Light, Laughter & the Leap to Greece
From Sicilian sweetness to the sunrise of Serifos.
#27
What an incredible week of adventure!
When I last wrote, we were wrapping up our time in Sicily — flowing, trusting, and reveling in the beauty and energy of it all.
Monday took us to a family-run candy and chocolate factory, Kirat, where for more than fifty years they’ve been making sweets for Italy. This past April, they began crafting their own chocolate, too. We met the joyful owner, Valerio, and his spirited business partner, Francesco, over lunch in Modica a couple of days earlier.
We weren’t sure what we were getting into when we were invited to visit the kitchen — and that’s the gift of slow travel: saying yes to what appears, without a packed itinerary holding you back.
We were greeted with hugs, espresso, and smiles that could light a room. For forty-five minutes we watched the process of candy-making, sampled chocolate, and soaked up their contagious energy. Before leaving, they handed us a box of treats — a little sweetness for the road. Most of it ended up being shipped home to my kids in the States (traveling light still wins!), but I did keep a few pieces for myself. 😊
Francesco insisted we visit Noto, which he called the most beautiful city in all of Sicily. He wasn’t wrong. Every town on the island has its own flavor, but Noto’s was pure magic: sunlit stone, a sense of peace, and streets alive with warmth.
We wandered the cobblestones, I climbed 80 steps to the church bell tower and took in the panoramic view. Lunch was fish on the square, accompanied by ten older men laughing together in the sunlight. My final Sicilian cannolo was enjoyed right there — a perfect ending.
After a quiet walk on the beach that afternoon and one last moonlit night at the agriturismo, we danced with the windows wide open, music up, taking it all in, imprinting the moment into memory.
And then it was time to leave Italy for now (we’ll be back mid-December!) and fly to Athens, Greece.
I hadn’t been to Greece since I was eighteen. Returning decades later, with Tim beside me, felt both nostalgic and brand new. We flew from Catania through Rome to Athens, landing just before sunset. I’d booked a private car into the city, and — as has become my quiet ritual — I asked for grace and ease for our travel day. So far, it’s worked every time. I am grateful.
Our reward?
A hotel balcony view of the Acropolis, glowing golden against the night sky. We could even see it from bed. The room itself was the smallest we’ve had yet (picture just enough room for three suitcases and a tiny bathroom), but the view made up for everything.
Wednesday’s highlight was a walking tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon — after a lunch that might just go down as one of our best: pork gyro, Greek salad, and moussaka. I posted a short video on YouTube showing the meal reveal, a local musician playing traditional Greek music, and our view from the top. 🎥
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Thursday became a self-care day — time to cover the grey roots and slow down. I’d booked the salon weeks earlier knowing we’d have a buffer day before our ferry. Athens was lively, even with a two-day taxi strike closing off streets. I walked through the city under bright blue skies and made it to my appointment easily. Another moment of grace.
Friday marked the next leap: a two-hour ferry to Serifos, the first of five Greek islands on our list. One of only 220 inhabited islands (out of 6,000!) in the Mediterranean, Serifos is home to just 1,200 people. It’s rugged, quiet, and breathtaking.
We were met at the pier by the car rental owner, then wound our way up steep mountain roads to our new home, greeted once again by views that stopped us in our tracks.
As with every place we’ve stayed, there’s always a learning curve: how to work the stove, the air conditioning, the laundry machine. How to navigate new beds and pillows, where to find the grocery store, whether the water’s safe to drink. Every destination asks for a little recalibration — and a willingness to meet life as it is.
This time around, there’s more movement and planning. And yet, that’s exactly what we wanted: to see more, feel more, experience more of Italy and Greece. Our stays average about a week, the homes are more spacious and comfortable than our last six-month journey, and each one holds its own rhythm. Still, the logistics can take their toll. We’re learning what pace feels right for us — not too fast, not too still — and finding that sweet spot of flow.
It’s all a dance of balance and awareness.
This is my life now, and how I’m choosing to live it.
I can easily get caught up in the next steps (I always have), but my practice is coming back to the present: the sunrise, the meal I’ve prepared, the workout that keeps me strong. Because we’re never promised the next moment.
So I keep reminding myself — live it fully, now.
And speaking of living soulfully…
This week, I sat down with Kelly Quiney for a heartfelt conversation about the Listen • Trust • Act Method™, and what it really means to live a soul-led life.
If you’ve ever felt ready for something more — more clarity, more ease, more you — I think you’ll love this one. 💫
👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube.
Sending you calm, golden Light from Serifos, Greece —
May you listen, trust, and act for your highest and best. ✨
To your highest and best,
Dianna
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