The Superlatives Episode

Over dinner last night and again this morning, we went around the table and did our trip superlatives. Everyone had to pick their favorites across a bunch of categories, and it got competitive fast. Best accommodation was all over the map: Sofie picked Naxos, Lukas and Chad went Switzerland, and I picked Portugal. Top three places though? Naxos was unanimous across all four of us. After that it split. Sofie went Dolomites and London, Lukas said Portugal and Paris, Chad had Dolomites and London, and I went Dolomites and Portugal.

Best meals got fun. Lukas picked the Mexican in Lagos, the lamb skewers in Athens, and the gyro pita in Naxos. Sofie said Greek food, the Mexican in Lagos (apparently that place made an impression), and the smash burger takeout in Lagos. Chad went lamb skewers in Athens, mussels in Naxos, and the British pub with a Guinness during the England game. I picked the gyro pita in Naxos, Rotanda, and the shrimp risotto in Lisbon. Best vibes: Sofie said Naxos for the clear water and beach, Lukas picked Portugal for the beach town feel, Chad said Athens for the chill food and coffee (Freddo Cappuccino forever), and I went Naxos.

Then we did top five memories. Chad had six because he's special. Sofie: Disneyland, F1 Race, the Seceda hike, Warner Bros Studio, kayaking in Lagos. Lukas: going to Europe (the whole thing, just the fact of it), surfing, Warner Bros Studio, Disneyland, F1 Race. Chad: F1, surfing, the Seceda hike, watching the England game in a pub, Super Panda Circus, and driving a Sidekick in Naxos. Mine: visiting with family in Dresden, F1 Race, the Seceda hike, surfing, and kayaking in Lagos. Naxos, the Dolomites, and the F1 race kept showing up on everyone's lists. Pretty telling.

And that's it. 52 days. Four of us. One parking ticket of unknown value. We did it.