A tourist or a Traveler and some Thoughts of Becoming an Immigrant. 

 

pecks:

No matter what I look for, nowadays TikTok is one of my most used 

searching platforms. As a result of this habit, when I book a ticket for 

a foreign country or a place that any of my friends haven’t visited yet, 

I always search on TikTok for museums, places to eat and drink, in the 

hope that the TikTok algorithm will show me hidden gems. 

Contrary to what I want, most of the time TikTok suggests more tourist 

places than a few hidden gems. But if you decide to go hard and down 

the rabbit hole and keep searching you can find plenty of places so 

you can see a city or a place like a local. 

I myself pretty much believe that I’m in the middle and while 

traveling I have both tourist and traveling habits. As a proper 

tourist I love seeing a majority of the monuments for which this 

place is known. However, my traveler spirit wants to see where and 

how locals spend their time. That’s why I hate tourist restaurants 

or coffee shops. On top of that, I have never gotten addicted 

to shopping stores, especially the ones which are in Greece. 

 

To be honest I can’t understand why people spend so much money 

shopping during holidays. Having said that, I prefer to buy a few 

unique or local items instead of spending my money on clothes 

or beauty products. Unlike a room in a hotel, I prefer to book an 

Airbnb in order to see how locals decorate their places, for example 

houses in Copenhagen are so minimal, contrary to houses in Portugal.

 

Last but not least, one of my favorite hobbies is going to workshops 

as well. Finding out why this place is known and you can experience 

it for some hours. Since I want to move and live abroad, I’ve never 

thought that I have to consider myself as an immigrant. In my mind, 

choosing a county and a city in which you can fit perfectly, I guess, 

it’s pretty easy to be as local as you can be. I must confess this is 

the whole point, especially when you decide to live abroad for 

a better lifestyle.

 

 In other words, if you choose the country you want, you have to 

be pretty ready to leave your habits and your customs and try 

some new ones.

 

 

 

 

Soul Tripping? Camper it!

WHAT IF

hsak:

On the tip of the three-leg Goddess known as Peloponnese lies 

a kingdom of immense Ionian essence and a mystery that remains 

hidden for thousands of years among the two river beds.

My journey started where it had ended, searching for freedom 

between the echoes of the waves crushing the rocks. 

Unprepared, unorganized, alone with a tent, a Ukelele and some 

water on my back, I walked on the salty edgy terrain with an enemy 

and an ally. 

The burning sun trying to crush my mission and the sea aura 

soothing my burns and washing away any thoughts of returning.

Carved on the ground by the air and the ocean are the faces 

of the people that once ruled this place and now either light 

your way or make you retreat in fear.

The first river or the gate…

Every step is crucial, every step comes with prayer and desire 

to live the extraordinary and remember, recall the memories 

that live inside me but remain unknown. 

A mountain shade - break to regain power, eased my heartbeat 

and hid me from the sun. 

Right then..right there.. the first thought of denial.

Among the what ifs that crossed my head I chose the ‘’what 

if I don’t get the chance to come here again? ‘’. 

While struggling to discipline my body and mind I realized who sets 

the limits.

I continued my journey knowing that my only option was not an option, 

but an impulsive command.

Between the two rivers 

The horizon flirted so intensively with the sun that its color 

turned red while the stars got out to catch a glimpse of this 

mesmerizing relationship. 

The moon rose and pushed the sun out of the way. 

It was time to paint everything in black and yellow.

My tent was already set and after watering my dried belly flowers 

I grabbed the Ukulele and started playing. 

I’ve always wanted to play for a huge audience and now…. I was 

singing to the whole world.

I screamed and screamed. 

And every scream would get me a step closer to the truth of that 

place. 

I screamed so loudly that the mighty Ionian wind stopped for a 

moment to listen to my cry of freedom.

Few moments later, lying in the tent , my thoughts grew wings, 

flew to the mountain, then jumped in the sea and returned only to 

whisper to me… what if?

Just and old soul in denial