Europe 2012 Minute: Postcard from Santorini GREECE

Europe 2012 Minute: Postcard from Santorini GREECE

Santorini Heaven:

Nikos in Greece: Nick Verreos braves the 100+ Degree weather in Oia Santorini Greece

To finish my EUROPE 2012 Blog Postcard, my last stop was the island of Santorini in Greece. If you've been keeping up with my Europe 2012 BLOG Postcards--my NIKOLAKI design partner and I had the honor--and pleasure--of having a fab Fashion Presentation of our COUTURE line NIKOLAKI, in Florence Italy as well as I had a special lecture for the Summer In Italy Program students of Miami University of Ohio. This would be my fourth year being invited to lecture in Florence. Every year, after my lecture, David and I take advantage of being in Europe to get our once-a-year R & R. This year, we zero'ed in on the Greek islands as our beach/pool/do nothing destination. First we went to Mykonos and then it was onto Santorini...

No Business Class in this Ferry--Mykonos to Santorini

A Ferry Ride Adventure: We decided to get to Santorini from Mykonos via a Ferry. For some reason there were no flights from Mykonos to Santorini (only through Athens or Rome--go figure!) so this was pretty much our only option. Taking a ferry/"superjet" is a bit of an adventure: there are no lines to form and when the boat finally comes, it's a mad dash of HUNDREDS of people to get onto it, even though we all had assigned seats so the "mad dash" was useless. The ferry was late--about 2 hrs, so you wait in the burning 100+ degree sun without cover. You should have seen (and heard!) the American Honeymooners and other tourists; they were NOT having any of it (and frankly it was testing my patience). Finally on our way, it then took about four hours to get to Santorni after it stopped in just about every island in the Cyclades! It takes patience, possibly some prescription medicine (for those inclined to not have much patience) and a hand-held battery-operated fan to get through it (there was little air conditioning inside the ferry to top it all off). But David and I arrived--safe and sound to THIS:

 Oia, Santorini Greece

How Do You Say "We Need a Ride to Oia in Greek?": After arriving at the bottom of the island, our "adventure" continued as we bartered with a "Gypsy Bus" to take us to where we were staying (that's a whole other story darlings!). Anyhow, our destination was Oia, the village at the top of the island about an hour from the ferry port. We arrived just as the famous sunset was taking place (it's World renowned!). All we wanted was just to get to our hotel and break open a bottle of wine and laugh off the day's adventure...


  

The Hotel--A Resort beyond All Others--The Katikies Hotel Oia Santorini:

 Katikies Hotel: entrance signage (top photo), and view from the top of the hotel (bottom photo)

Welcome to Katikies: We booked our stay at the world-famous Katikies Hotel, one of the top rated Santorini hotels/resorts on Trip Advisor and "Travel and Leisure" Magazine's No. 1 ranked "Inn and Small Country Hotel" IN EUROPE! After our ferry-and-bus ride "adventure", we took one look at the view and white-washed hotel and it made us completely forget what we had just been through.

StairClimber: David Paul stops for a breather while walking down to our room at the Katikies Hotel Oia Santorini Greece

The Katikies is absolutely STUNNING! Everything looked like it was from a photo editorial from a fabulous traveler magazine. Not to mention the fact that from the moment we arrived, it was five-star, A-List service. The hotel has only 27 rooms so it feels very private, cozy and exclusive.

Santorini Home: We booked a basic room (which by the way, for Katikies,  is no chopped-liver!) but to our surprise, had been UPGRADED (Thank You Katikies!) to a two-floor Superior Suite with a loft-like set-up: bedroom upstairs, living/sitting room, dining area, walk-in closet and a sumptuous jacuzzi bathroom downstairs.

Speaking of bathrooms, I am a sucker for FAB bath products and Katikies did not disappoint: Bulgari

The Pools:

Cave Spa: The hotel boasts three pools but these two were my favorites: the Cave Jacuzzi, an "Indoor" Jacuzzi, located in a carved-out cave area of the hotel, and...

