I got my film photos developed from Greece, and they feel so nostalgic. Last summer we spent 2 weeks in Greece and hopped between three islands: Naxos, Paros, and Mykonos. I brought my Kodak EKTAR H35 Half Frame film camera with me and I love how it lends nostalgic charm to the magical Greek islands.

It was my first time using this camera, and I’m loving that it’s so light-weight and easy to toss in a bag. My normal film cameras are pretty bulky and heavy, and this one makes it easy to toss in my bag and take a film photo on a whim. Since it’s a half frame camera you end up with double the exposures you typically would on a roll of film. This makes it but there is a quality loss since the photos so while they are fun to shoot the quality is not ideal. Here’s a few snaps from the trip. If you ever find yourself wandering the sun-drenched streets of Greece, don’t forget to pack a film camera and a roll of film.

FILM CAMERA ESSENTIALS

Want to see more about our trip? Check out this post here.

xoxo Erika

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Visiting the Greek Island Naxos

One of the islands I visited in Greece and fell in love with was Naxos. This stunning little islands is home to not only abundant beaches, wonderful food and beautiful scenery but also fascinating ancient sites to explore. Upon arriving at the port you are greeted with an ancient Greek ruin called the Portara. Constructed in 530 BC, the Portara is a giant doorway to the never-finished Temple of Apollo. Some highlights of Naxos include Plaka beach, Naxos Town (Chora), and Naxos Kastro (Castle).

We stayed out of the main port area about a 20 minute bus ride over to the Plaka Beach area. We stayed at the most dreamy hotel called Dream on Plaka that came with a hot tub and ocean view, along with cabanas on the sand.

Where to Stay

There are lots of places to stay on Naxos island. We considered a few AirBnb’s includung this apartment with a pool, this cute apartment and this apartment but ended up staying at Dream on Plaka because it was on the ocean and included beach daybeds and breakfast.

Dream on Plaka

The property was gorgeous and the location was amazing. We saw some of the best sunsets of our lives on that beach and it was hard to leave! We kept saying everything was so nice that we couldn’t believe how affordable it was. Our breakfast changed each morning so we never got bored, the room came with a hot tub that we enjoyed every evening and the staff we’re so helpful with recommendations. I would absolutely stay here again.

We spent most of our time on Naxos lounging on the beach but we also rented a peddle boat one day and got to bask in the sun and see the crystal-clear waters from the sea.

Where to Eat + Drink

There was such amazing food on the island of Naxos. We ate at a few spots in Naxos town as well as on Plaka beach and all were amazing. Be sure to eat some local Naxos potatoes while you’re there!

Caya: This stunning spot right on the ocean was our favorite. We had just about everything we could on the menu and loved all of it.

Nomad Beach Bar Restaurant Naxos: Another dreamy location right on the ocean with great cocktails and a cute location.

WITH Naxos: Grab a coffee and breakfast at this spot near the port.

goat in a boat: A cute coffee shop on the Plaka side of the island.

520 Cocktail Bar Restaurant: A rooftop restaurant with view of the port.

Metaxi mas – Mezedopoleio: A classic spot in Naxos town.

Doukato Restaurant: A cute place tucked behind an alley.

Lucullus Taverna: A historical spot in old Naxos.

Caya had the dreamiest interior, views, and delicious food. We loved it so much we went back the next night. Their beach club was also stunning with these pretty pink chairs. The design of this space was overwhelmingly beautiful. I want to live in this stunning restaurant, hah!

Nomad is next door to Caya and is equally a stunning restaurant. We watched the sunset from the restaurant while we had pre-dinner drinks and it was gorgeous.

Things to Do

Visit The Portara ancient ruins

Spend time on Plaka Beach

Explore the village streets of Naxos Town (Chora)

Visit the Naxos Castle (Kastro)

The Portara

At the main port there are must-see ancient ruins called The Portara. The view at sunset is magical and it was really cool to see the history. Constructed in 530 BC, the Portara is a giant doorway to the never-finished Temple of Apollo. Some highlights of Naxos include Plaka beach, Naxos Town (Chora), and Naxos Kastro (Castle).

