With only 24 hours in Athens, I had to be selective with where I spent my time. I looked up interesting neighborhoods in the Greek capital and landed on the Monastiraki neighborhood (as well as Plaka), which was a short walk from my hotel. I knew I’d arrived when I found myself on a narrow street flanked by store after store, selling everything from evil eye charms to cell phone chargers.  I wandered through the labyrinth, then found myself on a shorter street selling antiques. Stacks of china, religious icons, and silver wobbled precariously while shop owners gossiped over cigarettes.…

I adore the ocean. The first time I really recognized this fact was Spring Break 1997 when I went to Panama City with a group of friends and my then-boyfriend. He and I got in a big argument (as we were prone to do) and I stumbled out to the beach, crying in the dark. As I sat there, processing the argument, I began to calm down. I stared out into the black nothing and wondered what was out there in the big ocean. (Turns out, Mexico and Cuba!) I vowed I’d live by the ocean one day. I do…