There are countless places across the Greek Mediterranean that have stolen my heart. Whether it’s due to the people I’ve met, the striking beauty of the landscape or simply the pulse I’ve felt from the land the minute I stepped foot on it. On a deep sensory level, I have always felt completely nurtured and nourished by my experiences there. It has been a kind of Give and Take. The land offers the environment for me to take away experiences that completely fill my heart.
the colours of Symi…
Whenever I return from my travels, I am faced with the same recurring question from those curious to hear about my time away…
So, where was your favourite place…?
It’s a fair question, particularly because it helps people get a gauge of where they might like to explore. I always find myself struggling with an answer. It’s hard to pinpoint. Different places evoke different experiences. The influence of the landscape, the people and your own connection to the place will have a striking effect on what you take away from your time there.
Lipsi paradise…
My journey through Greece this summer had me traveling through some breathtakingly beautiful places. The demure island of Symi had me entranced by its ochre coloured houses and cobblestone streets…the nearby island of Nisyros was a visual feast with its winding paths and pastel coloured walls, making it a photographers dream…skipping over to Patmos gifted me with the most soul enriching experiences, a part of me felt like it had returned home…the tiny island of Lipsi had unassuming treasures that are revealed only to those curious enough to venture off the beaten track.
the wild beauty of Lemnos…
When I started scratching the surface here, I discovered a beach with water the colour of the Caribbean and my most memorable meal, being the simplest of freshly grilled octopus cooked over coals and a shot of ouzo to wash it down with…in Lemnos I felt embraced by the locals and experienced a feeling of deep gratitude in recognising what it means to experience love and support by strangers…the island of Serifos had me hypnotized by its jaw dropping mountain ranges and wild landscape.
rugged landscape, Serifos…
Nowhere else in Greece have I seen rock formations shimmer as though they have been painted in gold leaf, this place spoke to my heart…my time in Sifnos revealed an island of quaint and charming beauty…I got lost through its winding paths and found solace in secluded nooks, exploring beaches that offered the perfect balance of wild terrain with the most subtle undercurrent of beauty…
beautiful Sifnos…
Regardless of where I go, my travels through Greece leave me with an insatiable appetite for wanting more. My curiosity allows me the opportunity to have an immersive experience with the land. The more I enquire, by wandering down unknown paths, getting lost or simply speaking to the locals, the more enriched my experiences of the country and the places I visit.
Ask…Explore…Surrender…Enjoy…
Happy travels…Paula x
I cannot wait to go back to Greece with you.
2018 has MUCH in store gorgeous women! Cannot wait to have you by my side…XXX
That is what I find is the beauty of the Greek Islands. There is so much variety for each one of us to find what we as individuals are looking for. I have only been to a few of the islands but each have their own characters and soul there to explore and find. I can’t wait to explore more islands.
I did once find a site called something like “which island?” where you tick your likes of things like beaches, off the beaten track, hiking, restaurants, whether for children, nightlife and similar aspects, and their algorithm returns 4 or 5 islands that might suit you. But that “calculation” can never capture what you are talking about. The right unique combination for each individual. Happy hunting I say.
Travelling is about the journey, not only the destination. 🙂
So true Julian…and this has been exactly what I have felt during my time in Greece – that the experience of being immersed in the country and journeying across to different islands is precisely what the process of travel is all about..Taking your time, feeling and savouring the moment. Something that we can certainly apply to our day-to-day..It’s just a matter of being in tune with what feels right for you..At the end of the day, we each want different things and different experiences give us that level of satisfaction that we are craving. It’s nice when you allow yourself to scratch beneath the surface and recognise that the places we travel through and what we take from them, are measured solely by how much we want to explore this new territory and immerse in our environment..I share the same sentiments however, when you say: Travelling is about the journey, not only the destination…