To me, picnics are often better in theory than execution. I remember when I was little planning a picnic with one of my sisters. We spent ages prepping; making Nutella sandwiches, slicing fruit, mixing lemonade and so on; then collecting all our supplies we trooped to a grassy hill sprinkled with wildflowers just beyond the edge of our backyard. We spread our blanket and unpacked our goodies, settling in to enjoy our sandwiches when we spied one bee...then another, and another, until it seemed like dozens were buzzing wildly around us. Hastily we scooped up our picnic and beat a expeditious retreat to the safety of our house leaving a few half-eaten sandwiches in our wake. And that was the day we learned our neighbor was also an amateur bee-keeper! We didn't actually get stung (we hadn't upset a nest, we had merely set up picnic in close proximity to their hives), but it still managed to put me off picnics for quite awhile. I like the idea of them--enjoying a meal outside in gorgeous settings, but they never seem to go quite according to plan. Most days the closest I get to a picnic is take-away food scoffed down parked beside idyllic settings before we head out to explore (I'm quite partial to a curry chip); you still get close to the outdoors bit (minus the bugs), but manage to skip the prep!
This summer however I was determined to have a proper "adult" picnic, complete with a gorgeous hamper/basket and the perfect backdrop. Castle Roche was somewhere we had explored before and when my new hamper from Eaton Hampers arrived in the mail I quickly began planning our next excursion to this crumbling masterpiece. This picnic basket is my dream; so lovely to look at with autumn-toned tartan interior and attached blanket, but also incredibly functional with all the necessary accessories for two and a little removable cooler pouch for your food! As leery as I am of picnics this is one basket I plan to use again and again, especially since we often get peckish while out exploring new sites. So with the perfect picnic basket in hand I prepped my first "serious" picnic throwing in bits of fresh fruit, a bottle of elderflower lemonade (quite a step up from the powdered mix of my youth!), sandwiches, and little nibbles. I'm probably most chuffed about the little bites I made with our homemade basil pesto--made with basil from our own little kitchen herb garden. Yes, quite the elegant adult--no Nutella and white bread sandwiches or bees this time! Thankfully! My lovely maxi dress from my favorite independent label, Family Affairs, finished the picture. There were also no cliche rain clouds, or trail of pesky ants either; in fact, this picnic such a smashing success my next one might not be too far off. Sometimes, ever so occasionally, expectations can match reality...
Read on for the legend of Castle Roche below; it's a story that makes my long white gown quite fitting and a little creepy for the setting...
The Legend of Castle Roche: Rohesia de Verdun wanted a castle to secure her land, but her reputation for a quick temper kept the local architects and workers away. So Rohesia proposed an irresistible offer; she would give her hand in marriage to any man who could build a castle worthy of her. An offer that meant not just marriage to a wealthy woman, but a portion of her lands and wealth. And so Castle Roche was built; an impressive structure strategically placed high on a rocky outcrop with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and a deep moat making it virtually impenetrable. A lavish wedding feast was held and Rohesia led her groom up to the bridal suite of her new castle. She urged him to look out a large window at the rolling hills and land they now shared...and then with a swift shove to his back she sent him falling to his death.

It always feels like the holiday is truly over when you post the last of your vacation snaps! I don't feel quite ready to finish talking about and looking at Greece pictures; it's almost as if I can hold onto that sunshine and relaxed feeling through the pictures for a few more days (or weeks)...Of course home isn't so bad and while a week on yacht in the sea is heavenly, I'm sure the charm of your tiny cabin would wear off eventually and the usual longings for home and a normal bed would catch up with you! So, we have left Greece and our MedSailors crew without the typical post-holiday tan, but with a few bug bites, souvenirs, and a score of memories. This Greek trip might be over, but I highly doubt it will be our last sailing holiday. We were beyond charmed by our visit to Croatia last year, also with MedSailors, and Greece has only whet our appetite for more islands and yachts! It's such a unique way to travel and see a country that I can't recommend more. MedSailors just listed some additional holiday bookings for September and October in Italy and I'm so tempted to try to book a second holiday (as unrealistic as it would be for us)! Summer forever! Honestly though as unlikely as an autumn sailing trip would be for us, I'm seriously looking at the MedSailors routes we haven't done yet for next summer. You get to see so much more of a country than going to one location, but also all of the work/hassle of traveling around independently is taken out of the trip. Instead of lugging your belongings from one ferry to the next to hop the Greek islands, booking a different hotel or Airbnb every night, you get to leave all of your things on your yacht and be skippered around everywhere with stops for swims and freshly-made meals. It takes a lot of the guesswork and pain out of traveling while still letting you travel and explore and see loads. We'll go on non-sailing holidays in the future, but for one week most summers, I'd definitely like to try to sneak some sailing in!
Speaking of packing for sailing--this little mini dress was something I picked up specifically for my holiday. It's not the most practical for the weather back home, but I love the breezy style and big embroidered sleeves--lightweight enough to keep me cool in the heat, but good coverage to protect my arms and shoulders from the sun where I'm most prone to burn. Of course the first day I wore it I spilled some balsamic vinegar on the front of it before I even had a chance to leave the boat! The stain washed out (mostly!) so I'll probably be wearing this on more beach days in the future. This specific color sold out at the shop I got it from, but I hunted down several similar dresses in different colors but the same style to link to. I mean, the white version of this dress is also so gorgeous, although probably even more dangerous to wear around potentially staining foods!

You know all those different ways we define ourselves? Introvert/extrovert, type A or type B? Loud or quiet? Well I definitely see myself as more the wound-tight type rather than the laid-back sort. I like "plans," knowing exactly what is on the agenda for the day to come and when everything is going to happen. Even on our sailing holiday I kept the little brochure of our schedule handy, checking it nightly to see where we were headed next (and yes, researching each a bit before we even left home). But being in Greece, on a boat, on holiday, definitely forced me to relax a little in probably the best way. Ask for your bill at the end of your meal and you often found yourself waiting for another twenty minutes; not ignored since your waiter will stop by a few times bringing you complimentary shots and seeing if everything is ok, but unhurried. It's the sort of holiday that says, "don't worry so much, moments are meant to be savored." Linger in your seat watching the sun dip below the water. Let your hair air-dry, your skin go make-up free, and your most complicated piece of clothing be a strappy sandal. I think I could get used to being on "Greek time" (or perhaps just holiday time) and my glittery watch even matched the crystal-clear waters. An accessory that was definitely more fashion than function on this trip!