, go through the different cellars and tunnels in the mountain, and get to know how wine was produced there and distributed. They even a corner, which used to serve as an office, where they kept some of the instruments and notes of the founders of the winery.

Of course, as with every winery, you can choose to finish the tour with a wine tasting of the Santorini wines, enjoying at the same time the magnificent views of Venetsanos Winery. A wine expert will describe you how every different wine is made, sharing interesting information about the wine making culture of Thira.

A useful information is that Venetsanos Winery is also available for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Its location is such, that you will be treated with the famous and wonderful views of the caldera. The black volcanic rock, from which the terrace is made, gives the place a unique character, perfect for the "one-of-a-kind" weddings we are all looking for.

KoutsogiannopoulosWine Museum:

The Koutsogiannopoulos winery was founded in the 19th century, and has been ever since producing delicious Santorini wines. The winery is located in Vothonas, on the road to Kamari. Nowadays, it is an astonishing museum, which is absolutely worth visiting when coming to Santorini.

Koutsogiannopoulos Wine Museum's exhibits

What makes this winery so special? Its museum! It is an underground, 8 meters deep, labyrinth like museum (don't worry, you won't get lost). You will dive into the history of the wine making of Santorini, from the very beginning. The cave museum is filled with small cavern like rooms, where you can see the wine making process for yourself. The figurines, used at the cavern rooms, give you the feeling that you have travelled a hundred or more years back, and you are participating in the ploughing, harvesting and stomping of the grapes.

The exhibits of the underground museum are presented in a chronological order, making it easier for you to understand how the wine making culture began in Santorini. To help you understand even better the wine science, you will have the opportunity to see old machinery, which was used in the wine making process.

At the end of the tour, you will have the chance to taste four different Santorini wines, gaining a new appreciation of the hard work of all those people who are involved in the wine making process.

Koutsogiannopoulos Winery offers its premises for a wedding as well. It is a perfect choice, if you love being close to nature, as the winery has a wonderful garden for magical weddings!

Whether you came to Santorini for your summer vacation, for your own destination wedding, or for your friend's wedding, make sure to include in your program a visit to one of the Santorini's wineries. You will most certainly enjoy it, and will leave the island with new and interesting knowledge.

Thank you very much for reading! I wish you a lovely day!

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Random Saturday 13: Everything happens for a reason…?

Hello my dear Readers.

A love salad from Katerina from Secret Cafe! 

Hope all of you are well and everything is going good in your life. As you are reading this, I'm having a small vacation in Athens. Decided to fly there for 3 days, to see my family before the summer season begins.

This past week was a great week for me. I've been spending my days at the Santo Horse Riding's ranch in Akrotiri, interacting with the horses, sitting in the sun, reading my book, and contemplating on life. The horse that I'm currently training is having some great progress, which makes me incredibly happy, and I've had the opportunity to make some really interesting thoughts about life.

I've been thinking mostly about those small incidents in life, that can greatly influence ones future. Isn't it amazing, how meeting one person in your life, a person that you might not even see more than a couple times more after your first meeting, can change your whole life?

I've been thinking about my own life. I met a person seven years ago, let's call him mr. D., that made me come back to Greece (I lived in Moscow at the time of the meeting). By coincidence, that person had a friend who knew my childhood horse riding trainer. I started going horse riding again, after I met up with the trainer, which resulted in me getting my first horse riding students.

Because of Mr. D., I followed my then dream and studied sound-engineering, where I met ex-husband. Because of him I came to Santorini, as he didn't have a job at the time, and I was willing to let my horse related dreams on the side, just to be with him. In Santorini, again by coincidence, I got a wedding planning job. A couple years later here I am, trying to make my own wedding and event planning company.

Furthermore, my ex husband worked for a short period at a hotel, who's owner had a horse, and had it at the first horse riding facility in Santorini. From there I met my current colleague in Santo Horse Riding, who later introduced me to the person I'm working for at the moment, and the guy I'm happily dating at the moment.

All those completely unrelated meetings and events, ended up in me having a great progress with my life dreams and goals! If you just think for a moment, that if seven years ago, I decided to ignore mr.D when I first met him, I wouldn't be having my own wedding planning company, nor I would go back to horse riding and now have the job of my dreams.

No wonder there is a saying that everything happens for a reason.

Why am I writing all this, you may ask? Simply because I want to prove a point. No matter how hard times may seen, or if you feel that you are at a "dead end" point in your life, you should always remember, that this is not the end of the road, and that whatever you gain at that particular period of your life, can influence your future for the very best.

