Throwing caution to the winds of the Aegean Sea, Barb Petrowski of Minneapolis and 20 other Minnesotans formed Greek Homes LLC and bought shares to construct two homes (Zeus and Athena) in Lefkakia, Greece. The group chose Greece after deciding that Mexico was too unpredictable, Italy too expensive and France too "French-speaking."

Each person or couple paid about $20,000 to complete the project in 2002 when the Euro was 83 cents to the dollar (it's approximately 1.36 Euros to the dollar now). Both homes are divided into six shares and each owner gets one month per year on a rotating ladder.

Petrowski describes the Peloponnese area as unspoiled and undiscovered by the rich and famous. Lefkakia is a small town with one phone booth, two mini-marts, two tavernas and a fountain. The street they live on doesn't have a name, so they tell renters to turn left at the palm tree, go right by the garbage can and left at the orange grove.

Distance: A nine-hour flight from Washington National airport to Athens. Then 90 minutes by freeway to the small town.

Best part: The relaxed, Mediterranean lifestyle. They eat great food, but don't gain weight, Petrowski said.

Worst part: The long flight back to Minneapolis at 5:30 a.m.

Favorite activities: Going to the beaches with food and bar service. Driving to nearby Nafplio for great shopping. An hour or less away: ruins of the Theatre of Epidaurus, Mycean temples and the Corinth canal.

Traditions: Go to the mini-mart and get two liters of cheap wine taken straight from the farmer's barrel for $1.