The National Park system in America is known around the world for its stunning beauty and diverse landscapes. In fact, the granddaddy of the National Parks, the Grand Canyon celebrates its 100 year birthday this year. But go into any National Park and you will find a reason to wander and linger and savor every …
Continue reading Wandering 50 National Parks: A grieving mother’s journey
As we wrap up our Easter celebrations here in the States, Greeks all over the world are in the thick of Holy Week that climaxes on April 28 - Orthodox Easter simply known as Pascha (Passover) - the most sacred event for all of Greece. The typical Greek Orthodox family holds tradition very closely, and Holy Week …
(The following is an excerpt from my book, Uniquely Crete: Life Redefined on a Greek Island. Available now for preorder now on Amazon) I’m sitting in a shady spot on a stone wall in the Agia Triada monastery courtyard on a divine spring morning. After the short easy 15 minute bike ride to this peaceful …
From what I hear (and see in photos) of winter in Crete this year, I'm happy to be in snowy Colorado rather than in the Mediterranean. Violent storms have ripped through Crete and left devastation in various ways across the island. When we lived on Crete, I remember the wild winter weather complete with sideways …
No HYGGE? Just say, "PYT!" Last month I wrote a blogpost about the Danish concept of "Hygge" and how its blood pressure reducing effects can be achieved anywhere. (HYGGE YOURSELF - January 29) Basically, we need to learn what it means to seriously "chill." But sometimes our best laid plans to hygge just don't pan …
Continue reading Remedy for a Bad Day (or How to turn it around)
(*The following is a teaser excerpt from my book Uniquely Crete: Life Redefined on a Greek Island to be released April 30 - available for preorder now on Amazon) I have a love affair with maps: Old out-of-date ones or slick, still-crispy new ones. It doesn’t matter what condition they’re in. As long as there’s a longitude …
Imagine yourself taking a much-needed break away from the busyness and stress that everyday life dishes out. Not a break in the sense of a destination or vacation. Just a few moments or hours where you can relish in the moment of well-being and calmness. It doesn’t have to be at an expensive spa or …
As the New Year knocks at the door of this world, I'm contemplating about the past holiday season. Unless you've been living in a Norman Rockwell painting, there is no “perfect Christmas.” Most of us have holiday stories from the hilarious to the harrowing, and every year, more than often, the expectations we have for …
I love road trips. Almost all of our traveling these days starts with an airplane ride and all the preliminary hassle and hustle that goes along with it. But road trips are a peek back into the past for me. Family vacations always started in the car. Airplane travel was for the wealthy. But we …
This blog is dedicated to the idea of slow living specifically as it relates to travel in all forms. When I moved to the island of Crete, it didn’t take me long to appreciate the art of slowing down. And after five years of living in the Mediterranean, I fully embraced the practices of wandering, …
Melanie A Crane 