Infinity Heaven: The "Star" of the hotel--the jaw-droppingly perfect infinity pool. Here, I spent 99% of my time while I stayed in Santorini. If it wasn't for the fact that we had an expansive Superior Suite hotel room AND that pool hours stopped at 9PM, I would have probably SLEPT there too!

Breakfast Katikies Style: Breakfast custom ordered and brought to our very own private deck--Katikies Hotel Oia Santorini Greece

Pool Refreshments: My new favorite "snack"--(top photo) Watermelon with Feta Cheese on top (seriously, the combination was DIVINE!) and "Spicy Tomato Juice" (wink wink!) with olives and nuts to snack on (bottom photo)

In case you are wondering, we did leave the Katikies Hotel (it was VERY DIFFICULT to be pried away from THAT pool, darlings!) to take in Oia: the Greek Orthodox churches and domes, the colors of fences and church facades, the jewelry boutiques:

Precious Accessories: Bracelets, rings...all fabulous and all sooo CHIC--the town of Oia in Santorini is famous for its jewelry stores and all this gorgeous jewelry for women (seen in above photos)--if only I was a "kept" mistress of a billionaire Greek Shipping Heir!

Street Scene: A Bougainvillea tree--Oia Santorini Greece

After only two days of GORGEOUS relaxation in Santorni, it was time to leave this beautiful island and begin our journey back to home--above is our Aegean Airlines Airbus A320 plane arriving at the Santorini Airport to then take us to Rome to begin or way back to LA.

Stewardess Alta Moda: As depressed as I was having to come to the realization that our Business/Relax trip was over--my eyes perked up when, soon after walking into the Alitalia Magnifica Class Lounge at the Rome Fiumicino Airport, I spotted a whole entire wall devoted to Alitalia flight attendant uniforms: I was in Stewardess HEAVEN!! Armani, Florence Marzotto, Alberto Fabiani, Mila Schon, and many more designs--with fashion illustrations and photos. It was (almost) a good way for me to forget about how I wanted to fly back to this:

NIKOLAKI Pool: David Paul and Nick Verreos, enjoying the infinity pool--Katikies Hotel Oia Santorini Greece

YASSOU Santorini--and Good Bye! 'Till next year!

Europe 2012 Minute: Postcard from Mykonos GREECE!

Europe 2012 Minute: Postcard from Mykonos GREECE!

Yassou Mykonos!

Tropicana Club Paradise Beach Mykonos Greece

Last month, I had the pleasure of being invited back to Florence Italy and be part of Miami University of Ohio's fabulous "Summer in Italy" program as a special lecturer and to showcase my NIKOLAKI gowns in a great gallery environment/presentation for VIP Florence Italy guests as well as the students of the Miami U of Ohio Summer in Italy Program, of course. After my duties there, my travel--and NIKOLAKI-design-partner-in-crime--David Paul, and I, took off to the Greek Islands to enjoy some much-needed R and R. Because of my busy schedule--when I get a second of actual "down time", I prefer to do NOTHING.

 A View of Mykonos Town

Last year, we tried Mykonos and LOVED it. So...WE'RE BAAAAACK! Many people tried to "scare" us (last year) when we asked them if we should do Mykonos: "It's a MAJOR Party Island...so NOT YOU guys!" "Mykonos is better for young and drunk 19-year-olds from Australia and Italy...Not for you!" We didn't pay attention and still went. And LOVED it. Is it a "Party Island"? Yes, it can be. But for us non-partying non-19-year-old's, it can be a BLAST as well.

 Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel--View of the Mykonos Town Windmills from the hotel

We decided to come back to the same hotel we stayed at last year, the chic Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel right above Mykonos Town and a stone's throw away from those iconic windmills. We LOVED it last time so, to us, there is NO BETTER HOTEL in Mykonos:

 Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel Lobby

Greek Love: Nick Verreos (right) with Mykonos Theoxenia's Anna Grigoriadi, Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel

It's Boutique-y, love the post-modern colorful decor, very, very relaxed and "chill", the pool is amazing, and the hotel is conveniently close to all the Mykonos Town restaurants, bars...everything. And to top it off, the staff is always stepping over themselves in terms of the above-and-beyond service.

