Samantha Brown’s Greece
- Why does Samantha Brown recommend visiting Greece? Greece offers a unique combination of ancient history, vibrant modern culture, welcoming people and unforgettable landscapes.
- What are Samantha Brown’ s top tips for traveling in Greece? Work with a knowledgeable local expert, visit residential neighborhoods, explore public parks, enjoy local food and markets and make time to relax at a beach.
- What makes Greece different from other destinations? Travelers can experience world-famous historical sites while simultaneously engaging with modern Greek life, culture and communities.
- What is the best way to experience authentic Greece? Spend time where locals live, eat and gather rather than focusing exclusively on tourist attractions.
An avid traveler for more than 30 years, Samantha Brown knows a thing or two about the joy of making new discoveries. And if there’s one living classroom she’s truly appreciated through the years, it’s Greece.
Samantha first visited Greece about 25 years ago, when as a young traveler she was filming a travel show for PBS. She was simply awed by the melding between ancient landscapes and modern life.
“I’m from a generation where we learned about Greek mythology and Roman history in school,” says Samantha. “But when you go to Greece for the first time, you begin to realize what’s actually real in terms of the architecture and myths. To see the Acropolis and understand that myths were centered around it — it was so poignant to me as a young adult.”
Where History & Modern Day Collide
It’s the contrast of ancient history and modern life that make Greece such a fascinating place for Samantha. “You could be standing at an ancient ruin and then look down the street, and 10 public transportation buses go by,” says Samantha. “I love that juxtaposition. You’re in this ancient classroom, and yet, you’re in the middle of daily life as well.”
Samantha returned to Greece last year with her family and noticed gems she had missed during her first trip. “We were walking up to the Acropolis and (I must have bypassed this 20 years ago) there was an ancient amphitheater where they put on all the plays,” says Samantha. “I was a drama major in college, so seeing this space was incredible. Imagine people sitting in those seats, looking at that stage for the first time over 2,000 years ago, just trying to understand life. Isn’t that what the arts are today? And to think, they knew how important it was 2,000 years ago.”
Another memorable collision of history and modern life happened when Samantha visited Olympia, home of the original Olympic games. “You can run where they had the first marathon,” says Samantha. “And throughout the stadium, they have the actual marble seating where people would have sat and watched the games. There’s a tiny museum, but the stadium is original. That was a really neat experience.”
The Palace of Knossos in Crete, Greece.
Living Like a Local
While exploring the must-sees of a country are always on the list, Samantha particularly loves to find the local perspective by spending time in quieter neighborhoods where the residents know the hidden gems — and Greece is full of them.
“I love everyday life in another city,” says Samantha. “Athens can be overwhelming, so we stayed in a neighborhood called the Kolinaki. It was lovely and had all these open-air theaters and an unobstructed view of the Acropolis.”
Samantha makes it a point to check out local cafes and spend time exploring parks and public spaces. And of course, one has to sample the local cuisine. “The good thing about Greek food is that I’ve never had a bad meal,” says Samantha. “My family loved moussaka and souvlaki — and we always order a Greek salad. It’s just a favorite.”
Don’t Be Afraid to Communicate
“There’s a reason why Shakespeare said it’s all Greek to me,” says Samantha. “It’s a hard language to learn!”
But interacting with the locals is one of Samantha’s favorite ways to experience any new place she’s visiting. “We have Google Translate, we have all this technology to help us, but I kind of like the charades of language and communication. Just be polite, use please and thank you, maintain eye contact and usually you can figure things out.” says Samantha.
One of her favorite Greece stories involves a search for peanut butter. “I had been in Greece for several weeks and just had a craving for something from America,” says Samantha. “I looked everywhere for peanut butter and finally ended up at this tiny grocery store where the owner tried to help me but only spoke broken English.”
“I finally started to mimic an elephant — because elephants love peanuts. And they said ‘OH!’ and his wife brought me over to a shelf, and there lay a bag of peanuts. And we were so excited! And I said, ‘Yes, but…’” and I ran over to the dairy section and grabbed a stick of butter. And I kept saying ‘peanut… butter.’ Finally they realized what I was looking for and then said, ‘No, we don’t have that,’” laughs Samantha. “I didn’t get my peanut butter, but I got a great story.”
It Felt Like Home
If you’re headed to Greece for the first time (or maybe second or third), there’s one feeling that Samantha hopes you’ll take with you — that feeling of home.
Maybe it’s because of the warm, welcoming nature of local residents or the traditional recipes that have been handed down for generations. Or perhaps it’s a sense of belonging to a vibrant, ancient story that has brought us to the modern civilizations we have today. Whatever the cause, Greece will stay with you.
“I’ll never forget when I first left Greece after being there for a month. We were making our initial descent into JFK, and I remember being so sad, because my time in Greece was over,” says Samantha. “And when you’re ready to leave, you’re going to feel like, wow — there’s a part of me here. A part of me that feels Greek. It’s just a really special place.”
National Garden in Athens, Greece.
Samantha Brown’s Top 5 Tips for Experiencing the Best of Greece
1. Get a Great Group Leader
“In Greece, there’s just so much information to take in,” say Samantha. “An amazing local expert — like you’ll find with Road Scholar — will change your experience as you take in these incredible places and help you understand the importance of where you are.”
2. Visit Residential Neighborhoods
“Get away from the tourist centers and just go where people live and wander,” recommends Samantha. “Maybe take a cooking lesson with a local family, because then you understand the heart of Greece. It comes through in their food — that’s where they show their love.”
3. Find a Public Park
“I love public parks,” says Samantha. “It can be really hot during the day in Greece, and public parks are great places to visit and get out of the heat. My family and I visited the National Gardens in Athens and parts of it were almost like a forest. It was one of our favorite places in the city and offered an opportunity to relax.”
4. Go Where the Food Is
“You should obviously try local cafes and restaurants, but I also love to explore supermarkets!” says Samantha. “I love to see what products and foods they have just in Greece — it’s fascinating, and these items make for fun and inexpensive souvenirs to bring home.” (Think specialty chocolates from the candy aisle, with lovely Greek packaging.)
5. Relax on a Beach
“At some point, there’s only so much history and so many incredible locations you can absorb,” says Samantha. “You need to rest, and Greece’s beaches are amazing. Many of them are covered in nice, smooth stones and the water is phenomenal. You have to get into the water.”
Samantha Brown’s Places to Love
Road Scholar is a proud underwriter of Samantha Brown’s travel show Places to Love on PBS. For more than 20 years, she has traveled the world, visiting over 62 countries and most of the United States. Find her next episode on your local PBS station!
Erika Bouchard has been a writer and creative thinker at Road Scholar for more than 17 years. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, mother and an incredibly spoiled tabby cat. When she’s not writing, you can find her somewhere in her gardens.