Naxos Town

Down in Naxos Town there was lots of exploring to do. We walked around the winding streets of the old village and popped into cute shops and explored alleyways. There were so many cute things to see! We got the best ice cream at a place called Waffle House (not the American one, haha) and they had the most insane but delicious flavors like every candy bar you can imagine.

Hope this inspired you to visit Naxos on your next trip to Greece!

Want more travel content? Check out these posts!

Three Greek Islands to visit

Travel guides

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I got back from Greece this summer and fell in love. When it comes to choosing the perfect Greek island for your next vacation, the options are overwhelming. Beyond the more famous destinations like Santorini and Mykonos, the Greek archipelago has magnificent hidden gems of islands that have daily ferries. Here are all of the details on the Greek islands I loved. I visited some of the more off-the-beaten-path islands than your most famous islands like Santorini and Mykonos and they were a literal dream. These are three magical islands to visit in the Aegean Sea.

Paros

With an incredible natural landscape and coastline, Paros is one of the most beautiful Greek islands. It has endless golden-sand beaches, traditional Cycladic architecture and stunning sandy beaches with transparent waters. The island is reachable by ferry, so I flew into Santorini and headed straight to the port to catch my ferry over to Paros. While the main port area of Paros was wonderful we chose to go a bit deeper to a more off-the-beaten-path of the main area called Naoussa. There was an incredible little fishing village along Naoussa that was lined with lovely shops, restaurants, and nightlife. While on the island we rented a car and explored a few different historical villages in the area including Lefkes and Marpissa. We spent 4 days in Naoussa and could have stayed there forever. A true hidden gem of a place.

Naxos

Our next stop was Naxos, home to not only abundant beaches, wonderful food and beautiful scenery but also fascinating ancient sites to explore. Upon arriving at the port you are greeted with an ancient Greek ruin called the Portara. Constructed in 530 BC, the Portara is a giant doorway to the never-finished Temple of Apollo. Some highlights of Naxos include Plaka beach, Naxos Town (Chora), and Naxos Kastro (Castle).

Mykonos

On the more well-known spectrum of Greek islands there is Mykonos. This windy island is home to the iconic windmills. While there is partying on all of the options Mykonos is sort of the hub with nightclubs open all-night and a vibrant party scene. Though still beautiful and magical like the other Greek islands Mykonos was much more packed with tourists, generally less clean and did not have great beaches. I would call Mykonos the Las Vegas of Greece. It’s perfect to fly out of on your way out of the islands and visit for a day or so. Highlights include dinner at Kastro’s, the beautiful windmills, and delicious food.

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Cutest Parisian Boutique Hotel in Paris: Hôtel Orphée

While we were staying in Paris this summer we booked the Hôtel Orphée for a few nights. It was such a stunning hotel with on the Left Bank. The lobby design is an absolute dream, and they even have a daily cake out you can grab. I loved the location which was a quick walk t the Jardin des Plantes, the Seine, the Great Mosque of Paris and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I hadn’t really had a chance to stay in the 5^th arrondissement of Paris before, and I absolutely loved it. Every morning we walked to Crible coffee, grabbed a croissant at a bakery, and then walked through the gardens with them. It was such a nice way to start the trip. And how gorgeous is this space? Feeling very inspired by the design here.

The space was completely redesigned by architect Eloïse Bosredon, with nods to Greek design and plays with shapes and colors. There are beautiful built ins with arches, Art Deco motifs, and beautiful coffee table books. I could sit in the lobby for hours.

They also have a breakfast spread, cocktails at the bar, and a free daily cake with coffee. We were able to use the hammam (basically a type of steam room) that you can book and use during your stay. It was so relaxing and I 10/10 would book it again.

Happy travels! If you want to see more guides check out my Instagram and TikTok.

Pin it for later!

The post Where to Stay in Paris: Hôtel Orphée appeared first on Erika Carlock Blog.

