Last in the Scandinavia/Baltic Region series. Wonderful 2022 Summer trip with Daughter while I was staying in London for the summer, she flew from LA and we spent a wonderful time together from Finland to Sweden, Estonia to Lithuania, including her 24th birthday here in Zakynthos! Perks of being a Nomad (post divorce and empty nest). (Reels of this trip are on Second Chapter Nomad Instagram).
Last post: https://secondchapternomad.blog/2024/02/06/layover-in-lithuania/
From the journals:
July 26, 2022 Zakynthos, Greece
Side note, I had never heard of Zakynthos. I’d been to Santorini, Anthens, Corfu back in my twenties. Daughter was looking for cheap flights and an end point where she’d leave mama to embark on her own journey (ultimately included backpacking solo through Albania!). So final destination, Zakynthos!
Late arrival last night – the no sea view debacle which we’d paid for in the hotel. Tired, cranky. Hot. Especially after the tumultuous flight described in the Lithuania post.
LATER TODAY – Keri Lighthouse
Great day with Daughter at our beach in the glorious water. Got a room upgrade.
Later taxi’d to https://kerilighthouse.com/ Keri Lighthouse Restaurant – most spectacular views ever of the Ionian Sea.
Sunset Cafe
Then Sunset Cafe https://thisway.gr/listing/ionian-sunset-cafe.html which is really just a cliff shack to a private property with epic sunset views.
Time with my Daughter
Loving this time with my daughter though there’s always a stress of something (Dr. bills coming in, my Hollywood Zoom call that I could hardly get a connection to, check in for flights etc.). Nomad real life!
Her b-day tomorrow. 24. Overwhelming. So happy I have this time with her. Really special.
July 27 Zakynthos, Greece – Philoxenia
Wow, how the island has grown on us. The Philoxenia… Greek hospitality… shown today in abundance with Daughter’s birthday. Three desserts and songs and cards! Everyone is so eager for us to love their island, and we do!
Shipwreck Beach
We took a wild boat ride to Shipwreck Beach with massive crowds but glorious views and turquoise water.
Blue Caves
Then the boat meandered through the famous Blue Caves with white cliffs. Stunning. Moored, and jumped into the Ionian Sea for a swim off the boat.
Quick stop at a beach cafe where young Greek waitstaff surprised Daughter with first dessert and song.
Domenicale Restaurant – Daughter’s Birthday Dinner
Her birthday dinner at Domenicale https://dominicale.com/was epic. We picked the fish directly from the fisherman from an exotic local selection, who then prepared it simply with lemon and olive oil (we chose bakaliaros). Another staff member’s entire job was to fillet it at our table.
The fisherman also shucked fresh oysters at our table, and presented scallops in the shell. Wasps buzzed around the delicacies until the staff burned coffee beans at the table to repel them.
We had a starter of “red snapper carpaccio from Ionian Sea, with buckthorn, tarmacs with cuttlefish ink, local bottarga, sea urchin and salicornia” (what!? Well, it was delicous). The sommelier brought us reasonable Greek white wine which was light for the summer night. The staff was attentive and wanting to make sure everything was perfect for her birthday.
The sunset was dramatic. Another round of singing and a chocolate dessert in addition to the passion fruit with raspberry sorbet. Sommelier brought round port.
We rolled ourselves out to a taxi, only to arrive to our hotel and the staff eagerly awaiting suggesting we go straight to our room. There awaited the third dessert, fully personalized with her name (from her passport!). A full cake. So sweet. Now my alarm shall ring in 5 hours, and Daughter and I will go our separate ways. What a truly special time.
I’ve been blessed to spend substantial time with both of my kids on my nomadic journey. Special times and experiences that we all cherish.
July 28, 2022 Currently flying from Romania to London (after Zakynthos to Bucharest).
Really thinking, planning, getting my head straight before London and seeing the Rogue again. Soon we’ll be at a cat sit in Kingston upon Thames for a month. The next adventure.
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