After more than a week since returning from our vacation to Greece, I am finally posting some photos. Friends and family have been awaiting these images, and I kept them in suspense. Why? Not because I don't want to share, but because, tbh, I have been watching a lot of Olympic coverage (gymnastics, am I right?!?!) and I took more than 1,600 photos while we were gone. That's a lot of photos to sort through. It's so many that your eyes start to burn a little as you pull the best images.

But, I succeeded! I also will be sharing more detailed adventures and photos in future posts, but I started to kick off the post-Greece coverage with my top 11 photos: 11 photos for 11 days of vacation. And, in case you want to see larger images, you can check out the images over in My Favorite 11 Photos From Greece photo album (same content, just larger). p.s. That top image is not part of the 11, it's just a fun intro photo that I posted on Instagram pre-vacay.

If I knew any Greek, I'd throw it in here to kick off the photo countdown, but in classic American style, I do not. So, let's do this!

No. 11: Three restored Doric columns rise from the Tholos at the sanctuary of Athena Pronoia about a half a mile from the main ruins in Delphi. It was a hot, long hike down to these ruins, but totally worth it for this view.

No. 10: Cole stands next to the Sounion Kouros at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It would have stood along the coast at the Temple of Poseidon, which you'll see later, and was carved around 600 BC.

No. 9: I drop my postcards into the international box after a long wait for stamps. My advice: Buy stamps from the stores or don't go to the post office on a Saturday afternoon. It was totally worth the wait regardless.

No. 8: Cole crosses the finish line at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. Cole deserves major props for running a lap as the sun beat down on the black track. The audio tour tells you all about the history of the stadium, such as it hosting the first moden Olympics in 1896, and it will remind you over and over that this is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.

No. 7: Help me, Ronda, help, help me Ronda. Those are appropriate lyrics for why I included this photo in my top 11. This beachside restaurant, named Ronda, offered beautiful views and tasty food for these weary, hungry travelers. After lots of walking and cobbled streets, you desperately need a break and a good meal. And, as an extra bonus, enjoy this video that includes beach views and Nelly. :) Yes, even the Greeks like themselves some Nelly.

No. 6: Cape Sounion, home of the Temple of Poseidon, could not be prettier. This photo doesn't include the temple landmark, but it does include the shimmering sea. Unfortunately, the cliffs sloped too quickly to safely touch the water.

No. 5: But at last, Cole touches the sea as we wander around the harbor. Unlike the Pacific Ocean near us, the Aegean Sea was cool, refreshing and calm.

No. 4: The Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion stands out against the setting sun. The builders picked an excellent location, if I do say so myself. And, yes, we did get close to it, but it's not time for those photos yet.

No. 3: From Areopagus Hill, we watch as the sun sets on Athens. We climbed up on top of this outcropping of rocks just down the hill from the Acropolis on one of our last evenings to take in a view of the whole city, including the Acropolis over on the right.

No. 2: The six replica caryatids hold up the porch of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis. Five of the original six live down in the Acropolis Museum while one remains in London thanks to Lord Elgin. Rude.

No. 1: The rising sun beckons us through the Propylaia, aka gateway, up town the rest of the Acropolis sights. This is hands down my favorite photo. It was an easy choice. Not only is it a little magical, but it also shows how we were the first tourist to go up onto the Acropolis that day. Yes, the first. It was as awesome as this pictures makes it out to be.