Marina Pliatsikas embarked on a mission to create an ultimate guide to Greece, one that not only served as a checklist but an insight into the country’s history, customs and everything that makes it special.
That mission resulted in the creation of ‘Intrepid Greece’, which will hold a launch event on 18 September, 6pm, at Title Bookstore in Barangaroo, Sydney.
Pliatsikas remarked that the book differs from other travel guides, serving as a deeper look into the country that explores its experiences, cultural phenomena and destinations.
“It is not a traditional travel book in that it is not a checklist of things to see, or a collection of sample itineraries,” the author told Neos Kosmos.
“Rather, it is hopefully a deeper insight into the customs, heritage and delightful quirks that make Greece so special.”
She noted the book also includes various firsthand anecdotes and stories from her many years travelling through Greece.
The author remarked that she has regularly visited Greece (particularly Ioannina where many relatives from her father’s side live), though it was her 2022 trip that truly inspired her to create the book after she discovered a whole new side to the country.
During her three-month stay, she climbed mountains, engaged with water rapids, rivers and springs, ate unique food at various restaurants, stayed at boutique hotels and remote refuges, and met a list of young creatives and entrepreneurs.
“After coming home and spending months ranting about Greece to anyone who would listen, I decided I wanted to put it all down on paper,” the Greek Australian with roots from Epirus (father’s side), Corfu and Smyrna (mother’s side) said.
“I got in touch with publishing company Hardie Grant, and at the time they were about to embark on a partnership with Intrepid Travel to publish a Greece book, so the stars aligned and it all came together fairly quickly.”
The author produced the book at a very fast pace, admitting the timeframe from start to finish was around seven months.
“I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Greece during this time, but mostly I had to use a lot of my pre-existing knowledge, as well as conducting extensive interviews both in-person, and via video call back home here in Australia,” she said.
“I read books, watched and re-watched documentaries, and did a lot of online research to find my interview subjects.”
Pliatsikas admitted that one her big takeaways while making the book was how strong and fast-growing Greece’s outdoor, hiking and mountain culture is.
“Travelling through the Tzoumerka and Zagori regions really opened my eyes to it,” said the author, who is a hiker herself.
She heaped praise on the Greek people as well, saying:
“Writing about and profiling the phenomenal individuals doing amazing work there, through organisations like Symplefsi, bear conservation charity Callisto, and events like Pierra Creta (all featured in the book), was a huge part of the experience for me.”
One of the biggest surprises she experienced was learning about the creative energy there is currently, something she wanted to spotlight in the book.
“Greece is very much in the news right now because of films like ‘The Odyssey’, and its mythology and ancient history are obviously hugely important to its identity, but I feel that side sometimes overshadows the rest,” she said.
“I wanted to celebrate that history, but also show how much brilliant work is happening in the modern era too– all the innovation, creativity and NGO work.”
Pliatsikas gave credit to her family for cultivating her pride in her heritage, and stated she feels the need to maintain it now she has reached adulthood herself and has a family of her own.
“My yiayia, the last of my grandparents, actually just passed away this year. It’s left me feeling a little adrift and thinking about how to keep a strong connection to these traditions alive,” she said.
“I know I’ll have to take on much more of that responsibility myself now. I have a son, and I want him to grow up with that same connection.”
