The MRI, the Bill, and the Greek Plot Twist
Greek healthcare may raise your blood pressure, but sometimes it lowers everything else. I have written before about healthcare and costs in Greece. But this one deserves its own little corner. The…
Stories Archive
Stories, observations, and absurdities from Greece and beyond.
155 published stories
In Greece, Nothing Is Ever Broken Enough to Throw Away
When I wrote recently about seamstresses, alterations, and my heroic zipper drama, I realized that story was never really just about clothes. It was about something bigger. Because in Greece, nothing is…
You Do Not Plan the Peloponnese. You Surrender to It.
I thought planning a two-week Peloponnese trip for Karen’s cousins would be easy. Then I remembered the Peloponnese has too much history, too much beauty, too many detours, and absolutely no interest…
A Seamstress, a Zipper, and Giorgos
In old Greece, a torn shirt was not a reason to throw it away. It was a reason to say, “Take it to the seamstress.” Or, if things were running properly, have…
The Neighborhood Cinema
There was a time in Greece when going to the cinema did not feel like entering an entertainment complex. It felt like entering the neighborhood. Not the multiplex. Not numbered seats. Not…
When Greek Mothers Called You Home
Before mobile phones and WhatsApp, Greek mothers had a perfect system: a powerful set of lungs and no intention of repeating themselves. Instead of sending messages with enough question marks to suggest…