How did summer fly by so quickly?! I’ve had one of the best summers of my life (despite some family setbacks). Time did fly by really quickly, but looking back at everything that I have lived through the last two and a half months, I can honestly say that I truly lived in and appreciated every moment of life.

Obviously, my summer highlight was going back home to Greece! I seriously had one of my best times there this summer exploring different parts of the country that I had never been to. I traveled with a few friends from Chicago for a few weeks and then had some family time as well. I’ll be writing more on what I actually did and where I went in the upcoming weeks. If you haven’t been to Greece, yet, I’m hoping my photo journals will convince you to visit 🙂

One main reason I was there for so long (5 weeks) was that I wanted to spend as much time with my giagia, my maternal grandmother, as possible. She got really sick this past winter and I’m not sure how much longer she will be with us, but even being by her side for a little bit was everything I could have asked for. She really is the rock of my family and whom I’m named after, Panagiota. (Side note, my maternal grandfather was also named Panagiotis – they just happened to have the same name!) It was heartbreaking to see her in her current state because she was always so lively and this all just happened all of a sudden. My mom is with her now, so we’ve been getting updates. It’s really hard being away from half my family all the time, but this makes being so far away even that more difficult. I’m really praying that she will be okay.

I wasn’t going to write about my giagia in a fashion blog post where I’m smiling and wearing a touristy tee, but as I started writing this post, it’s what I felt like writing. She’s all I think about non-stop. My heart is truly in Athens with her.
Athens T-Shirt: (option) // ZARA: Shorts (1, 2) // Sam Edelman: Sneakers (1, 2) // Sezane: Handbag (1, 2, 3) // Sunglass Warehouse: Sunglasses (1, 2)

Photography: Limani Designs