- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where are you from and what do you?
I’m from Istanbul but currently based between Istanbul and London.
I trained as a contemporary art curator but have since worked in luxury sales and marketing across various fields, from art to natural cosmetics and now bespoke design. I’m also the co-founder of Pestil Books, where I collect and curate vintage books, and at heart, I’m a fiction and art writer.
I wear many hats at once and am always open to wearing new ones in the future—so I call myself a ‘creative dreamer.’
2. What is your most unforgettable escape? (Could be a recent one, or could be long ago)
A week in Spetses in summer 2022! Being from Turkey, I’ve been to so many Greek Islands, but so far, this one has been my favourite.
3. What was the purpose of your travel?
It was a summer getaway with my family.
4. With how many people did you travel?
We were three! I was there with two of my three favourite travel companions – my mom and my sister.
5. Where did you stay?
We stayed at a small boutique hotel near central Spetses. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay in smaller hotels in the Greek Islands; this one was super charming and clean, with a beautiful little garden where they were served fresh Greek breakfast every morning — organic eggs, fresh summer fruits and my favourite trio: Greek yogurt with natural honey and walnuts!
6. What did you like most about the trip?
We used Spetses as our main and travelled to different nearby destinations. We spent a day in Hydra (you can easily take a ferry between these islands), another day on a family friend’s boat in Porto Cheli, and had dinner in a local fish restaurant with Greek friends in Ermioni. It felt like many smaller escapes wrapped into one!
7. Can you share an unforgettable memory from the journey?
Even though I’m not the biggest Jeff Koons fan, seeing his Apollo Wind Spinner sculpture in the Slaughterhouse, Deste Foundation’s Project Space in Hydra, stirred unexpected emotions in me. The way it shimmered under the summer sun, set against the vast blue sea, felt almost archaic — it was one of the moments when you think to yourself ‘Am I in Ancient Greece?’
8. Your most surprising find during the trip?
On our way from Athens to Porto Cheli, we passed by the Corinth Canal. I had no idea that there was a bridge running through it. Although it is man-made, the canal looked truly sublime.
9. Favorite restaurants or food discovered?
My favourite restaurant in Spetses is definitely Orlof. With its location at the tip of the island, an amazing wine list, the cutest menu design, mouth-watering food, and a romantic sunset view, this is the place to wear the fanciest summer dress you packed for the trip.
I would also recommend Tarsanas, especially if you are travelling as a family and need a big table for the grilled local fish you just ordered!
10. What are the must tries in this destination?
You do not have to stay at Poseidonion Hotel to enjoy this iconic beauty — the symbol of the island. You sit on its grand porch for after-dinner digestifs, which, for me in Greece, is almost always Metaxa.
Bikini Bar is a great option for a livelier a night out — try one of their many signature cocktails.
In Hydra, Spillia is a must. Great food & drinks and don’t be afraid to jump off the rocks into waves!
For a more comfortable beach option with huge sunbeds, excellent service, a high-end restaurant and a cute little shop at the back I would go to Paradise Beach in Spetses is a perfect spot. Every escape deserves a day of indulgence!
11. Any hidden gems you could whisper to us?
Akrogailia: A typical Greek taverna just a few minutes away from the centre of Spetses. Suddenly, there’s no noise, you eat amazing seafood alongside your ouzo on the simplest tables right next to the see and your feet literally in sand.
Zogeria Beach: Not exactly hidden — you may recognise it from the movie The Lost Daughter. But you can only reach here by boat— you can find sea-taxis at the port of Spetses. Do not expect a beach club experience, it is the simplest of the beaches but the water is crystal-clear, and the nature is stunning. There is an old pine tree standing at the centre of the beach, right by the sea. Have lunch at the old taverna at the back of the beach. Make sure that you do not wait until the afternoon as their moussaka sells out fast! And don’t forget to pair it with an ice-cold can of Mythos.
Rafaela Pharmacy in Hydra: Get ready to walk up the hills of Hydra under the summer’s sun, but it’s worth it. This is one of the oldest functioning pharmacies in Greece — and is essentially a museum. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed but you can still see and admire the original furniture and bottles and vintage apparatus. They homemade some natural products and sell them under their own brand as well — shoutout to my fellow skincare geeks!
12. Would you go back, and why?
Absolutely! Spetses has everything I love in one little island: delicious food, beautiful architecture, dreamy seaside walking paths, secluded beaches, forests, and emptier and quieter streets as you move away from the centre. It’s proximity to Athens, Hydra, Ermioni, and Porto Cheli is another huge plus.
13. Could you list a few of the favorite finds you came back with?
I’m a collector of seashells and stones, so I brought back many of those. From a small shop in Hydra, I found two ex-votos: a Sacred Heart and a crescent moon. They now hang in my bedroom and thus still the first things I see when I wake up — The Sacred Heart reminds me of all the love and healing in the world and the moon represents my relationship with myself – cyclical yet constant.
14. Any tips that might be useful to know before going there?
Befriend a sea-taxi captain and get their number — It is the easiest way to reach the secluded beaches during the day and when it’s time to say your adieu to Spetses and need to return back to the mainland aka. reality.
15. Next stop you would like to visit?
I’m looking forward to my escape to Kea Island this summer for the wedding of two dear friends!
16. What does traveling and escape mean to you?
I truly value the power of ‘change of scenery’. You may not escape from your troubles but you can always find a new perspective on how to look at life whilst travelling. So to escape always means to find inspiration elsewhere — this elsewhere can be a new destination, an overheard conversation, a breathtaking landscape, a quiet moment spent in front of a painting in a museum. I travel to see and explore new ways of living.
17. What’s your winter travel soundtrack?
This has been a very transitional winter for me, so: Seabird by Alessi Brothers
18. What about your latest read?
Hot Milk by Deborah Levi — not surprising that I’m writing about my Greek Islands escape, right?
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