Skip to Content

What I Love Best About Greece – IBC

Sharing is caring!

It’s time for another edition of International Bloggers Club.  If you are new here, we are a group of friends from all over the world who get together every month to share our projects, compare notes and see how we do things in our corner of the world.  Last month we shared our crafts with baskets, and before that crafts using household items.  

This month we are going to do something totally different. Katrin of KreativK is always experimenting with the look of her projects and she suggested we try a flat lay photo shoot. Of course it would not be complete unless we added our very own favorite things that we love from our countries. 


Sunglasses on a book, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
Greece is all about the blue and white.  These are the colors of our flag and also the prevalent colors that I see every time I look out the window.

The sunglasses are a must because when we talk about the famed bright light of Greece well, there is no way you can go out there and not have to squint. Everything looks sharper and more vibrant because of this bright light. And the sky is blue, always blue, that beautiful blue!

​To be honest, I am not such a fan of the sun because it is too harsh for me but I do love the way it makes everything look so bright. And there is much less depression in our country from all that vitamin D. Plus everyone looks cool wearing sunglasses!

Greece is also famous for its olive oil and olives.  This is a huge part of my life.  We go olive picking every year around Christmas time and then harvest the olives to get fresh olive oil.  It goes without saying that most of my cooking includes olive oil. 

The olive branch also has a deeper meaning.  It was made into a wreath and worn by the winners of the Ancient Olympic games. This was their prize. And it represented virtue and honor for the winners. 

And the driftwood?  We are lucky to live near the shore, as many Greeks do who live on the islands.  We don’t live on an island but the beach and the bay are a part of our lives. 

olive branches and driftwood, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
Greece is also famous for her ancient ruins.  That is a photo of the oracle of Apollo at Delphi I had snapped many years ago.  Of course it still looks the same.  The ruins don’t change much.  And they are everywhere.  It is not unusual to hear of someone wanting to build a house and in the process of excavating the earth they find ancient ruins and so the construction has to be halted. Ruins and ancient artifacts are everywhere. 

The ruins are Delphi are located in the middle of a mountain range up there in the clouds.  My love for the mountains of Greece is well known.  I think it has to do with the fact that I come from a town that is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains.

Now back to Delphi, it was known as the navel of the world back in the BC years because according to mythology Zeus threw a stone and it landed there to signify the center of the world. Our lives here are surrounded by Mythology and the Greek gods, and although we no longer worship them, we do have plenty of opportunities to talk about them, as if they are still around and poke fun at them. 

Photograph of Delphi an ancient ruin, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
Pottery is also a very important part of our lives.  I was born in a small town that had many little pottery shops and I remember as a young girl visiting and buying little pottery cups.  Many of the plates were hand painted.  

Years later I came to realize that all of the crafts and artistic leanings I have came from that small town.  We are very big on the arts here in Greece and not just the handmade type.  We also have a love of theater that dates back to the ancient times, and each town has its own theatrical group. 
​ 

pottery, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
This next one needs no explanation.  My love of the beach and sea. The Corinthian Bay has sparkling clean waters that invite you to dive in.

​The best time of the day for a swim in early in the morning around 9 am to be exact, it is nice and warm but not so hot that you will turn into a lobster.  And there aren’t many people about which makes lying on the beach and listening to the waves the perfect activity. And shell collecting never hurts either. 

sea shells, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
This next one of the miniature wooden boat represents my husband’s love for the sea and of fishing which is his all time favorite activity. If only there were more fish in the sea he would be in fishing heaven.  It is also a great way for him to get away from it all and just unwind.  There is nothing better than being in a boat in the middle of the bay – in the morning or when the sun is going down

And that little marble owl?  That was a souvenir I bought at the airport as I was leaving from Mytilene a lifetime ago after a vacation. I was still young and living in the States, but wanted to take a piece of Greece with me. The owl is the symbol for the Goddess Athena (or Minerva)  who was the personification of knowledge and wisdom. 

wooden boat and marble owl, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
The book you see is all about Greece and captures the beauty of this incredible country which leaves everyone breathless when they visit. And it is opened to a page with the Parthenon in the background. The Parthenon which is the temple of Athena is the epitome of classical architecture, with its perfectly formed columns and proportions. 
Book with photo of the Parthenon, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links and link to Amazon.com. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission, that way I can continue to provide you with lovely content.  There is no extra charge to you for purchasing through my affiliate links.