Life gives you opportunities all the time, sometimes they just lay there for everyone to see, sometimes they hide behind really stressful and unpleasant situations. Still, they are there for you. A simple decision, like going for a walk instead of staying at home, can end up in you meeting the right person or getting the best idea for a better future! Don't miss out on opportunities, just because you think (although you might feel the opposite), that they will be a waste of time. They might end up being the breakthrough in your life!

No matter how bad a situation ion life may be, you should always take it as a lesson. However bad it might seem, it will be part of your life experience and can prove to be of great help in the future. Try to stay positive and keep an open eye for any life lessons there for you. Life lessons, that will help you succeed in the future.

I guess, what I want to say is, don't focus on the bad times but think about what good can come out of it ;) 

This is all I have to say this Random Saturday. Be happy and don't miss the little opportunities life gives us!

Thank you very much for reading! I wish you a wonderful weekend!

The song of the week: 

Random Saturday #12 || Random Saturday #14

Random Saturday #9: Say it with a song!!

Hello my dear Readers.

Today and at this very moment, I feel really tired and nothing interesting comes to mind for this Random Saturday. This is why I decided to make a music post, which will include 10 songs that perfectly represent my way of thinking, at least at this period of time.

1. Human - Rag n' bone man

2. The truth about love - Pink

3. Ironic - Alanis Morissette

4. Together - The Raconteurs

5.Can't Sleep Love - Pentatonix

6. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes

7. I'm no superman - Lazlo Bane

8. Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin

9. Run Boy, Run - Woodkid

10. Always look at the bright side of life - Monty Python

Music has always been, and will always be a good friend of mine.

What is the song, that describes you at this point of your life? 

Thank you very much for listening J

You have my best wishes!

Random Saturday #8 || Random Saturday #9

Fun Activities in Santorini: Horse Riding in Akrotiri!

Santorini is so much more than just the caldera views, the volcano and the sunset. The island offers a lot of different and interesting activities, which are there not only to make your stay in Santorini even more memorable, but also are a great way to explore the island and enjoy its hidden beauties.

One of such activities is horse riding. I can guarantee that you won't regret it if you go on trail ride in Santorini. The island has amazing landscapes, and the best and most amazing locations are not easily accessible by the usual means of transportation. They are accessible with horse though. If you truly wish to make the trip to Santorini memorable, make sure to stop by Santo Horse Riding in Akrotiri and arrange a tour.

What is so special about Santo Horse Riding?

1. Safety first

Santo Horse Riding cares a lot about the safety of its clients. You will get a fitting helmet for your protection, something that is really important when riding a horse. You will also get a pair of English chaps, to protect your legs from any bruising from the saddle.

The horses used for the trail rides, are perfectly trained for the job. They are calm, they know where they are going and what they are doing. The horses don't buck, don't bite, don't kick, which means that you will enjoy the ride without any unpleasant surprises. Moreover, you will be guided by one or two professional horse riders, who will give you instructions on how to handle the horse, and will be there to assist you if anything should happen.

2. Amazing routes

Santo Horse Riding is located in Akrotiri, on the road to the Red Beach and the Excavation point. The location of the stable is fantastic itself, but the routes are even better. The route starts by taking you thought the vine fields of Akrotiri, which are especially beautiful in the summer. Then you pass through amazing rocky formations, which make your feel that your are either on a different planet, or in a Western Movie! You end at the black beach of Santorini, where you can relax and take some nice photos to show your friends and family.

You can chose between the one hour route, which will take you to a secluded beach, or the two hour route, which takes you to the black beach of Vlychada. I strongly recommend choosing the two hour tour, as this particular route includes a quick stop at the St. Anna's beautiful church with the famous blue dome. Whatever route you choose though, you are guaranteed an amazing experience and unforgettable views!

3. Horse Riding Lessons

Santo Horse Riding offers horse riding lessons as well. If you like active vacations, and wish to learn a bit more about horses and horse riding, go for horse riding lessons! You will have a chance to learn a lot of interesting facts about horses, have an insight on how to take care of a horse, and you will learn a couple of great secrets for horse training.

Of course, you will also get to learn the basics of horse riding. You will have a professional horse riding trainer beside you, teaching you everything from the very beginning, so no need to worry if you don't have any previous experience in horse riding.

4. Wedding photo shoot with horses

For those couples, who wish to have unique photos from your wedding, you can arrange a wedding couple's photo shoot, or a pre/post wedding photo shoot with horses via Santo Horse Riding. You can have it directly at the stables or at the beach. The photos of you, as newlyweds, on horses, walking by the beach, will look so romantic and will be a great addition to your wedding photo album.