We just got back from our European summer and I’m soaking up all of the amazing memories. We spent 5 weeks abroad and it was the trip of a lifetime. There are so many things I wanted to take back with me and lifestyle changes that I want to implement into daily life like long, delicious meal times, lots of walking, and enjoying beauty in every day things. We split our time between a few places we’ve been before and places we’ve never seen. We stayed in Paris, Greece, and Italy and did the perfect mix of city and countryside. I’m still savoring every minute of it. Here’s a quick recap of where we went!

10 Days in Paris

We jetted straight to Paris to kick off this trip. Paris one of our favorite cities ever and we really wanted to spend a good amount of time there as if we actually lived there. We stayed in a few different neighborhoods, and spend a good chunk on time in the Montmartre neighborhood. We hopped around to different hotels, drank tons of wine, and ate the most magical food. I already miss sitting along the rivier siene at sunset, drinking delicious cocktails, and strolling the streets.

A Week Hopping Around the Greek Islands

Greece was top of our list for travel and we had to finally make it happen this trip. During the pandemic when we were stuck at home we listened to the Purple Noon album by Washed Out on repeat and kept saying that we would be listening to that album in Greece in a year. It took a few more years than a year but we finally made it and it was an absolute dream. We did some island hopping and went to Paros, Naxos, and Mykonos. It was such a dream and I literally cannot wait to go back to Paros as soon a possible. The most magical sunsets, delicious food (gimme all the Greek potatoes!), and stunning charming towns.

Two Weeks in Italy

After relaxing and getting all of the sun in Greece we headed to Italy. We started off in the southern part of Italy in Puglia and hopped around to a few towns. We stayed in the most stunning Italian farmhouses (also called masserias) and it was an absolute dream. I was literally looking up real estate the entire time we were there. It was pure magic. It was so cool to be so close to the beach and visit the most stunning beaches, lounge at the dreamiest pools, and literally be in farmlands. After the Italian countryside we headed back to the city and spent a few days in Rome. We stuffed ourselves with pasta and wine and walked all over the city. It was so dreamy and tiring. I can’t wait to go back again. Talk about the trip of a lifetime!

Stay tuned for the full guide from everywhere I went! Want to see more of my trip? Check out my Instagram and TikTok.

xoxo Erika

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Happy V-Day babes! Just a note to send you all of the love today. I had to share some of my fave snaps from the city love. xoxo Erika

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When I planned my month-long Europe trip last summer my number one place I wanted to visit was Mallorca. I had been dreaming of visiting the island and I’m so glad we did. Oddly enough it’s apparently the main tourist attraction for Germans, and I visited Mallorca right after spending 1.5 weeks in Germany. Hah! Think of it as the Cabo or Hawaii equivalent for Americans. I heard as much German spoken in Mallorca as I did in Germany. All of the staff spoke German and Spanish, and they even brought us German menus a few times which was funny and unexpected. Anyway let’s get straight to the real deal–was Mallorca super cool, or was it another Instagram bust that looks cool in the photos? Well…it was amazing! I highly recommend it, and as for the areas we stayed in it was the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Where We Stayed

Booking a room was the hardest part of this trip! Usually I have a long list of places to stay in cities, and have to narrow them down. For Mallorca I had no idea. The area (near the airport) is very touristy and not my style, and the south end seemed really amazing and packed with gorgeous callas (those pretty coves of clear blue water!), but it was far removed from everything.

I was super nervous about staying on the east end because I had never been to the island and had no idea what it would be like. I had all sorts of questions… Do we need to rent a car? Will we find places to eat? Are we going to be able to see everything we want to? We ended up booking the ICON hotel because it looked too dreamy! I did A LOT of research when planning Mallorca, and still felt very unsure of what I was getting into. In the end it all worked out, and became my favorite place.

