Cooking lesson with Greek grandmothers on the island of Ithaca. - Being a language interpreter for a group of North Americans who were learning how to make Halva from three local grandmothers. A fun hands-on lesson making this delicious traditional Greek sweet, and a happy meeting of travellers with warm , hospitable local people at Vathy port.
I am a tour guide and travel consultant with a background in international media, living in Greece. I am passionate about connecting international visitors with the culture, heritage and beauty of my country and its people.
I grew up in Sydney, Australia but Greece is my homeland and where my roots are. All four of my grandparents were from Greece: the village of Akrata on the north coast of the Peloponnese and the island of Kastellorizo in the Dodecanese.
I have travelled in Greece on many trips since my first Greek Odyssey as a young solo traveller in 1989. Each time, on road trips and ferry journeys to islands near and far, walking the back roads of historic villages and hiking in nature, I discover more of Greece's incredible diversity - from its famous ancient sites of global cultural significance to its many hidden gems.
In 2009 I moved to the island of Crete before settling in Porto Rafti, on the coast outside Athens, in 2011. As a journalist and photographer I specialiised in foreign correspondence, contributing live reports for BBC radio news and feature articles and photos for U.S. media including the Nation Magazine.
My professional writing is more focused on travel in Greece. Most recently, as part of EnVeritas Group’s global team of writers, I provided destination expertise for Google.
My first foray into tourism was in the spring and summer of 2014, for Altru Vistas travel company bringing two tours to Greece for the first time. In the dual role of tour coordinator and guide I refined and finalised the itineraries, sourced and booked all the service providers (including transport, accommodation, site and museum guides and excursions) and managed the budgets, before leading two tour groups around Greece. The best part was being a bridge between cultures and seeing international travellers having a wonderful time discovering the real Greece and making new friends along the way.
Greece is a small country yet deceptively large to explore, with over 13, 000 kilometres of coastline, thousands of islands, and mountains covering 80% of its landmass. Taking the time to explore local places on foot, speaking Greek and connecting with local people, continues to deepen my experience and love of this amazing country whose culture and people embraces visitors from all over the world.