5. Marriage proposal on a horse

Be the knight she was always looking for, by taking her to an unforgettable trail ride in Santorini, which will include a dreamy, surprise marriage proposal. Santo Horse Riding can take you to a couple of amazing locations for a proposal, with great views and absolute privacy. Don't forget to have a photographer on the day, to capture the amazing moment!

What you need to know before going on a horse ride?

• If possible, wear closed shoes, like sneakers, for example. All though you can ride in flip flops, it will be much more comfortable with the sneakers.
• Ladies, avoid wearing high heels or dresses/skirts when going for a horse ride, instead chose shorts, or, even better, pants!  
• Never go behind a horse. Yes, Santo Horse Riding's horses are trained not to kick, but you shouldn't forget that horses are leaving, breathing creatures, that can get scared at the wrong moment while you will be standing behind them.
• Listen to the trainers. They are professional horse riders and care only for your safety and for you to have a great time. So listen to what they have to tell you, and follow their instructions.
• Last, but not least, if you are too scared to ride a horse, don’t do it. You won't enjoy it, and the rest of group might not enjoy the trip as well. No one will judge.

So, to summaries, whether you came to Santorini to get married, or just for vacation, be sure to stop by Santo Horse Riding for an unforgettable horse riding experience. Arrange a group tour for your wedding guests, or just for your group of friends.

For contact information, please visit Santo Horse Riding's official website - http://santorinihorseriding.gr/

Thank you very much for reading, and I wish you a lovely day!

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10 tips for a happy and successful marriage!

I dedicated last week's blog about divorce parties and what Santorini has to offer for a post-divorce rejuvenation trip. Although it is nice to start your new life after the divorce with a positive attitude, it is even better not to get to the point where you will need a divorce.

This Monday, I would like to write some tips on how to keep your marriage strong and everlasting. Let's get back to the positive side of life!

1. Don't rush into getting married

One good trick for keeping your marriage for ever, is to know who you are marrying, and for that you need time. Don't rush into marriage if you've only been together for six months or a year. If you believe you have finally met you other half, he or she won't run away if you don't start planning your wedding from the very beginning of your relationship. Invest a couple of years or more into getting to know your significant other, so that you won't have to face any unpleasant surprises once you are a family.

2. Share compliments

Everyone loves a compliment, especially when it comes from your spouse. Even though you have been together forever, and you have exchanged every possible compliment there is, this does not mean that you should stop! Tell your wife that she looks amazing when you see her in the morning, and tell your husband how handsome he looks in his new suit. A small compliment now and then will keep the love in your marriage and make the day of your loved one.

3. Show appreciation

Appreciate the little things your spouse does for you and around the house. Ok, it is really annoying when your are the only person who does the dishes in the house, but your significant other won't appreciate your ironic comment when he or she finally decides to do the dishes. Instead, thank him or her, give a kiss. Not only your spouse will feel good that such a little action was greatly appreciated, but he or she will also be more willing to do the dishes more often.

4. Speak & Listen

Speaking, is proven to be one of the best way to pass information to another person, and listening is the best way to receive this information. If something bothers you, speak to your spouse. If your special someone wants to talk to you about something, listen. Don't let negative thoughts and feelings bottle up. Yes, what you want to say or hear, might not be really pleasant, but it is better to discuss any problems you might have when you are calm, not when you'll burst into uncontrollable anger because you couldn't take it anymore.

5. Have humor and be patient

No one is perfect, we all have our annoying habits, and your significant other is not an exception. What if he never puts the new toilet paper roll at the holder, no matter how many times you told him to do so. Print out a funny instruction about how the holder works and put in the bathroom, for example. It will work as a funny hint, and might actually have a better result than angrily reminding him of that. All of our small habits make us into what we really are, and when marrying your other half, you are agreeing to marry all of those small, annoying habits as well. Instead of fighting over them, laugh about them and be patient… after all you have some of those habits as well.

If he or she is having a bad day, and is acting up without a reason, don't try to prove that he/she is wrong and you are right. Instead, offer a massage, a hot cup of chocolate, give a hug. Your special someone probably needs someone to grumble about things, not someone to argue with.

6. Spend time together

The older we grow, the more responsibilities we have. Be that your career, your children, a new hobby, or your daily chores. This does not mean that you shouldn't try and find some time to spend with your spouse. Enjoy a movie together, cuddle on the couch on a rainy day, set a date night once a week. This will help you relax, get away from your everyday problems, and will keep you close to each other.

