Maru and I are finding a nice balance between spontaneity and crowd sourcing on this trip.
Spontaneity is not having a set plan and doing whatever looks interesting. See a cafe that looks nice: eat there. See a beach that looks beautiful: hang out there.
In comparison, crowd sourcing is optimised. It’s using Google Maps or Trip Advisor to find the highest rated places and experiences, and planning the day around those things.
Too much spontaneity and you may miss the good stuff. Too much optimisation and the holiday loses its magic.
Yesterday, we went to a town called Pyrgos in the middle of Tinos island. It’s known as the marble town. The streets, walls, stairs, churches, and even the detailing around the doors and windows of every home are carved in marble.
We found our Pyrgos breakfast spot via Google Maps. It was a highly rated cafe that made killer pancakes. Following that we spent an hour getting lost in the streets. Whilst walking around, we found a house-turned-museum of a sculptor from the early 20th century, Yannoulis Chalepas. We loved seeing his home and studio, and learning about his determination to break away from from the family business of being a marble hewer to become an artist. After Pyrgos, we went to a beach that was well rated for its calm, quiet, and crystal clear waters for the rest of the day.
This mix of planning and discovery makes for a day that feels spontaneous, but still allows us to experience the best of what the destination has to offer.