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…

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!