7. Share your likes

Along with the habits, all of us have our interests in life. You and your significant other probably already have shared interests. This does not mean that you shouldn't take interest in the other things he or she likes to do. No need to become an expert in the field, but your other half will most certainly appreciate that you wish to learn more about his wood carving hobby. Even better, start a new hobby together, and bond even more by learning something new together.

8. Be supportive

We all have to face small or big challenges in our lives, and take hard decisions. Don't you love when you get the support of your lovely husband or wife over a decision in your life? You probably do, and I bet he or she feels the same way when you are supportive yourself. Even if you feel that you already have enough problems to think about yourself, don't be selfish and spend time to discuss your other half's problems. If your significant other turned to you for an advice and support, it means he or she really needs it. Don't take it away.

9. Stay kinky

This could be a delicate issue for some, but it is still an important subject to keep in mind. It has proven, even scientifically, that getting intimate with your special someone improves your mood, your marriage, your day in general, and it helps you feel close to each other. No matter how long you have been together, you shouldn't take the intimacy away from your life. Keep the romance alive!

10. "I love you honey!"

This is probably the most important of all the above. Don't be shy on telling your spouse you love him or her. Show him or her you love, and appreciate his or her love. There isn't a better thing in the world than being loved by someone you love back. It is not bad or harmful to say "I love you". On the contrary, it is the most beautiful thing you can tell your significant other.

Marriage is not easy. It never was, and probably never will be, but it is in our hands to make it the best adventure of your life, and not seem like an obligation. You married your significant other for a reason, so don't forget that reason when times are hard.

Thank you very much for reading, and I hope you are happy and loved! 

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Random Saturday #6: Full Moon...Arooooo!

Hello my dear readers.

Hope all of you have been well this week, and any surprises you had were pleasant!

As you probably already know, last Saturday there was a party at Secret Café, which I of course attended! It was great! What you didn't know, is that on the same night, there was a snow storm in Santorini (!!!) which dressed all of Pyrgos in white! While driving to the party I almost forgot that I was on an island in Greece, and felt that I was in a northern country going on a winter adventure!

  

Never could I imagined, that I would be playing snowball fight in Santorini, or seeing snowmen on everybody's car. For three days, the mountain of Pyrgos, the "Profitis Ilias" where the monastery is, was white. It was magical, and here is a picture to prove it!

maaaaagical!!

 A couple of days later it felt like the last days of spring. It was sunny and warm, and nothing reminded on the annoyingly low temperatures of the weekend.

… we need to be more careful with the climate, as the weather makes no sense any more…

Also, this week we had a full moon, and I believe I almost transformed into a werewolf. No, I didn't become all furry, didn't grow a tail, and didn't run on four legs, even after the Saturday's party. I just got the nasty, angry, easily angered and easily crying werewolf spirit... ah, good times!

NO!

It was the first time the moon had an impact on my mood, and honestly I wish for it to be the last. I would go from calm to angry to crying to calm again in ten minutes! Everything was upsetting me, minor things would make go "hulk" (I didn't smash anything… not physically at least), and I would cry over a broken biscuit.

This whole phase lasted from Monday, when I realized that I didn't want to leave my house. I was getting worse and worse with every day that passed. At some point, I even started to annoy myself, so I begun to look for a logical explanation to this whole behavior. I didn't find it, of course, until yesterday Katerina told me that on Thursday there was a full moon, and I was probably influenced by it.

It made sense, I accepted the fact, I was happy that I found an explanation, and I'm finally on the road to recovery. Hooray!

If the full moon is not to blame, then the only other logical explanation is that my Anger, Fear, and Disgust were in charge of my emotion control mixer, while Sadness and Joy were trying to bring back my core memories. You know… like it happened in "Inside out" with Riley.

If you didn't understand the reference above, I will kindly ask you to see the movie within the next 48 hours. Thank you!

After this fun and unforgettable week, I want to share the following thoughts with you. If all of a sudden, your loved one or a friend goes coo coo, and if of course there is no medical condition to explain what it is happening, don't start calling him or her crazy! He or she are probably as confused as you are, he or she does not know what is happening or why suddenly all those emotions cannot be controlled, whatever methods are applied. All he or she needs is a hug, a hot cup of chocolate or tea, a blanket and a 10-season series to calm down the nerves and don't let that person leave the house. Don't try to give alcohol… it does not help at all. Be patient, be understanding, and choose your words carefully.

Personally, I'm glad this week is over, as no one followed the instructions above.  

