When my friend Marron texted me at the beginning of April and asked if I wanted to go on a girl’s trip to Greece using a buddy pass from one of her friends who is a Delta flight attendant, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. Greece has been on my bucket list for years, and while I was so excited by the opportunity to finally visit, I initially had a lot of doubts about the trip. I had just found out about my possible endometriosis and was awaiting surgery to remove my endometrioma, which was originally scheduled four days after I would return home. The risk of going before the surgery was that if my cyst ruptured or torsed, I would need medical help in a foreign country, far from the comfort of my home—and I wasn’t sure if that risk was worth it.

Fast forward to when I found a new doctor: she squeezed me in for surgery just ten days after meeting her (and one month before the trip) so that I wouldn’t have to miss out…trust me, my gratitude to her is endless. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have met some incredible girls, fallen in love with yet another beautiful country, or had some well-deserved fun after the month I’d had.

I always imagined that visiting Greece would feel like any other European vacation along the Mediterranean, like Spain or Italy, but it had much more Eastern influence than I expected—reminding me a bit of the Persian culture I grew up with at home. People dance after dinner, they speak loudly, they are never rushed, they love music, and as a whole, they are some of the warmest people I’ve met in my travels. When I pointed this out to one of our drivers—a gentleman who spent his off-season in Athens and summers in Mykonos, like many locals—he shared that the culture is different on the mainland, where people tend to be more tense and focused on work. I didn’t spend any time in Athens, so I can’t personally speak to this, but I can imagine how the contrast between the city and the islands shapes that impression.

One of my favorite parts of traveling is trying the traditional dishes of different cultures. If you’re a foodie like me, you know that finding good restaurants can be difficult—but I can honestly say I didn’t have a single bad meal in my ten days in Greece. I mean, how could you when you have access to the freshest seafood and vegetables, in a country known for its olive oil, honey, and yogurt? One of my favorite things about the girls I traveled with is that we enjoyed every meal family-style—sharing a handful of appetizers and dishes from the menu. In ten days, we tried it all: tzatziki, hummus, dolmathes, calamari, traditional Greek salad, lamb, spanakopita, seabass, gyros—you name it. It was truly a culinary dream.

I feel so grateful that I was able to experience a glimpse of this beautiful country and culture with new friends—especially when I think about how close I came to not experiencing any of it. The people were so hospitable, the food was incredible, and the overall experience exceeded any expectations I had. In this issue, you’ll find everything from Greek-inspired looks and sun-kissed beauty to a first-timer’s guide to navigating the islands, along with all my recommendations from the islands we visited. I hope this edition gives you both the inspiration and the confidence you need to explore the beautiful Aegean islands and sea.