My First Love…Greece.
We all have places that just stick with us for one reason or another, for me, that place is Greece.
It’s more than just a destination I return to. It’s one of my earliest memories of being on holiday as a child, it’s where I went on my first island-hopping trip with my best friend, it’s where I honeymooned, and it’s where I go back to every year, even if just for a few days.
My first memories of Greece go right back to a family holiday when I was a child. The sun didn’t stop shining, the temperatures were scorching, the sea was impossibly blue, and the days felt endless. I remember wandering through little villages with my family, never-ending ice creams, the sound of crickets in the background, and the amazing smell of gyros in the air. Those early memories planted a quiet love for Greece that’s never really left me.
But even before I’d been, I’d heard so much about it. My mum, in her twenties, had gone island hopping with a couple of friends. They flew from London to Athens with absolutely no plan - slept at the port, hopped on a ferry, and somehow ended up in Ios and Paros for two weeks of sunshine and spontaneity.
So, when I reached my twenties, it only felt right to do the same. My best friend and I decided we’d island hop too, although I can’t say I inherited my mum’s spontaneous streak. We booked our accommodation in advance! Our first trip took us to Santorini and Mykonos, where we spent our days exploring on quad bikes, sunbathing, chasing sunsets, finding the best food, and dancing late into the night (okay, into the morning). I was hooked. The following year we went again - starting in Mykonos, then travelling to Ios and Paros, and finishing the trip in Athens.
Since then? I’ve been back every year. I spent three unforgettable weeks honeymooning in Greece with my husband. We travelled through Santorini, Ios, Paros, Antiparos, Milos, Mykonos, and ended in Athens. The year after that, we returned again, this time to Ios, Naxos, and Mykonos. Last year, I brought my parents with me to Santorini and Ios. I wanted my mum to return to the island she loved, and for her to see why I’d fallen in love with it too.
This first blog is my love letter to Greece. To the big moments and the small ones. To the thrill of discovering a new island and the comfort of returning to an old favourite. To flaky pastries eaten on a harbour wall, to shared gyros, to ferry crossings at sunrise, and to that first sip of a cold cocktail with a sea view.
Whether you’re dreaming of your first trip or your tenth, I hope this space brings you inspiration, practical tips, and a little bit of magic from all the incredible places I’ve been lucky enough to visit.
Come back and read more to hear about the individual islands I’ve explored, my favourite European cities, ski trips, New York adventures - and so much more.
