Blue ink sketch of a Greek island village with whitewashed buildings, windmill, harbor, and olive trees overlooking the sea.
Arched doorway with iron gate leads to a narrow alleyway with steps, plants, and laundry in an urban building.
Ancient Roman arch framing a Byzantine church at sunset in Thessaloniki, Greece, with warm pink skies.
Rustic wooden table with two white chairs on a sandy beach overlooking a calm sea and distant mountains.
White wooden deck overlooking calm blue ocean with white chairs and blue striped umbrellas on a cloudy day.
Weathered blue wooden window shutters on a rustic white Mediterranean wall with peeling paint.
Historic cathedral with bell tower on a sunny plaza in Chania, Crete, with visitors and Greek flag.
A small white Greek Orthodox church with a red dome sits beside the turquoise sea under a dramatic cloudy sky.
White daisy flowers with yellow centers blooming among lush green foliage and plants outdoors.
White Greek Orthodox chapel with blue dome and Greek flag by the sea in Mykonos, Greece.
White-washed Greek Orthodox church with bell tower against cloudy sky in Mykonos, Greece.
Ancient monastery perched atop dramatic rocky cliffs at Meteora, Greece, surrounded by lush greenery and mountain views.
Weathered white building facade with turquoise green wooden door and shuttered window, rustic Mediterranean architecture.
Two white sheep and one black sheep stand on a grassy hill under a cloudy sky, looking directly at the camera.
Charming stone pathway leads through ivy-covered walls to cobblestone steps in a picturesque village setting.
A small lizard basking on dark volcanic rocks in natural sunlight.
White-washed buildings perched atop dramatic red volcanic cliffs in Santorini, Greece, under a clear blue sky.
Aerial view of Santorini's white-washed buildings and domed church overlooking the caldera in Greece.
A wooden cross frames a Byzantine church amid cypress trees and city buildings under dramatic stormy skies.
Close-up portrait of a gray goose with an orange beak, showcasing detailed feathers against a blurred rocky background.
A tabby cat sitting on a stone wall with a rustic rock background, gazing directly at the camera.
Black and white photo of ornate vintage street lamp between tree trunks in a park setting.
Colorful clock tower with blue and orange stripes, arched bells, and white balconies against a bright blue sky in Santorini, Greece.
Colorful waterfront buildings line the picturesque harbor of Chania, Crete, reflecting in the crystal-clear turquoise waters.
A colorful blue-winged kookaburra perched on a wooden rail with lush green trees in the background.
A ring-tailed lemur perches confidently against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds in the background.
Colorful white and blue buildings of Little Venice in Mykonos, Greece, standing along the turquoise Aegean Sea.
Historic stone lighthouse stands at the edge of a rocky pier in Chania, Crete, under a blue sky with clouds.
Narrow cobblestone alley in Mykonos, Greece, featuring whitewashed buildings with blue doors and a potted green shrub.
Two pigeons perched on the wooden frame of a traditional windmill against a blue sky.
A person walks down a narrow European city street lined with parked cars and a stop sign on a sunny day.
A long concrete pier with black lamp posts extends into a calm blue sea under an overcast sky.
Black and white photo of weathered outdoor stone staircase with overgrown weeds between steps in an urban neighborhood.
Black and white photo of a symmetrical brick building facade with large windows, shrubs, and a central drainpipe.
Black and white close-up portrait of a giraffe showing its distinctive spotted pattern and long elegant neck against a white sky.
White cat with blue eyes perched in an olive tree, gazing upward through green leaves against a blue sky.
Colorful fishing boats docked at a Mediterranean harbor with mountains and cloudy skies in the background.
Ancient monastery perched atop rocky cliffs at Meteora, Greece, surrounded by lush greenery and mountain views.
Golden sunset over calm ocean waters with dramatic cloudy sky and sandy beach shoreline in the foreground.
Close-up portrait of a white domestic goose with an orange beak and blue eye against a blurred earthy background.
Meteora monasteries perched atop dramatic rock formations in Greece with lush green valleys and mountains in the background.
Black ornate wrought iron double doors set in a weathered stone wall with mountain views visible through the decorative grille.
Black and white photo of a bicycle with basket parked against a white stucco wall beside a shuttered window.
Blue-domed church with white bell tower and crosses overlooking the caldera sea in Santorini, Greece.
A covered archway passage with stone columns frames a serene ocean view, with vintage lanterns and parked scooters nearby.
Two Evzone guards in traditional Greek uniforms stand at attention with crossed rifles at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Neoclassical Greek building with marble columns, ornate curved staircase, and Greek flag under blue sky.
The historic White Tower of Thessaloniki, a medieval stone fortress with a Greek flag, surrounded by green trees under a blue sky.
White traditional Greek windmill with wooden sail frame against a partly cloudy blue sky in Mykonos, Greece.
A lone windmill stands on a lush green hillside with misty mountains in the background.
Arched brick window with iron bars and climbing green vines on a yellow and brick wall exterior.

Why Greece?


Visitors flock to Greece to stand beneath the Acropolis in Athens, then continue onward, following the wind—and their itineraries—to wherever comes next. We loved traveling around the country, picking up a few Greek words along the way, with my husband's fraternity experience unexpectedly coming in handy as we learned to recognize the letters and sound out the words phonetically.


Everyone we met was incredibly kind: the cashier at the grocery store in Peraia, the barista at Alexandros, the taxi driver who practically became our personal chauffeur—the list could go on. We are endlessly grateful for the hospitality of the people we met in Greece, and for the recommendations they shared with us. Without them, we would have completely missed places like Meteora and Edessa, two of the most memorable and beautiful stops of our trip.


If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: go during the off-season, and take the time to get to know the people. You'll see a quieter side of Greece, and if our experience is any indication, the people you meet may end up leaving just as lasting an impression as the places you came to see.

Map of Greece highlighting travel destinations with text 'Where the journey took me.' on a teal illustrated map.

A few notes from our travels:


Places to Stay

  • Daniela in the Thessaloniki area, who now owns her own business! Click here to learn more.
  • Palmera Beach Hotel in Hersonissos on the island of Crete - adults only! Click here to learn more.
  • Harmony Boutique Hotel in Mykonos - this was our absolute favorite! Click here to learn more.

Places to Eat

  • Ouzeri to Yenti - Three years later and I still think about the creamy chicken dish I had here. That's how good it was. Address: I.Papareska, Eptapirgiou n.13, Thessaloniki 546 34, Greece
  • Katarraktes Complex Restobar - Another place we think of fondly three years later - beautiful restaurant right at the top of the waterfalls (katarraktes) in Edessa. Address: Παρκο Καταρρακτων, Edessa 582 00, Greece
  • Mimi's - A small local gyro spot in Thessaloniki. We have yet to have gyros as good as these, and you seriously cannot beat the prices. Address: Ag. Dimitriou 126, Thessaloniki 546 35, Greece.

Ready to explore Greece through my lens?