The hotel was magical with a dreamy view of the calla, a private path to get to the beach, the perfect breakfast spread each morning, and straw cabanas at the pool. We booked the ICON resort on the east end of the island. It was a DREAM. The property was pretty new, and everything felt like we

Getting Around

You basically have to rent a car when you’re in Mallorca. It’s a wide island, and if you want to see any of it you’ll need a way to get around. Trust me, as much as it sounds like you should just lounge around the beach all day you’ll want to explore too! We rented an automatic Mini Cooper and it was perfect for getting around. Be sure to book it in advance because the line at the airport pickup was intense, and they won’t have the car you want if you wait until the last minute. Driving through the island was gorgeous. Every building had so much charm and there were tons of livestock and cactus everywhere. Getting around via car was pretty easy. There were also a zillion roundabouts, so heads up if you do visit be prepared for narrow streets and roundabouts. It took us about an hour to get from the airport to the hotel, and we drove through the sunset and got there right when it had gotten dark.

Soaking Up The Sun On A Spanish Island

We spent the first day lounging by the pool. We went over to the calla right beneath us and floated. It was so dreamy. Crystal clear blue waters, gorgeous rocks everywhere, the sun beating down on us. I could relive this moment forever.

Where We Explored

After spending the previous weeks trekking through Germany and Paris I was ready to spend the entire time in Mallorca hopping between the pool and ocean, but Joe wouldn’t dare let that happen. One morning he planned an entire day trip to this magical town called Alcudia, Albercutx Watchtower lookout point, and a little beach to swim in at sunset called Platja de Formentor. I’ll admit I was so hesitant, and just wanted to lay out all day but I’m SO glad he forced me to explore. Alcudia was absolutely magical, and

I was so inspired by all of the details in Mallorca–white washed rock facades, rubber trees, cactus and ficus everywhere. I felt so inspired to redecorate our yard!

Places We Ate

For the most part the food and drinks in Mallorca are pretty repetitive–seafood, patatas bravas, sangria–rinse and repeat! Our hotel had some pretty good food options, and Joe had his fair share of paella. For the most part we had peppers padron peppers, patatas bravas with yummy aoili,

We had one night where we were craving Italian food SO bad so we ventured to the Cala Serena area not too far from our hotel. We ate at a Port Petit and then walked around and it was this cheesy tourist town with a strip of restaurants and bars that felt like Vegas of sorts. We found these kitchy tiki bars and had to stop by! It was hilarious the drinks were all on fire with huge straws that were as long as my arm. It was a fun time, and one of those cheesy moments you have to laugh about and enjoy.

SHOP MY MALLORCA PRINTS

Magical Mallorca was made for white linen dresses, woven bags, and sun hats.

Don’t forget to pack a beach towel becuase you’ll want to do some beach hopping!

On our last day it rained and we were so sad to not soak up a bit more sun! It was definitely a place where we were not ready to leave, and wanted to stay forever. Between the sunshine, sea, and historic towns I am already dreaming of visiting again.

Have you been to Mallorca? Where are you dreaming of visiting?

The post Mallorca Travel Diary appeared first on Erika Carlock Blog.

In August, I set sail with my gals A Whimsy Wonderland and Splendid Rags, to explore Germany in an entirely new way–via ship! We went on the Germany’s Finest cruise, with U River Cruises by Uniworld which was so exciting because we were able to visit a number of cities in 1 week without losing any travel time (because that happened primarily while we were sleeping).

U by Uniworld is a new type of luxury cruise aimed at the the younger traveler, and with a more affordable price tag. The ship was super modern, but with all of the comforts you’d need. We went on the themed cruise, which was a fun added experience, but they also have non-themed cruises here too.

To be honest, I had no idea how incredible of a place Germany was until this cruise. I had done Berlin, and loved it, but I would have never been able to experience all of the charming little towns we explored without this trip. The entire country was straight out of a fairytale, and all of the people we’re so nice. I couldn’t recommend a visit to these cities, or on the cruise ship more.

The Ship

First off, we were clearly cruising in the coolest ship on the Main River. It’s jet black, super sleek, and had a cozy lounge area and top deck to hang out at. We spent most of our time off the ship exploring the towns, but once we were back on it each evening we always had a comfy spot to chill, and have a drink.

The best part about doing a European river cruise is how convenient it is. You essentially travel while you’re sleeping, chilling on the rooftop, or eating breakfast. Had we tried to plan out this whole trip ourselves, and do all of the same things we would have taken double the time for travel between cities.