What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
There is so much more that I love about this country but it would take a whole other post to tell you all. 
olive branches, driftwood and book about Greece, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
pottery, seashells and photo of Delphi, What I Love Best about Greece www.theboondocksblog.com
I hope you have enjoyed this edition of the International Bloggers Club Challenge.  It was very different from what we normally do but it certainly was eye opening for me because I had never sat down to examine what it was that I loved best about Greece.  So thank you Katrin for coming up with this fantastic idea. 

And now hop on over to visit my friends who are also sharing their flat lay projects.  Simply click on the images below my name.  If you’d like to see more past challenges click here.

A photo essay about the things I love best about Greece, #Greece #photography #photoessay #flatlayphotography #Travel #Ancient ruins #mythology #sun #sea #olives #driftwood #seashells #Parthenon What I love best about Greece, www.theboondocksblog.com

If you like what you see, share it with your friends, or save it on Pinterest.  Above is a Pinterest worthy image!

​If you really like what you see subscribe to my blog and get my adventures twice a week in your mailbox. The form is on the sidebar and your e-mail will never be shared with a third party.

Picture
The Int’l Bloggers Club:  Flat Lay Photo Projects
More about Greece
<< Sweet Inspiration Link Party #75    HOME     Sweet Inspiration Link Party #76 >>

Linking up to these Link Parties

This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.

I love it when I get your comments and I will try reply to them or visit you on your blog. ​Please do not add a hyperlink to your comment, otherwise we cannot publish it.

  1. Helena says:

    I love this photo. It would like right at home in a glossy magazine. #MySundayPhoto

  2. Lady Fi says:

    Lovely shots!

  3. You did excellent job with your flatlay photos my dear friend. All the photos have the smell of the sea and Greece!

  4. Amber Harrop says:

    The tourist board should hire you Mary because of you we all want to visit Greece

  5. Beautiful flatlay photos which totally scream out Greece! Gorgeous! #MySundayPhoto

  6. So Much to love! Thanks for sharing your pictures and thoughts.

  7. You live in a beautiful country. Thank you for telling us about it. I so enjoy seeing your country through your eyes.

  8. Oooh, Mary!
    I really like this month’s Int. Club Challenge! You’ve shared a really lovely collection of things particular to Greece… I’m going to take you up on that offer one of these days! 🙂 It would be lovely to come over… I could just rest on the beach all day and swim like I did when I was a kid on Oahu back in the 70’s. Sigh! Then, of course, I’d have to go tour all the famous architectural sites and see statues {and go crazy taking 1000’s of photos!}. I will stop by and visit the others’ pages later on. Heading out with inlaws soon for their last day in Texas. <3
    Thank you for a beautiful tour of your home country,
    Barb 🙂

    • Mary says:

      Thank you Barbara for your lovely comment. It is very clear to me that you would enjoy it very much.

  9. I love Greece, it is my favourite place outside of Cornwall

    • Mary says:

      Fiona I can’t disagree with you. Cromwell must be pretty amazing too with all that greenery!

  10. Mother of 3 says:

    I just love blue and white and I really hope to make it there one day in person to see it! By the way your flat lay came out great!

  11. tomthebackroadstraveller says:

    …blue seems to be the color of Greece, how can you go wrong! Thanks for stopping by.

  12. Terri Lyon says:

    I love that you make your own olive oil! Beautiful photos.