Thank you very much for reading, and I wish everyone a great weekend. 

PS: In case you find this blog too silly... blame the moon!! :p

Random Saturday #5 || Random Saturday #7

Ideas for a post-divorce rejuvenation trip in Santorini!

Photographer: Christos Trigas - http://www.clickbychristos.com/

Santorini is a beautiful island and a lot of people come here to relax, enjoy the views, enjoy the food, and have fun in general. Although the island is famous for weddings, this does not mean that you shouldn't come here to "shake off" any negativity left from your divorce. Gather up with your close friends, and organize a nice trip to Santorini to start your new life on a positive note.

Why choose Santorini for your divorce healing process, and why host a divorce party on the island as well? The main reason, is that Santorini perfectly combines relaxing holidays with party holidays. Whether you wish to spend your holidays by the pool with a cocktail in your hand and a good book, eating at nice restaurants, going to spas and having massages, or you want to party every night and engage in fun activities, Santorini offers both.

Yes, Santorini is so great indeed!

Wine tastings:

Santorini is really famous for its wines, this is the reason for the big number of wineries on the island. Some wineries are located on the caldera, others on the sea side of the island. When visiting Santorini, arrange with your friends to have a wine tour at one of Santorini's wineries, for some wine tasting and to learn the history of wine making.

My two favorite wineries are the KoutsogiannopoulosWinery in Mesaria and the Venetsanos Winery in Megalochori.

Koutsogiannopoulos Winery has an amazing museum, which takes you to a journey of Santorini's wine making history, combined with wine tasting after the tour. Venetsanos Winery, which is located on the cliffs of the caldera, also has a nice museum to visit. Afterwards, you can stay for the wine tasting, while enjoying the amazing view the winery offers.

Have a tour to both wineries and enjoy the famous wines of Santorini.

Spa & Massage:

Massages and spa treatments are known to relax both body and soul. Santorini has a number of different spa centers, and most of the hotels offer massages to their guests. One of the first things you should do upon arriving on the island, is having a spa day, to relax after the journey and to begin your rejuvenating Santorini visit with positive energy.

Don't forget to visit one of the fish spa that Santorini has. This will surely be an experience to remember! Also, it is especially important to keep your feet in good health with all the dancing and walking that is to take place on the island!

Activities:

Beside the views, the wine, the spas, Santorini also has a lot of fun activities to do. Rent quad bikes, for example, and have a tour around the island. Go from one end of the island to the other, and enjoy the amazing scenery.

Go horse riding in Akrotiri to add some adventure to your rejuvenation trip. Horses are known to have therapeutic properties for your body and your mind. Agree, you might be a bit sore after the ride, but believe me when I say, that you will recharge your excitement batteries to the full!

Enjoy a day at the beach with water sports! Visit Perissa beach. Go parasailing, go on a water bike ride, go on a jet ski ride on the caldera. If you are not a water sport type, then go to cycling tour! Create new, fun memories and experiences.

Divorce Party:

So, you've been at the wineries, had your spa treatments, when horse riding and to your jet ski ride. It's time to party! Here are some things you might find helpful.

Fira is the party center of the island, as most of the clubs and bars are located there. If you wish to spend a night partying at the clubs, then Fira is the perfect location for you. Fira has mostly mainstream bars, so if you are into that kind of music, you will be at right spot.

If you wish to party by the beach, then go to Perissa or Kamari. There, you can find bars that play mainstream music, rock music, rock n' roll, reggae, Greek music. Music for all the tastes! During summer, there are also a lot of live bands playing in the bars, so you if you wish to listen to some live music, you most certainly be able to find what you wish for.

In case you desire to have a private, all night divorce party, or a semi-private house-party style celebration, then go to Secret Café in Pyrgos. Should you wish to have a quiet divorce party with your really close friends, its cozy upper floor area will make you feel at home. If you want to have a grand celebration, then you can rent the whole place, and party all night long!

Upper floor of Secret Cafe in Pyrgos

Santorini is a truly a calming island, and it will surely help you heal after a divorce. If you are worrying that seeing all those brides around the island will bring bitter memories, then you shouldn't. On the contrary, being at a such a romantic place might actually help you wake up all those feelings and dreams about love, so that you will be ready again to meet with your true other half.

If you wish to organize your own an post-divorce rejuvenation trip to Santorini, feel free to email me for ideas!

As always, thank you very much for reading and I wish you a lovely day!


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Random Saturday #5: Don't be afraid to smile!

Hello my dear readers!