Our room--a Deluxe Sea-Front Room--with a step-up bedroom, a separate "foyer"/sitting area, and (my favorite!) a great little balcony with a view of the sea, as you can see from the photos above.

Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel Welcome: The hotel staff welcomed us with a plate of fresh fruits and a delicious bottle of red wine.

 

Mykonos Theoxenia Bath Chic: I also LOVE their bath products--Korres from Greece (of course!) and the cotton slippers.

The Pool:

Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel Pool: This was our "Home Away from Home"---or home away from the beach! The Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel Pool was DIVINE. I could spend DAYS there. Oh wait...I think I did! I almost forgot there were gorgeous beaches on the island with this pool!

Do I Really Have To Leave The Pool? This is the face I gave David when he informed me that it was time to go---to get drinks and dinner!

The Beach:

 Tropicana Club Paradise Beach, Mykonos

We spent several days in Mykonos and so yes, we headed to the beach during our stay (it was painful to leave our hotel during the day but we had to!). Last year, we really enjoyed Tropicana Club/Paradise Beach so we came back. David and I are creatures of habit, as they say, so we like to go back to places we enjoyed the first time. It was GORGEOUS and the weather was perfect.

Beach and Scooter Bunny: Nick Verreos does Mykonos Tropicana Club/ Paradise Beach--via Scooter

We would get there early--via a scooter ride (we rented scooters and the ride is visually stunning!)--work on our respective suntans for hours on our rented beach lounge chairs with attached straw umbrellas, then we would have a nice relaxing lunch--feta-filled Greek salads, Gyros, Souvlaki's...

Oh Yes, I'd Like an Afternoon Cocktail: David Paul and Nick Verreos enjoy an Apres-Sun drink, Tropicana Club/Paradise Beach Mykonos Greece

And then we would end our lazy Mykonos beach afternoon with a cocktail (or two) at the Tropicana Club/Paradise Beach "Lounge". From there, we would watch all the HUNDREDS of young and perfectly fat-free "kids" dancing atop tables and downing Champagne bottles nearby (and yes, they were 90 % Australian and Italian and I really wonder if their parents know what they are doing in Mykonos!!??).

Parents: When your children say they are doing an "Internship" in Europe...this is what they are really doing...Tropicana Beach Club/Paradise Beach Mykonos Greece

We would watch with a sense of National Geographic wonderment: "That's what crazy young teenagers do while their away in Mykonos!". One of our favorite sites was the "monument" of sorts that the Tropicana Club made of all the bottles--thousands of them--that those aforementioned kids drink on a DAILY basis:

Champagne Art: Welcome To Mykonos Tropicana Club/Paradise Beach

Packed: Nick Verreos awaits the Mykonos-Santorini Ferry--Mykonos Old Port

After four wonderful--and yes, very relaxing--days in Mykonos, it was time to move on. We wanted to take "Doing Nothing" to another level and decided to go to Santorini. We packed our bags, made reservations for the Mykonos-Santorini Ferry, said "Good bye" to Mykonos Theoxenia and Mykonos island and got ready for our ferry journey...

Where's The Line? David Paul awaiting the Mykonos-Santorini Ferry, amongst the no-line line--Mykonos Old Port

The Ferry wait was about TWO HOURS (do not go by the time scheduled to depart) and kids, there is no overhead cover to shield you from the 100 Degree + heat and a line? What's a line? There's no word in Greek for forming a line or a cue as the Brits would say. It was a nightmare and a half. Oh and did I mention the ferry ride took four hours and I have yet to remember a "this is what you should do in case of an emergency" demo during the ferry ride.

But we survived....