  13. betty - NZ says:

    I can see why you love it there! Thanks for the great photos and awesome information.
    I enjoyed your post at ‘My Corner of the World’ so much this week!

    My Corner of the World

  14. Michelle says:

    Greece is a country I yearn to visit. Love the photos. Thanks for linking up.

  15. Laurie Hess says:

    Gorgeous photos of Greece. I just wrote a post about wanting to travel to Mykonos and Santorini. Thanks for the information about visiting Greece. I think we will visit in spring 2020.

    • Mary says:

      I know you will have a great time and going at the perfect time too. Summer is too crowded and too hot.

  16. This is a country I would love to see! I can just imagine the blues and whites…the sky and sea! What a wonderful post!

    • Mary says:

      The most striking thing about Greece is the bright light that is all around especially during the summertime. It infuses everything around it.

  17. Eileen Wise says:

    Hello, your photos of Greece are beautiful. It is a lovely country, it is on my bucket list of places to visit. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend ahead.

    • Mary says:

      Thanks so much Eileen. I hope you get there soon. It is definitely one place you will never forget.

  18. Lotis says:

    You compose perfect photos.. So beautiful…

  19. Marie says:

    I so enjoyed reading what you love about Greece while sipping my morning coffee, Mary. This must’ve been a bitter sweet post to write. Love the idea of sharing it via flat lay photography – something I have yet to learn how to execute well.

    • Mary says:

      Marie you really hit the nail on the head. I hadn’t realized that I was doing a look back of sorts, an emotional summary of what I have lived the past 20 years. Thanks so much my friend!

  20. Kim says:

    I loved this post, Mary. I have never been to Greece, but from your blog and other pictures I have seen, I know I would love it. The sun, the sand, the sky and the surf? Perfect! Thanks for sharing your paradise with us!

  21. Leanna says:

    Your lessons about Greece have more value as they come from someone who lives there. I think you photographs were gorgeous and I love how they were put together.
    The fact the the culture is ancient is a beautiful thing, it would make me feel rooted somehow. Beautiful post Mary.

    • Mary says:

      Maybe that’s what it is Leanna. Our culture is thousands of years old and we feel the pull no matter where we go.

  22. Florence says:

    Sure did enjoy this Mary! I love to hear what your impressions and favorite things are about Greece. As you know, I loved Greece when I visited there once. Enjoyed your flat lay too. I’m sure I can learn something about it from reading the other posts, which I intend to do. Good topic this time!

    • Mary says:

      Thanks so much Florence. It was also a way for me to look back and say goodbye now that I have moved. I’ll be going back of course because you can never really leave but it will be different with my base in the USA.

  23. Debbie says:

    Hi Mary, you’ve done Greece proud sharing all the positives. Is there a sky as blue as the sky that covers Greece? I think not!…Isn’t there a big wine festival held in Delphi? I’m used to go there with the family when we were over on holiday (many moons ago)…. I love the fact we can swim early morning or evening, I’d never do that in the UK!
    xx

    • Mary says:

      So so true Debbie that blue is like no other place on earth. The light the water and the wine all help to relax us and enjoy the life.

  24. Katrin says:

    Mary each time I visit here, Greece gets moved up a little bit on my “to visit” list! Such interesting details and your flatlay is really a lovely homage to your country! Blue and white sure is beautiful!

    • Mary says:

      Katrin now is the time to do it. The prices are reasonable and you are in Europe anyway. Hope you have a chance to see the amazing light!

  25. That wooden boat is so beautiful. It grabbed my attention when scrolling down.

  26. This must have been such a bitter sweet challenge for you Mary. There are so many lovely things about your country that are worth celebrating. How I’d love to hop on a plane and experience them all again, with you as my tour guide. We went there on our honeymoon a looooong time ago and I’m afraid to say we didn’t see half as much as we wanted to. I’m real glad Katrin came up with the idea. I got to see gorgeous snapshots of Greece through your eyes

    • Mary says:

      It was very bitter sweet and made me really reflect on what I love the most. Things that I don’t think about on a day to day basis but nevertheless touch me.
      I hope you have the chance to go back again and take the paths less traveled.

