Tonight I’m tucked into a perfectly standard one-bedroom apartment in Larisa — or so I thought. Within five minutes of walking through the door, I began to suspect I’d accidentally checked into the Greek branch of the International Safety Training Academy. First, there’s a large fire extinguisher by the door. Not your polite little red
I’ve just spent two nights in Trikala — proudly known as the Christmas Capital of Greece — and honestly, the festive spirit here could power its own national grid. Just around the corner from my apartment, an entire Christmas Wonderland was being constructed for the grand opening on the 21st of November. Apparently, thousands of
On the 20th of November, I’ll be starting my two-month Workaway assignment — and honestly, I’m so ready for it. My main role? Looking after a small (…ish) crew: six dogs, twelve cats, and fourteen chickens. Easy! Well… until you remember that Marianthi, the lovely human behind this retreat, is basically the local animal-rescue hotline.
Today’s unexpected adventure came courtesy of two Greek street dogs who suddenly decided a little boy—maybe five years old—needed a firm reminder about… something. Whether he poked them, startled them, or they simply weren’t fans of tiny humans, I’ll never know. His mum was pushing a pram at the time, which made the whole moment
Ioannina has this magical way of greeting you—every street, every turn, every quick blink feels like discovering something new and beautiful. The lake in the early morning looks like it’s been wrapped in mystery, with soft mist drifting across the water and the occasional fisherman’s boat appearing like a ghost from a storybook. I started
Transitioning between the “old first world” and “second world” countries has been both confronting and a little confusing — like stepping through time zones of temperament. One moment, I’m wrapped in the warmth and affection of Albanians with their big smiles and open hearts; the next, I’m met with the polished, Italian-influenced style of southern
Down on the beach, the local fishermen haul in their daily catch — and it’s as fresh as it gets. Locals line up patiently along the sand, ready to buy straight from the source. You can also find fish at the market, though those often come with a few extra “fly footprints” as proof of
I rolled into Vlore full of excitement for my two-night stay — visions of seaside hikes and sunshine dancing in my head. But alas, the trail I had planned to conquer was closed. Apparently, the sea cliffs have become a little… unstable. Safety first, they say! Then came my “charming” apartment manager — who greeted
Today was always going to be a wet one. The rain had been hammering down all night, and I had 40km ahead of me. By 8am it looked like the skies were having second thoughts, so I packed up and set off optimistically. The trail, however, had turned into one long series of puddles—more water