I got a ton of questions about what the food was like, and it was so good that I actually miss it. Can you believe it? Each morning there was a huge breakfast spread with all of the pastries, potatoes, and meats you could want, a scramble station, and parfait station. They even had an assortment of smoothies and juices each morning which was so my jam. It was the perfect way to start off the days because we basically adventured all day long and needed some serious fuel. Dinner was top-notch too. Some nights we had buffet, and some nights we had a 3 course family style meal with 3+ entrees. It was so much yummy food I’m surprised they didn’t have to wheel us out of there… let’s just say we were well fed!

The rooms were modern and had the most insane amount of storage, which is essential for a cruise. You could fit your suitcases under the bed, and there were storage units on each side of the bed, and a double closet by the door. I would definitely go for a balcony room so that you can open your door and peek out at the river or get the breeze, too!

The Sights

We saw so many beautiful places. As soon as we got on the ship they gave us a digital itinerary (because they are completely paperless, super cool and eco-friendly!) that outlined all of the towns we would explore. They had a mix of plans that were included, as well as some add-ons if you wanted to do something more special. I’m outlining all of the cities we went to below!

Frankfurt + Miltenberg

We boarded the ship in Frankfurt, and had the evening to explore before we set sail to our first town. They gave us a tour of four cool places we could go to in the city, and then let us go onto explore on our own. We went to a cider market and tried a few different strawberry ciders before heading back to the ship for the evening. Then, the next morning we woke up in Miltenberg, hiked up to a castle, and then took a pretzel-making class. The class was taught by the funniest guy man whose family has been making pretzels since the 1800s! How quaint is this town? Day one, and we were already in love!

Wurzburg

On day two, we headed to Wurzburg. It was an incredible, packed day and I still can’t believe how much we did on this magical day. We opted for the bike ride, and had the most incredible bike ride along the river (and the ship!). We split off from the river and biked through miles of beautiful wine vineyards, before heading up a hill for a castle. It ended up being a 20 mile bike ride, and then we met the ship down on the river and had a local favorite called radlers (lemonade and beer) before heading back onto the ship.

Once we got back onto the ship, we jumped back off the ship and onto a tour bus and toured a Baroque Palace called the Würzburg Residence. It was so beautiful, and we weren’t allowed to take photos but it’s famous for its grand staircase, hall of mirrors and ginormous ceiling fresco that’s actually larger than the Sistine Chapel’s! The garden was an absolute dream, and I’m basically ready to move in. Hah!

But wait, there’s more! After the mansion, we headed back to the town and it just happened to be happy hour, so the guides took us to this lovely bridge where everyone in the town meets and has a glass of wine every evening. At this point we were all like “okay, we could do this everyday, let’s move here!” It was such a magical thing to experience. Obviously, we walked around the town and got gelato before heading back to the ship for dinner.

We woke up the next morning still docked in Wurzburg, and took a tour of the towns local farmer’s market. The ships head chef even came with us to buy local produce for our meals! How cool is that?

Rothenburg

Next, we headed to Rothenburg AKA a town straight out of a fairy tale! I don’t even know where to begin describing this magical town. First of all, to get there we drove down the Romantic Road, and yes, it’s literally called that. And second, they have a year-around Christmas store. Need I say more? The streets were so colorful, and we were basically in our own little rainbow heaven.

Bamberg

We explored Bamberg on our own, and it was so quaint. U offered a walking tour, but we decided to get some work done in the morning instead, and explored the city on our own. We stopped by Schlenkerla, which is known for a smoked beer. I tried it, of course, but couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. A few people compared it to BBQ beer, or an ash tray. Hah! It reminded me of a coffee stout with a bit of a smoky taste. The town was another magical dream, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over how cute it was. I kept saying I felt like I was living in a Shakespeare play.

Nuremburg

We also went on a historical tour of Nuremburg, which was heavy and hard and so important to learn about the history in Germany. Some of the WWII sites we went to were the Zeppelin Field where Hitler spoke at rallies, the Documentation Center and the site of the famous post-war Nuremberg Trials. We were lucky enough to actually sit in the courtroom where it all happened, and it was really impactful to see all of it. If you’re ever nearby, I would make it a point to go.