  27. Laurie says:

    I have a silk scarf with the ruins of Delphi painted on. Such a beautiful place that I must visit one day xx
    http://www.vanityandmestyle.com

  28. Oh Mary, I love hearing about Greece. My grandfather was born there but, sadly, I don’t know much about it. However, what I wouldn’t give to get fresh olive oil! That would be amazing 🙂 Your flay lay is awesome!

    • Mary says:

      Angie I had no idea you had Greek in you. How cool is that. You have to dig into your roots and see what you can come up with. Many Greeks left the homeland years ago because of economics and wars.

  29. This is a really great idea. It sets me thinking about the things I would include if I were to pull together a post like this! I can see why you love Greece so much. So beautiful, so blue and all that wonderful water and olives!

    • Mary says:

      And lets not forget the olive oil. Jeanie you should do that on your blog too, as a challenge to yourself. It will make for a great post topic.

  30. You’ve won! I’m packing! Never been to Greece – cannot wait to get to know it!

    • Mary says:

      And you are so close too. Now would be the best time Marjan, no tourist crowds and no heat waves.

  31. Everything you mention is What i imagine Greece would be like. What I have seen in pictures and online is just something that keeps me dreamy of going there some day!
    If I do, Ill have to meet up with you.
    Maria

    • Mary says:

      Maria we can both go down together. If you have been to Italy then it is just one small hop to Greece.

  32. Mia says:

    Great post, Mary. Thank you for all the beautiful things you shared about our country. I would never want to live anywhere else in the world. Kisses, my friend.

    • Mary says:

      If only we could all live in Greece in harmony with a decent paycheck. Mia another friend said it must be the ancient culture which pulls at us.

  33. Pili says:

    I visited Greece once many years ago and I fell in love with it. Old stones and mythology are some of my passions so you can imagine how much I enjoyed there, plus we had an awesome guide and she made it even more enjoyable. I agree about people living in a sunny country, they are more vibrant… happy loud people with a strong temper.
    Your pictures are beautiful, you condensed the essence of the country within them

    • Mary says:

      Awwww thank you Pili. You hit the nail on the head. They are happy and loud and it must be the sunshine that makes them that way. Also all this is good for the soul no keeping things inside and brooding.

  34. Meegan Fast says:

    I have told you before that Greece is calling my name. It is even more so, now…
    The thought of harvesting olives and making your own oil oil sounds rewarding and a wonderful tradition. Not to mention the fresh taste.
    Thanks for sharing the many traditions and lifestyle.
    Have a wonderful week, Mary.

    • Mary says:

      You would love Greece Meegan. Especially since you are such a fan of the coastal style. Greece is definitely calling your name.

  35. It’s like a tourist guide for Greece! Loved it!

  36. I love learning of Greece through your eyes Mary! Love that blue sky and water. Don’t think that ever seen it so blue, and sure not anywhere around here. Would love to visit. Greece one day. Your flat lay photos beautiful!

    • Mary says:

      Thank you Linda. I think that light is the most defining quality of our country. So so bright that it blinds me.

  37. Asad says:

    I have never been Greece, but I wish to travel Greece one day… Thanks for your post and you awesome pictures Mary!

  38. Dalia says:

    And again you awake my wish to go in a holiday. Greece is one of my favourite countries ever, and I have only been thrice. But my Dad was a huge fan of Greek mythology, since he had to learn Latin in School, so I grew up with all the stories and epics. I even named my son Aeneas to honor my dad and his legacy.
    Its funny to hear that Greek people do talk about mythology, but then its hard to ignore when you have ancient ruins in your cellar… 😉

    • Mary says:

      Yes it is steeped all around us and part of our identity. We also take a humorous look at the stereotypes of how Zeus was for example.

Comments are closed.