In 2010 I was at the highest point of my marketing career. And then the Greek crisis hit and the country went into freefall. I was left without a job and with little perspective of finding one any time soon.

That's the story of thousands of people around the world. What was new to me was the fear. No one had ever prepared me for that. I had done everything by the book and expected life to unfold in a very linear (and predictable) way.

Time went by and I still didn't know what to do.  And then one day I became very tired of being afraid. So I decided to create a job for myself. I didn’t analyze what the market wanted, didn't do any SWOT analysis or financial planning. Instead, I thought – what do you love doing?

I love travelling and exploring and understanding how people live in other places. I love peeking into their windows, no matter how improper that may be. And this is what I decided to do in my own city. I created my first Food Tour and went out there and did it. And this is how Alternative Athens was born. Out of fear and love.

I am now back to a comfortable life. Not secure, but a life less ordinary for me and, hopefully, for those co-travelers around me.  Of course the journey doesn’t end here. I always remind myself that what goes up must come down -at any time – and this makes me think about all the simple things that really matter in life.The fear may still be there. But now I know that whatever it takes and wherever life takes me, I can make it. And this is a comforting thought to go to bed with in a country like Greece today . 

Athens, May 2015

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(....and then Covid hit ☺ To be continued!)