The little rituals that tell me I’m finally back in Greece.
Sometimes a holiday begins with a flight. Mine usually begins with a text message, a cold Mythos and a packet of oregano crisps. My phone comes off airplane mode. A few seconds later, a text message arrives.
“Welcome to Greece.”
I message the children to let them know we’ve landed safely. Then I smile… I’m here.
Not at the hotel. Not on the beach. Not even with a Mythos in my hand yet. But mentally, I’m already on holiday.
Over the years, after holidays on islands including Corfu, Rhodes, Kefalonia, Crete, Santorini, Zakynthos and Thassos, I’ve realised that my Greek holiday doesn’t begin at a specific place.
It begins with a series of little rituals. None of them are particularly important. All of them are absolutely essential.
Whether you’re visiting Greece for the first time or returning for another Greek island holiday, you’ll probably develop your own traditions too. These are the little things that tell me my holiday has officially begun.
The Blast Of Heat As The Plane Door Opens
Before I’ve even left the aircraft, I know I’m in Greece. The door opens. A wall of heat hits you. Not unpleasant heat. Holiday heat.
The sort that instantly tells your brain it’s time to stop thinking about work emails and start thinking about what you’re having for dinner.
And then there’s the smell. I’ve never found a good way to describe it. It’s warm. Dry. Sun-baked. Distinctly Greek.
Every island smells slightly different, but they all smell different from home. It’s one of the first things I notice every single time.
The Walk Across The Tarmac
One of the things I love about many Greek islands is the airports. They aren’t enormous. There are no underground trains. No endless terminals. No marathon hikes to passport control.
Quite often, you simply walk down the aircraft steps and across the tarmac. It’s a small thing. But I love it.
There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about arriving somewhere that doesn’t feel the need to make everything bigger than necessary.
The Great Air Conditioning Lottery
Sooner or later we find our transfer coach. And then comes the first challenge of the holiday. Does the air conditioning work? Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t.
When it does, everybody relaxes. When it doesn’t, there is usually a collective look amongst passengers that says: “This could be a long journey.”
Fortunately, the excitement of arriving generally outweighs the discomfort.
Unpacking Immediately
I don’t know why I do this. At home, I can leave a suitcase sitting unopened for days.
On holiday? Everything gets unpacked almost immediately. Clothes in drawers. Books on the bedside table. Toiletries organised.
It’s as though unpacking somehow confirms that we’re staying… The holiday has officially begun.
The Wardrobe Test
My husband has a tradition of his own. Every holiday. Every apartment. Every hotel room. Without fail.
He checks whether he can fit inside the wardrobe. Sometimes he hides in there if I leave the room thinking it will worry me. I know exactly where he will be.
I still have absolutely no idea why he thinks this is funny.
After all these years I have stopped asking. Some mysteries simply aren’t meant to be solved.
Mission Mythos
As soon as we’re settled, the hunt begins for a cold Mythos. Nothing else will do.
If there’s a bar at the accommodation, brilliant. If there isn’t, we’ll go for a walk. Somewhere nearby there will be a Mythos waiting.
And if they happen to sell Lay’s Oregano Crisps too? Even better.
Oregano Crisps Taste Better In Greece
I’m sure somebody could explain the science. I have no intention of listening to them. All I know is that a packet of oregano crisps in Greece tastes significantly better than it has any right to.
At this point they’ve become part of our holiday tradition. A Greek holiday without oregano crisps would feel slightly incomplete. Like Christmas without mince pies.
The First Supermarket Visit
No matter where we’re staying, the first supermarket trip always happens quickly. Water is the priority. Lots of it.
Then we buy the breakfast essentials. We almost always make grilled cheese toasties for breakfast. Nothing fancy. Nothing Instagram-worthy. Just a small tradition that’s followed us around the Greek islands for years.
These little routines become surprisingly comforting.
The First Sight Of The Sea
This is perhaps the most important ritual of all. We always make sure we see the sea on the first day. Always. Even if we’re tired. Even if we’ve travelled all day. Even if we only have ten minutes. The sea must be seen.
And usually, toes must be dipped. Somehow, standing at the edge of the water makes everything feel real.
We’re here. The holiday has started.
The First Swim
Finally comes the swim. Pool or sea, it doesn’t really matter. After travelling all day, there’s something wonderfully refreshing about cooling down in the water.
The holiday suddenly feels real. The stress of work begins to disappear. And the familiar feeling arrives.
The one that keeps bringing us back year after year.
Why Greece Feels Different From Other Holidays
I’ve travelled to other countries and enjoyed them enormously. But Greece feels different.
Perhaps it’s the pace. Perhaps it’s the food. Perhaps it’s the fact that every day seems to involve water, good food and absolutely no urgency whatsoever.
Whatever the reason, Greece has become the place where I stop looking at the clock.
And that feels increasingly valuable.
Why These Rituals Matter
If somebody asked me what I love most about Greece, they might expect me to mention the beaches, or the weather or the food. Whilst all of those things are wonderful, it’s actually these little rituals that stay with me.
- The text message.
- The heat.
- The Mythos.
- The oregano crisps.
- The supermarket.
- The sea.
- The swim.
Individually, they’re nothing special. Together, they’re the signal that life is about to slow down for a while.
And that’s why, before I’ve even unpacked my suitcase at home, I’m usually looking at holidays for the following year.