I hope everyone had a positively unforgettable new year celebration and that 2017 has been good to you so far.

Today is the name day of Giannis, which is the Greek version of the name Johnny, so I would like to wish a happy name day to all of the Johnnies in your life!

In dedication to this day Secret Café in Pyrgos is organizing a party - "Johnny's Day" ! I can't wait for it! I haven't been to a party in a while and I really need to go to one, so yes.. I feel pretty excited!

I decided to dedicate this Random Saturday to Katerina, the owner of Secret Café in Pyrgos, a really good friend of mine and an amazing person in general. I won't get into detail about her life, because well… its personal information, but I'll just say that whatever unpleasant surprises life brought her, she is still strong and smiling. She never gives up and have achieved amazing things. She is an inspiration to me.

I met Katerina when I was working across the street from the her coffee shop, at the wedding planning office. That period of time wasn't the best for me, not because of the job, but because I was already feeling that my marriage was falling apart and would soon end. I wasn't smiling a lot and didn't really feel like interacting with people. Whoever moody I was, every time I went to get my morning coffee, Katerina would greet me with her big, honest smile, which would make me smile even if I didn't feel like it. She was one of the few people I didn't mind interacting with.

We became friends this summer. To keep myself away from unnecessary stress, I thought of the "morning coffee" ritual (not a creative name, I know). Every morning, before stepping my foot into the office, I would always first go to Secret Café for my morning cup of coffee. With every day that passed, and the more we would chat, we started bonding. It didn't matter if I had a good morning or a bad morning, she would always manage to make me smile and change my attitude to a positive one, even on the day when my car broke on a crossroad…

Getting ready for "Johhny's Day"

It always amazed me, and still does, that she always stays positive and is always smiling, whatever might be going on in her life. In summer, she was working at a hotel and at Secret Café. She was working for almost 16 hours or more every day, and never ever lost her enthusiasm for life. I admire that in her, and she helped me a lot be positive myself.

Through her, I realized how important it is to have such people in your life, and how a simple smile could change your day and make it better. I wish everyone could have a Katerina in their life! I learned how to confront any troubles life can bring with a joke and a positive attitude. She always helps me with advices, listens to my problems and always cheers me up! I never left her coffee shop in a bad mood.

Katerina is the person who is never afraid to smile!

When you visit Santorini, make sure to pass by her coffee shop. Its name is Secret Café and it is located in Pyrgos, right next to the pharmacy. She makes great coffee by the way! ;)

Stay positive, don't lose your smile, and have a great Johnny's Day!!

Random Saturday #4 || Random Saturday #6

Random Saturday #3: Lock your car please... tired people are at loose!

Hello my dearest readers!

Today I woke up with an amazing mood, full of positive energy! It was raining for 3 days and today the sun finally showed its warm face. Got reason to be positive.

I was thinking yesterday about what to write today and remembered the time when I entered the wrong car. It took almost five minutes to realize that it wasn't my car. Thankfully nobody saw me…

I have an old Hundai Atos. I never lock it because honestly I don't believe anyone will think about stealing it… it's a really old car. But just to be on the safe side, I always park the car next to new, fancy cars, so that even if someone decides to steal a car from the parking lot I left my Atos, the will take preference in a newer and better car. Another important detail to know about my car, is that in summer my driver's window did not close at all. I simply couldn't roll it either up nor down, as the mechanism was broken leaving it was stuck in the middle. My passenger's window was also always left open or half open. But even if I close the window, it never closes correctly, and as a result a gap is left between the door and the window.

This information is crucial to the story, trust me.  

It was the beginning of June, a really busy period for wedding planners, as it is a popular time to get married in Santorini. I was working for 14 hours that day, and you can imagine that I was really tired when I finally could go home. I left the wedding venue at 23:30 or later, drove the office's car back where we parked it, hopped into my car, threw my bag to the passenger's seat and took a minute to relax.

It was chilly that night, for me at least, a person who manages to get cold in August in Greece. Knowing that my passenger's window would be open, my first action was to close the window. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was already closed! I was 100% sure that I didn't close it before leaving to the wedding. I spent some seconds staring at the closed window, while my brain was trying to process the information. "Who is the kind gentleman who saw my open window and decided to close it for me" I thought. Not only this kind gentleman closed the window, but he did it perfectly, without leaving any gap between the window and the door. It wasn't an easy task, so I really appreciated his effort and thanked him.

