Skip to Content

Greek Isle Palette

As the sleet falls outside my window, and the floor heater warms my toes under my desk, I find myself dreaming of faraway sunny places. Santorini, anyone?

Time for a little getaway, even if it’s only virtual…

Greek Isle Palette: Bright blue and red is tempered with gray and a little sky blue.

When I was in college, I spent a semester in Italy. In the last few days before I was to return home to the states, I ran out of money. All I had was a train and ferry ticket that was good for anywhere in Europe, and a small bag of clothes on my back.

So I set off for the furthest point I could get to, Greece. (This way I could sleep on the train, and save my few remaining lire for food along the way.)

I’ll never forget the friendliness, openness, and generosity of the Greek people I met on that trip. I managed to survive homelessness for a few days (don’t worry Mom, I stayed in a student hostel so I wasn’t on the streets!), and ate most of my meals at “Mama’s Cafe” where the food was cheap and plentiful, and “Mama” would come around and make sure you were getting enough to eat and had a safe place to stay. I don’t know whose Mama she really was, but for that weekend, she was mine.

I finally made it back to Italy, caught a flight home, and arrived suntanned and world-traveled. The memories of that whole semester would fill a book, but this is one of my favorites.

So when my friend Jeri sent me this photo, it brought back so many happy and sunny memories that I had to share it with you. (With my own little color palette twist, of course.) I hope it brings you a moment of sunshine no matter what the weather is like where you are reading this.

And if you’re ever in Santorini, look up Mama’s Cafe, and tell her I said thanks!

Paulette Lee

Friday 22nd of July 2016

Hi Mer, for some reason I didn't get this in February when you posted it, but found it with the wonderful cloud palette tonight. I was blessed enough to be someone's guest on a Greek tour about 15 years ago. This photo does so remind me of a golden Santorini afternoon! Wish I'd known to look up Mama's while I was there. I have some amazing glazed ceramic candlesticks with these very colors. So glad you got to experience Greece. Hugs, Paulette

Johanna

Sunday 8th of March 2015

ooh! I want to go visit!!

Meredith

Tuesday 10th of March 2015

Me too! Again!

Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com

Friday 6th of March 2015

Hi Meredith, oh your poor mother would have had a heart attack if she knew then what she knows now! Great times to look back on for you now though I'm sure. It's amazing the things we do when we are younger and invincible. :)

Meredith

Saturday 7th of March 2015

Yes, she would! But now we just have a good laugh. And with my own daughters growing up fast, I know I'm in for a little karma down the road...

Jeannette Paladino

Thursday 5th of March 2015

Well I won't be traveling to sunny Greece or Italy but I will be flying to sunny Florida tomorrow morning and can't wait to leave cold and snowy NY. (FYI, when I clicked on the link to see more of Jeri's pictures I got a 404 message).

Meredith

Saturday 7th of March 2015

Oops! Thanks for letting me know. Hope you're having a great trip!

Marquita Herald (@marquitaherald)

Wednesday 4th of March 2015

What a wonderful adventure Meredith! Greece is one of the few places on Earth remaining on my Bucket List and I look forward to seeing it first hand one day soon. These are just beautiful colors that are very similar to the colors I use most often in my work. Thanks for sharing your story and implanting such a lovely image.

Meredith

Wednesday 4th of March 2015

Thanks Marquita, glad to bring a little sunshine to your day!

ABOUT MEREDITH


Creating a color-filled life. Conquering my little world one DIY project at a time. With lots of coffee and chocolate. Albuquerque NM. Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Facebook