There's a line a local musicologist once gave Maria Petrenko about Oia that has stayed with her ever since. You don't go to a woman when everyone in the room is queuing up to light her cigarette. You go when she's alone.
That's Santorini in December. Same caldera, same whitewashed alleyways, same v…There's a line a local musicologist once gave Maria Petrenko about Oia that has stayed with her ever since. You don't go to a woman when everyone in the room is queuing up to light her cigarette. You go when she's alone.
That's Santorini in December. Same caldera, same whitewashed alleyways, same view that launched a million photographs, but with nobody in it except you. Maria is a local guide and the founder of Santorini by Maria, running private walking tours built around slow travel, and she lives on the island year-round. In this episode she takes Imogen Strickland through the version of Santorini that most visitors never see, and makes a quietly persuasive case for going once everyone has gone home.
She talks about the empty alleyways after the first rains, when the herbs come back and the mushrooms appear on the mountain if you're brave enough to pick them. She explains why hiking the volcano is better in the cold, when you can feel the heat coming up through the rock instead of being confused by the sun beating down on you. She describes February fog creeping into the villages and admits it's ideal weather for anyone with a Gothic novel in them. There's the arnaki, the slow-roasted lamb that tastes better the following day, and the chilly evenings that push you indoors to your own oven with a glass of wine and no reason to hurry.
Maria is honest about the trade-offs too. Most locals leave for the winter, and the ones who stay do so for a reason. The wind is the real cold, not the temperature. Some villages will leave you with nowhere to eat, so she recommends basing yourself in Oia or Fira, the two places that become unbearable in July and are perfectly pleasant in December. Public transport thins out. Museums keep short hours.
What you get in return is the thing everyone comes to Santorini looking for and almost never finds. Space. Maria calls it island-wide me time. There's also a creative community quietly reassembling itself on the island, painters in residence, writers taking rooms for a month, galleries opening in the inland villages, drawing on an artistic history that goes back to the frescoes at Akrotiri and got lost somewhere in the rush of mass tourism.
If you've been putting Santorini off because of what you've seen in other people's photographs, this is the conversation that might change your mind about when to go.
Find Maria's private walking tours at Santorini by Maria.
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Greece is a bucket-list destination for a reason! But there's so much more to it than just Santorini and Mykonos. In this episode, Lisa sits down with Mary Vass, a Greece-based travel expert, to explore what it really means to experience the country beyond the highlights. From the Mediterranean way …Greece is a bucket-list destination for a reason! But there's so much more to it than just Santorini and Mykonos. In this episode, Lisa sits down with Mary Vass, a Greece-based travel expert, to explore what it really means to experience the country beyond the highlights. From the Mediterranean way of life to meaningful (and even luxurious) travel moments, we're sharing how to plan a trip that goes deeper than the surface.more
Learn how you can explore the Mediterranean without losing days to ferries, hotel check-ins, or pricey islands.
Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss Mediterranean trip planning to help you link coastal cities and islands without wasting precious vacation time. But first, they break down the …Learn how you can explore the Mediterranean without losing days to ferries, hotel check-ins, or pricey islands.
Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss Mediterranean trip planning to help you link coastal cities and islands without wasting precious vacation time. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Southwest adding Starlink Wi-Fi, JetBlue and United expanding the Blue Sky partnership for booking and redemptions, and spring break travel trends. Producer Tess Vigeland also joins to share lessons from a trip to Spain gone wrong, including how EU flight delay compensation works and what to update in Global Entry after you get a new passport.
Next, Sally and Meghan dig into what makes traveling the Mediterranean tricky, from fragmented routes to language barriers and currencies, and talk through when a cruise can simplify island-hopping. Sally shares her port-heavy trip on Norwegian Cruise Line Viva with her husband, Hamilton, before she and Meghan spotlight can’t-miss stops like Cinque Terre, Sardinia, Kotor, Marseille and the French Riviera, Zadar, and Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia. Plus: where to look for surprisingly affordable luxury stays in places like Istanbul, Crete, and Montenegro.
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What happens when you mix millennia-old ruins, sun-drenched islands, and gourmet Greek cuisine? You get an unforgettable adventure—plus a podcast episode to match.
In this wanderlust-packed episode of Stacking Adventures, hosts Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond are joined by a very special guest: J…What happens when you mix millennia-old ruins, sun-drenched islands, and gourmet Greek cuisine? You get an unforgettable adventure—plus a podcast episode to match.
In this wanderlust-packed episode of Stacking Adventures, hosts Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond are joined by a very special guest: Joe's wife, Cheryl Saul-Sehy, a seasoned traveler with a keen eye for luxury, efficiency, and surprise gems you won't find on most itineraries. Together, they unpack their latest trip to Greece, spanning the historic streets of Athens, the Instagram-ready cliffs of Santorini, and the charming hospitality of Crete and Naxos.
Here's What You'll Explore:
• The Ancient Meets the Modern in Athens: From the Acropolis to upscale walking food tours, Joe, Crystal, and Cheryl break down why the cradle of Western civilization should still be on your bucket list (and your stomach's).
• Santorini's Stunning... and Packed: Is the sunset as romantic as it looks in the brochures? Yes. But also: elbows. Lots of elbows. Get tips on dodging crowds and soaking in the caldera views like a pro.
• Crete's Hidden Depths: Explore more than beaches—like the poignant beauty of a preserved leper colony and the stunning Palace of Knossos. Plus, Cheryl's unexpected emotional moment at a nearly forgotten site.
• Naxos, the Culinary Underdog: Spoiler alert—this island may have stolen the show. Learn why renting a car here is a must, how to find secret beaches, and where to eat your weight in feta.
• Logistical Gold: From scoring flights with credit card points to the perks (and limitations) of Disney-guided tours, this episode dishes out real traveler talk for making your next trip smoother—and more rewarding.
• Gear of the Day: Cheryl reveals the MVP of the trip, a simple travel essential that made all the difference in staying organized and secure abroad. You'll want to add this to your packing list, stat.
Why This Episode Belongs in Your Carry-On
This isn't your average travel chat. It's a blend of heartfelt storytelling, practical wisdom, and enough dreamy island imagery to get your suitcase halfway packed. Whether you're planning your first Greek adventure or reliving your last one, you'll walk away with ideas, laughs, and a serious craving for baklava.
Have a favorite Greek island, hidden taverna, or ferry tip? Share it with the Stacking Adventures community—we're always hungry for more (especially if it involves olives or octopus). more
Greece is more than just Santorini sunsets and Mykonos beach clubs—there’s a whole world beyond the tourist traps, and Joanna Kalafatis is here to spill the secrets. As an actress, writer, and all-around adventurer, she brings sharp wit and deep cultural insight to the table, sharing hidden gems, lo…Greece is more than just Santorini sunsets and Mykonos beach clubs—there’s a whole world beyond the tourist traps, and Joanna Kalafatis is here to spill the secrets. As an actress, writer, and all-around adventurer, she brings sharp wit and deep cultural insight to the table, sharing hidden gems, local traditions, and the realities of over-tourism. From dodging the pitfalls of imported tipping culture to uncovering the real soul of Greece, Joanna makes you want to book a flight and explore like a local. Plus, she’s hilarious—so expect plenty of laughs along the way.
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