Regensburg

For our last stop we landed at the cutest Historical town right in front of a castle! Regensburg is a Bavarian city nestled along the Danube River, with over 2,000 years of medieval history. We wandered through the Old Town, walked across the famous Old Stone Bridge, and found a magical carnival.

We had our last drinks on board at the rooftop that evening, and watched the sunset. We did not want to leave! I’m already dreaming of another river cruise…

Want to check out a river cruise with U? See all of the options right here! xoxo Erika

This trip was sponsored by U by Uniworld, but all opinions are my own.

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Sometimes with how constant social media can be over on Instagram, I forget to stop and introduce myself. So I wanted to do a little run down of a few bits about me that people tend to ask in my DMs every now and then. Hopefully you can get to know me a bit better this way!

10 Facts About Me

1. I’m 27. Yep, in my last few years of the 20’s! I’m was born in the 90s, and am a 90s girl through and through. I grew up with Tamagotchis, AOL, and flip phones.
2. I was born in California. And  I never left! I’ve lived in a few places in California, but just haven’t been able how to ever leave the weather here.
3. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen inspired me to travel. No joke, I fell in love with travel because of all of the MKA movies I watched as a kid. I was getting major wanderlust to go to all of the places they filmed—London, Paris, Australia, Rome… you name it. TBH Passport to Paris is prob still in my top 10 movies, and my sister and I planned our first trip abroad together when we were kids and made it happen when I was 19 all thanks to the Olsen twins.
4. I got into blogging out of obsession. I’m not even sure what my “first” blog was because I would make websites about things I loved even as a kid. So many collages and photos! I’ve been cataloging and taking photos for as long as I could remember, so blogging has always just felt like something I had to do as a creative outlet. I’m so thankful I can share all of the things I’m obsessed with with you!
5. I’m a country girl turned city girl. I grew up on my grandparents ranch and tire swing in central California. They farmed citrus and avocados, and we spent most of our time out on the ranch. Fun fact: I never paid for fruits until I left for college, and I legit thought avocados should be free because we would get bags full from the tree on a regular basis. I was like “What do you mean guac is extra?! That shits free.”
6. I’m a total insomniac. I’ve always had the hardest time going to bed, and especially waking up. I feel like my best ideas always come to me late at night, and I feel motivated to clean the entire house at like 1 AM on a regular basis. It’s weird and annoying, but I think it’s also good to listen to your body and it’s natural rhythm, right?
7. My style icon is Brigitte Bardot. I love how everything she wears is so simple and effortless.  Give me all of the off the shoulder tops and headbands, please!
8. I grew up in an all-female household. Growing up it was just me, my sister, and my mom. Needless to say we had A LOT of fun. There was basically a photoshoot, runway show and dress up sesh going on every day growing up. We even listened to the entire Britney Spears ‘…Baby One More Time‘ album on repeat during road trips.
9. Decorating keeps me awake at night. I love to decorate so much that I will plan and re-plan rooms on the regular. It’s such an obsession for me that when I’m browsing houses that I definitely can’t even afford yet I decorate the entire space in my mind knowing that I’ll never live there. Haha. Anyone else obsessed with decor?
10. Joe and I are technically  high school sweet hearts. We were friends in high school, and went to senior prom together and then couldn’t get enough of each other. Here we are nine years later and still spend all of our time together. So lucky to have him as a best friend and life partner!

What else do you want to know? Let me know in the comments! xoxo Erika

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Click on the items above to shop them, or click the links below. Happy shopping!

xoxo Erika

SHOP THEM

Veuve Clicquot Champagne | Garret Leight Sunglasses | Pop Champagne Candle | Velvet Blush Pink Pillow | Slim Aarons Women Book | Kristen Ess Gift Pack |Crystal Bracelet Flask | Leather Pouch Wallet | Nars Orgasm Liquid Blush | Texturing Hair Spray | Rose Quartz Cheese Plate |Calf Circle Cross Body Bag | Rose Gold Ear Buds | Olaplex Hair Perfector

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