Travel Inspo: Greece
Athens: Ancient Energy Meets Everyday Life
Athens pulls you straight into its history. Temples rise above the city, and the Agora still carries the presence of daily life from centuries ago. Being there in person gives you a clearer sense of how much this place has shaped the world we know.
We made time for food, of course. We booked a tour through Withlocals and ended up exploring with a local food and wine editor. She led us to tucked away spots we never would have found on our own, along with some really great wines. If you visit, Heteroclito Wine Bar is worth adding to your list. Lively, but still relaxed with an excellent selection of Greek wines you won’t find anywhere else.
Arch of Hadrian and Acropolis Museum
Local farmers market
Local seafood market
Mykonos: Where the wind picks up and the mood lifts
From Athens we took the ferry to Mykonos, known for its windmills and blue-and-white architecture. We traveled in shoulder season, so the crowds were smaller and there was space to slow down.
The food? Incredible. Think ultra-fresh seafood, ripe tomatoes still warm from the sun, and dishes so simple they let the ingredients do all the work. Mykonos has a big reputation, but beneath the glossy surface, there’s a slower rhythm if you know where to look, and we were all about it.
Fish Tavern Kounelas
Escaped the hustle and bustle of Mykonos town for the day.
The kind of blues that make you feel wide awake and grateful. 🌊💙
Paros: Quiet Corners of the Cyclades
Paros ended up being my favorite. Naoussa has that kind of charm that hits immediately, cobblestone streets, small shops, and cats wandering through like they own the place.🐈⬛🐈
Mornings started at the bay in Agioi Anargyroi Beach, a quiet spot that let the day unfold slowly.
Paros has a long history of winemaking, with vineyards producing Monemvasia (often referred to as Malvasia), one of Greece’s oldest grape varieties. The wines tend to be aromatic and textured, with notes of stone fruit, herbs, and a soft, rounded finish that feels very Mediterranean. You’ll also see Mandilaria, a bold red grape often blended or made into rosé.
One of our best meals was at Glafkos Taverna, right on the water. The kind of dinner where you lose track of time, talking, eating, watching the sky shift. As we were finishing up, I knew it was one I’d be recommending to friends.
Beautiful ceramicware as the perfect backdrop for mouthwatering food.
Cats of Greece
Santorini: Light, cliffs, and the call of the sea
Santorini is one of those places you think might be overhyped until you actually see it. The blues feel deeper, the air clearer, and the light is hard to describe until you’re in it.
There’s something about the volcanic cliffs meeting the calm of the sea that stays with you. It feels both dramatic and still at the same time.
Santorini is also home to Assyrtiko, one of Greece’s most distinctive white grapes. Grown in volcanic soil and shaped by strong winds, the vines stay low to the ground in woven basket forms. The wines are bright, mineral-driven, with citrus and a clean, almost salty finish that reflects the landscape.
We didn’t make it to the vineyards this time, but we did taste wines from Estate Argyros and Domaine Sigalas, two standout producers, each offering a distinct sense of style and place.
There’s something about being surrounded by water that resets everything. That clarity stayed with me, and I can see it carrying through in the colors, forms, and overall mood of the work that followed.
Last stop…Santorini.
Greek waters inspire tranquility
The time we spent in Greece continues to show up in my work. The deep blues, the contrast of white architecture, and the rhythm of the water pushed me to loosen up, bring in more movement, and focus on creating pieces that carry a sense of joy.
Here are a few works influenced by that time.
Uni
Chi in Aegean Blue
Paros Pedestal
Wave as seen in Dwell Magazine.
Travel Notes in Clay
Each place leaves its mark, stirring new gestures and reshaping how I translate experience into form.
“I was instantly attracted to the Wave vessel. The combination of organic form and sensual surface is magical. It inspires me every day.”