I Left My Heart in Greece

We hear it in the news—Greece: financial crisis, the edge of default, Euro near collapse, the brink of bankruptcy!

Or we flip through travel magazines and immediately gasp at the sight of white Cycladic houses, jaw-dropping views of an intoxicating blue sea, and mouthwatering baklava and gyros. 

But beyond tourism or mixed messages, I’d like to dedicate this article to the Greek value system

Why?

It took only four months for me to be seduced:

Family ties are strong, and, regardless of a crisis, people stick together. Love is openly expressed. Nobody needs to compete to feel loved. There is no rat race to be run. Food is shared and enjoyed slowly. Friends fight as they all try to pay the bill. There’s no need to cover up pain, happiness, affection, or anger. Strangers are welcome—in Greek, philoxenia. Hospitality is so ingrained that it’s as involuntary as breathing. With good food, good company, and family, life can feel so rich in Greece. There is no excess, no commercialism, never a dull moment.  Greece harbors sunny skies and sunny people, even through such dark times.  

The Greeks continue strong for over 2,000 years, even having seen war, tragedy, and foreign invasion… and what do they say?

Eleftheria i thanatos: “freedom or death.” Your choice.

When you visit Greece, you’ll get a strong impression, mark my words.