A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

When I told people that I would be going to spend over a month in Greece this past spring, I got some interesting responses. “Isn’t it dangerous right now? Will the ATM’s work? Aren’t there refugees? Is it safe?” I’ve traveled enough now to know you can’t pay attention to the media when it comes to travel safety issues. Often, the places portrayed as the most chaotic, are usually the most peaceful.

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

Also, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be forced to leave my home country, and I had hopes of helping and talking to any refugees I came across. I wanted to know their stories, hear about life from their point of view. Having been free to roam anywhere I please, I do not take this for granted.

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I didn’t listen to the rumors. I didn’t listen to other’s worries. Packing my bags I headed to Greece, which has always held a special place in my heart.

Greece, I Love You

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

What do I love about Greece?

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I love her natural beauty

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

her beaches

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

 

her culture

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

her food

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

But, above all

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I love her people

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

Greek people are some of the most hospitable and welcoming people I’ve ever met

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I will never forget the conversation I had with my taxi driver

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

He didn’t complain about his situation

Instead, he said

“we are sad right now because we like to offer guests who come to our country our hospitality

But, right now times are tough

and we barely have enough for ourselves

it doesn’t make us feel good to not offer hospitality to others” 

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

These words touched my very spirit 

because I was offered much more hospitality than 

I ever expected

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

from the taxi driver who gave me a discounted ride 

because he wanted me to remember that the people of Greece will treat you fairly

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

to the hotel owner who shared with me his stories over coffee

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

because he wanted me to understand more about Greece and her people

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

to the people who shared with me their food 

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

because they wanted me to taste their culture

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I never once felt like I wasn’t shown hospitality

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I was shown a smile

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

even though I could sense worry and sadness behind her eyes

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I was given the perfect apricot

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I was shown pride instead of fear

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

Pride from a people who are proud of where they came from

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

And who they still are

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I saw compassion for others 

that they knew

had it worse off 

than they did

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I saw a desire to understand

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

to acknowledge

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

and to live

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

not from a place of fear

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

but of complete love

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

and kindness

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

no one in Greece ever mentioned the word refugee

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

I have a feeling it’s because

they only saw the newcomers 

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

as people 

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

needing a place

to call

home…..

A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

(note: the quotes on the signs are quotes from immigrants and were part of a project going on in Athens at the time that I visited)

For ideas of where to visit in Greece, check out The Travelling King’s article, “Must Visit In Greece.”