Greece: Fragrant Olive Oil, Fine Wine and Fabulous Jewelry
Days 32-36, 2026 Fall Atlantic Sampler
Tuesday to Saturday, Oct. 27-31, 2026; Corfu, Iraklion and Rhodes, Greece.
I probably should rename this blog “ShoppingOnShore.”
I never mind returning to Rhodes since I discovered Vana’s jewelry shop in the old city last year.
Last fall on the second of three port calls in Rhodes I wandered in and bought a wonderful necklace – different than any I had seen before and one I knew would match a dress I brought on the trip.
When we returned a few weeks later, I searched the twisting lanes of the walled city in search of the shop, not finding it for several hours.
Vana’s displays are full of jewelry from a wide variety of Greek designers, and once she knew my taste, she led me to pieces she thought I would like. She was right and I left with more necklaces and a promise to return one day.
I was delighted to again see Rhodes on the itinerary for this cruise, and so after exploring the walled old city, my sisters and I ended our day at Vana’s. I came prepared, with photos of the large bead necklaces and delicate slides I had bought earlier. She remembered my visit, and as I expected led me straight to more pieces she knew I would love. Actually, she quickly darted between me and my sisters, who also managed to make some purchases.
As we left with our small but stuffed gift bags, I saw friends Kathy and Andy nearby puzzling over their map. She was wondering if they should ask someone for help and Andy said, “Just ask Jo.” Yes, I had recommended Vana’s and they were trying to find it. While she shopped, the rest of us enjoyed local beer and wine across the lane.
Rhodes is one of my favorite Mediterranean ports, and not just because of Vana’s. A gate into the walled city is just steps from the cruise pier, and it is a wonderful maze of crowds and deserted lanes. You enter onto a pedestrian street lined with shops selling T-shirts, jewelry, postcards, leather goods and all sorts of souvenirs. But take any narrow side lane and you immediately leave the crowds behind. It’s just you and dozens of cats – all well fed and skittish. I wrote repeatedly last year about my wanderings in Rhodes: here, here and here.
Earlier this week, Corfu was our first Greek port. I joined a ship excursion that took us to Ambelonas, a nearby vineyard that hosts special events such as weddings, celebrations and in our case, a cooking class and lunch. (I thought I understood one of the proprietors to say that Madonna celebrated her 68th birthday here recently, but apparently by “here” she meant in the next village where “The Durrells” was filmed.)
It was my favorite kind of cooking class – a demonstration rather than participation session. My favorite dish was the wine bread, but the entire meal and accompanying wines were great.
On our return, I hopped off the bus in town to wander the streets, which were packed with tourists. Once again, a few blocks away almost deserted lanes led to churches and ruins.
This section of our itinerary is well planned, in my opinion, as we alternate port days with sea days. On Thursday we arrived at Crete, the largest of Greece’s more than 6,000 islands (227 inhabited). This was my second visit to Crete, but at a new port, Iraklion.
Twelve of us booked an independent full-day tour in one of Greece’s largest areas for cultivating grapes and high-quality olive oil. And either vineyards or olive trees covered every available inch of the slopes of area hills.
We started with a tasting at an olive mill, where local families bring their olive harvest for processing (and like everywhere in Greece, cats have the run).
Next, it was on to wine tastings at two vineyards, one of which distills Crete’s famous spirit Raki from grape skins.
After a multi-course meal in a local open-air restaurant, we finished with a brief visit to a family-operated pottery studio.
Meanwhile, we managed to celebrate Halloween a day early on Oct. 30, avoiding a port day. There were lots of fun costumes, virtually all of which I failed to photograph.
