Blog

  • Svoorita: The Wild Heart With a Big Story

    Meet Svoorita — a beautiful girl who arrived in the world with more challenges than most. She was thrown over a fence at just eight weeks old, only able to walk in circles, cross-eyed, and unable to hold her head up properly. Marianthi took her in with hope (and a lot of heart), treating her…

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  • Day Two at the “Retreat” — Or… Whatever This Is!

    Well… day two in paradise, and let’s just say paradise has seen better days! It turns out this “clean energy retreat” has actually been on a two-year retreat of its own — abandoned, sunbathing, and definitely not doing any chores. Marianthi’s online write-up may have been written in a slightly more optimistic universe! Mike, the…

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  • Settling In (and Snacking Well!)

    Well, I’m finally here! There’s plenty to learn, endless cuddles to hand out, and the food… honestly, dangerously incredible. The best part? I’m only ten minutes from either a sparkling gulf of the Aegean Sea or the foothills of Mount Pelion. So yes, exploring is absolutely on the agenda—right after I convince all the animals…

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  • From Smooth Sailing to Street-Dog Shenanigans: My Wild Ride to Volos

    My 62 km ride today started exactly as promised. A major road, yes — but not a highway, and every review online described it as a relaxed, enjoyable route. And they were right! There was plenty of shoulder, the traffic was steady but respectful, and honestly, it felt like every driver must’ve had a cyclist…

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  • My Larisa Apartment… or a Secret Safety Drill Headquarters?

    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…

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  • Trikala, Christmas Coffee Shocks & Curious Bus Adventures

    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…

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  • Kicking Off My Workaway Adventure: Dogs, Cats, Chickens & a Dash of Peace

    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.…

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  • Ioannina Photos

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  • When the Street Dogs Took Their Job Very Seriously

    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…

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  • Ioannina: A City That Welcomes You at Every Corner

    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…

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