Then I noticed a small heart hanging next to the window. "Do I have a secret admirer?" I thought smiling to myself (a "smart" thought…) "Could it be my kind boyfriend, who decided to come all the way to Pyrgos to close my window?". That thought was immediately discarded, as he was probably in Akrotiri all day, and wouldn't come all the way to Pyrgos for a window. I definitely had a secret admirer! (again… what a genius conclusion)

A sudden thought came to my subconscious, triggering the first panic attack. I reached for my window -the driver's window. It was closed as well!!! It was impossible to close it!! The window crank handle was broken! I broke it myself!! Did the kind gentleman, my secret admirer, managed to close the driver's window with his own bear hands? Who was that knight of closing strangers' windows??

As embarrassing as it might feel admitting it, the thought that it was in a strangers car didn't even closely passed through my head.

"Someone robbed me!!!" this was the second panic attack. "I knew that was going to happen eventually! Everyone probably already knows that I leave the car open, and someone took the opportunity to rob me. I'm so stupid…secret admirers and stuff… who would ever come to do such a thing for me? But what is there to rob from my car? It has absolutely nothing of value!". Those where the thoughts that passed through my mind at that exact moment.

I grabbed my phone and switched the flashlight on. I turned the light at my car mats. There weren't there. But they weren't missing also. There were mats on the floor, but not mine. My brain popped an error message at that point and refused to function. "What kind of thief would steal my own mats, and replace them with different ones? It makes no sense". I was puzzled. Something wasn't right here… (duh!)

During all summer, I always had a bag with me with clothes, as I was staying at my boyfriend's most of the nights.

Third panic attack! I turned to light the back seat. The bag wasn't there. The robber took my bag with my clothes! Why would anyone take a backpack just with clothes in it? Just… why?? Where is the logic in that?

And then… I noticed a sweatshirt that I failed to recognize. It wasn't mine.

Nothing made sense at the moment. I was baffled! Why would a thief put a great effort into closing my windows, hanging a small heart, replacing my floor mats, taking my bag with women clothes inside, and leave a male sweatshirt. What in the starts was going on?!

I switched my attention the seats! Those weren't the seats my car had in the morning! It wasn't possible for someone to change all of my seats… Suddenly, my inner idiot was pushed aside and the logic part stepped in - "This is not my car!!" … (well no s**t Sherlock!)

I took my handbag, stepped outside the car, looked across the parking lot to find my own car and make sure no one saw me, double checked that it was indeed my car, got inside and drove away.

I still feel kind off embarrassed that it took me so long to figure out the obvious, but hey… a 14 hour working day is no joke! In my defense, I wouldn't expect that there would be another daredevil (or a stupid enough person) who would leave his car unlocked!

That's all with this story. Keep your cars locked, and if you don't check your license plate before entering the car… just to avoid any misunderstandings J

I don't have a picture to share with you today, so here is a picture of my dog standing on top of my car's rooftop (he thinks he's a cat… or a goat… I haven't figures out yet).

I wish everyone of you a Merry Christmas, lots of love, health, and many - many happy moments!

Have a great day!

Random Saturday #2

Random Saturday #2 - I am not a morning person!!

Hello my dearest Cardoonistas!

You are not many (yet), but it means the world to me to know that there are people out there, who spend some of their time to read my random thoughts… and my efforts to have a serious blog. I thank you all from my heart!

On a less sentimental note, this week I had a revelation: I am not a

This is what you lose when being  at early bird! *evil laugh*

morning person! I've tried to become one, I've put so much effort into it over the years, but it was time to face the truth. I'm a creature of the night late mornings. When I quit my job at the wedding planning company I worked, and no longer had to go to the office every morning at 9 am, I promised myself that I will still be waking up early, to get some work done. I kept my promise, until I realized that my muses wake up at noon, so even if I got to work at 10, I still wasn't able to get productive.

So one morning, as I was enjoying a warm cup of coffee, I decided to embrace who I really am - a late bird. A came to peace with that. Even my blog statistics push towards that direction. When I posted my Thursday blog at noon, I did significantly worse than those posted at midnight. I officially pronounce myself a night owl.

This is actually one great perk of being an adult. I can arrange my day schedule in a way, that I will use all my creativity and my willingness to work in the most effective way. Or, to say it less poetically, I can sleep in without being accused of being a lazy butt!

On Sunday I decided to play with the boys. The boys are the nieces of my beloved boyfriend… on the day, there were four of them, and they where around the ages of 8-9 years old. We played waaaaar!!! I died a lot… mostly because they didn't follow the rules of the game, if there were any anyway. Still, it was fun!! I was running around with a plastic gum making "pshiou pshiou" noises. Just like during my childhood… I'm a serious wedding planner, I promise!!! 