***Next on my "Postcard from Europe 2012": Santorini

Europe 2012: Florence Italy --Polimoda Visit and Lecture for Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" Program

Europe 2012: Florence Italy --Polimoda Visit and Lecture for Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" Program

Moda School:

Nice Sneakers: Nick Verreos, POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, Florence Italy

In my last post, I wrote about the wonderful "Florence Meets Hollywood" Fashion Presentation, which I was invited to be a part of by my hosts, the Miami University of Ohio Summer in Italy Program, who were the chief sponsors.

Besides the fact that it was a fabulous fashion event, it was also part of the Miami University of Ohio "Summer in Italy" students curriculum. In other words, they were invited to attend as part of the Journalism Class, to check out a fashion presentation in Florence Italy and write a "review" and/or blog recap about the event as part of a class assignment.

Students Take Note: Nick Verreos discussing  his NIKOLAKI Collection silk chiffon printed gown, "Florence Meets Hollywood", Sala Rosa FUA Florence Italy

The Ponte Vecchio Florence Italy

In addition, I was also giving a very special lecture the following day discussing the event and much more. This is my fourth year being invited as a "guest lecturer" to the wonderful Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" program and as always, I am so excited and very happy to be part of it. It's Director, Dr. Mark Bernheim, understands that in addition to the English and Journalism classes, the "Summer In Italy" program students should also be injected with some fashion knowledge, since A) Florence is such a NUCLEUS of Fashion and B) who knows if one of them might get thrust into a journalism job to cover a Fashion Week or two. I LOVE Firenze and well, it is pretty obvious, that I cannot get enough!

The day after the "Florence Meets Hollywood" Fashion Presentation, the Miami University of Ohio's "Summer In Italy" journalism students began Part Two of  their "Fashion In Florence" experience. We first visited the POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, located at the expansive and very beautiful Villa Favard.

 POLIMODA Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, Villa Favard Florence Italy

The College is one of the top institutions on the subject of fashion in all of Italy. The Miami University of Ohio students listened to several lecturers from POLIMODA, who spoke on everything from branding and marketing to licensing.

POLIMODA's Dean, the lovely Linda Loppa (above photo), was on hand to welcome us as well as give her very insightful "two cents" to the entire day.

Nick Verreos, with muslin creations of POLIMODA students (notice Dean of Polimoda, Linda Loppa smiling on the far left of the photo)

These are some of those muslin designs from students that were displayed in the foyer/entrance of the POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing in Florence Italy. The Institute had their famous "Graduate Fashion Show" just a few weeks prior to us being there and I heard these jackets were worn by the "pages" who introduced each different section and designer at the Polimoda Fashion Show:

Muslin Incredible: Yes kids, these are made of muslin (unbleached cotton)--POLIMODA's Dean, Linda Loppa, told me that these were jackets from the first class on jackets their students take (PS: WOW!)

Fashion Recess: After the POLIMODA tour and lectures, it was time for my Lecture, back at the Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" Program Journalism students. Here is a photo that was taken afterwards with some of the students (above).

Following my Lecture, I got to do a "Meet-and-Greet" with some of the "Summer In Italy" program students and chatted with them about their time in Europe, their goals for the future and gave them some advice on how to be the best and most successful. Afterward, my NIKOLAKI design--and traveling partner--David Paul and I, had the pleasure of meeting up with the Miami University of Ohio's "Summer In Italy" Program Director Dr. Mark Bernheim as well as "Florence Meets Hollywood" Creative Director Jerry Lee Ingram, to say "Ciao" and See You Next Time!

We met up at the rooftop bar of the beautiful Grand Hotel Minerva (above, on the left)--one of my favorite spots in the city, located near the Santa Maria Novella train station.

Left to right: Summer In Italy Program Director, Dr Mark Bernheim and Nick Verreos; Nick Verreos and "Florence Meets Italy" Creative Director Jerry Lee Ingram, Grand Hotel Miverva Florence Italy

Ciao Firenze: Nick Verreos and David Paul, Grand Hotel Miverva Florence Italy (with the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore --The Duomo--in the background)

It was another successful year of "Fashion in Firenze" and I was happy once again to bring some of my fashion knowledge to the wonderful students of Miami University of Ohio's "Summer In Italy" Program.