Of course, I got sick after that. I guess I still need that adult which will shout at you from the window "Put on your coat or you will get sick!!!". It wasn't the best idea to run around for an hour with just a jacket on. I didn't even had my scarf on. And it has not been really warm on Santorini lately, which is not helping at all to get better. I can say I regret my Sunday decision to take my coat off.

A piece of advice to all of you adults who are still children at heart, don't take off your coats when running around remembering your younger days. Play responsibly… being sick is not fun.

Enjoying the view, while waiting for my flat tire to get fixed. 

This week is also the week of practical knowledge. I learned how to change a flat tire on a car! And I even had the chance to do it twice, as the exact next day after I got a flat tire, my friend got one to!! Amazing eh? I certainly feel excited to finally know that I won't ever get stranded in a far away location, just because I got a flat tire. Make sure that your spare tire is inflated though…

As you can see, here on Cardoon Events, we not only give advises that have to do with weddings, proposals, and other fun events, but also give advises on various topics from everyday life :p !

Stay with us for more insights of a wedding planner's everyday life.

I wish a good night to those who are ready to go to sleep, and a great day to those who are just beginning their day.

Sincerely yours,

Not your everyday wedding planner ;) 

Random Saturday #1 || Random Saturday #3

Random Saturday #1: What will happen on January 16th, 2017???

Hello and welcome!

I decided to launch a different blog series called "Random Saturdays", were I will share my random thoughts, interesting moments from my life, and anything else that might pop into my mind. Yes, it will be somewhat of a personal blog, but there is a good reason why I decided to host it here, rather than on a personal site. I believe that this way you will get to know better the person who hides behind "Cardoon Events", and I would really to let you in the mind of this particular wedding and event planner.

I wanted to start this blog series last Saturday, while traveling to Santorini from Athens by ferry. The trip lasts for 8 hours! Enough time to get bored out of your mind, as a result becoming creative to make the long journey seem a bit more interesting. That didn't happen though. The ferries where on strike, which ruined all my plans... and my mood as well, so I postponed the launch of the "Random Saturdays" for a better time. This Saturday was perfect!

This past week was amazing! I flew to Santorini in a small plane full of excited and a bit noisy tourists. Good thing the flight lasts around 40 minutes. One of my weird fears, that I will forget how to drive after my vacation, thankfully, did not come true. When arriving home, I was glad to see my pets and get back to my beloved life on the island. This was the first time in the three years I've been living in Santorini, that I couldn't wait to get back on the island. You cannot imagine how happy this makes me. I feel balanced!

Why it took me three years to love the place I'm leaving and working, I can tell you in person, should you get the chance to meet me ;)

This whole week I've been trying to get into a productive program, start working out, get some work done in general... and I'm ashamed to confess that I somewhat failed. Between tiding up my house, meeting with friends, taking care of bureaucratic obligations, researching to better understand twitter, I couldn't keep track of time, which was always throwing me of schedule. On the bright side, I found out that a really good friend, that I made this summer, is a fellow 9gagger!!! Finally someone who will understand my jokes! On Friday, I spent my entire morning at Oceanids Estate, chatting with Nina and Nikitas. Very interesting people!

Something else I realized and I want to share with the world, is that every day that passes, makes me feel more and more happy! I suddenly have the urge to make compliments and tell people that I appreciate, that I appreciate them! It never happened before!! And it is a great feeling to share your positive emotions. I believe everyone should do this least once a day. Really helps the daily anxiety and stress go away.

And then it happened! Yesterday's night-out brought a great mystery into my life, and to the lives of those who were with me on that fateful night! Something will happen on January 16th, 2017! But what? No one knows, not even me, the person who, while leaving the cafe, said in an enigmatic way to wait for that day. When I was asked to clarify, why is the date so important, I just smiled and answered "You'll see".

Funny thing... I don't even remember telling that. One of my friends, who were with me yesterday, tried once again to learn what I meant, but I had to disappoint her, as I couldn't even recall the event!! I honestly have no idea what was I talking about. I'm intrigued! Even though I don't remember what daydreams I had at the moment of the curious phrase, I do have an idea of what could be done on that day... I won't tell now... I'll do so when the time is right! ;) But remember, January 16th, 2017!

That's all for now. Thank you for your time. I honestly appreciate it. :)

As promised, on Monday you will have a post with some wisdom on wedding food and how to choose it.

Sincerely yours,

The proud CEO of Cardoon Events!

Random Saturday #2