5 WAYS TO WANDER: 🖐️How to offend a Greek
16 May, 2025 | Welcome to 5 Ways to Wander. 🌍✨
Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to book a flight and go anywhere? That was me this week… so I did just that! ✈️
Off on a little adventure – come hang out on Instagram to see where I ended up!
Here are this week’s 5 ideas to get us wondering & wandering…
#1 This Week’s Travel Hack:
📳 Use an eSIM to Stay Connected Instantly. Landing in a new country used to mean hunting for a SIM card shop or switching to expensive roaming. An eSIM makes that obsolete.
It’s a digital SIM you can download before your trip. You just sign up with a provider like Airalo or Nomad, choose a data plan for your destination (they’re really affordable) and activate it when you arrive.
This means your phone is ready with maps, transport apps, and translation tools the moment you touch down.
PRO TIP: Airalo offers a free first eSIM to select destinations! Check it out here.
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#2 Destination of the Week:
🇨🇭 Lucerne, Switzerland. Sure, you might need to sell a kidney to afford a holiday in Switzerland, but Lucerne is worth the hype.
The city’s charm is hard to beat, with spotless medieval streets, stunning lake views, and snow-capped mountains in the background. The vibe is relaxed and nature is abundant.
You could be wandering the old town or cruising along its namesake lake… No matter what, Lucerne spoils you with views that don’t scream for attention – but you know you can’t get enough. 🤤
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#3 Cultural Insight:
🇬🇷 The Greek Hand Gesture That Says It All. In Greece, if someone flashes an open palm toward you with fingers spread wide, don’t mistake it for a wave – it’s a moutza, one of the oldest and most expressive insults in Greek culture.
Rooted in Byzantine times, this gesture is akin to giving someone the finger. It’s often delivered with gusto, sometimes even with both hands (makes it extra offensive), and typically accompanied by a few choice words.
As a tourist, what might seem like a harmless wave elsewhere can be deeply insulting in Greece. So keep your palms to yourself!
P.S. Even signaling the number five requires care to avoid misunderstandings.
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#4 Travel Quote to Ponder:
🏞️“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” ― Mary Oliver
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#5 Question for You:
❔What’s the most memorable act of kindness you’ve experienced while traveling?
Hit reply and tell me; I’d love to hear!
(My mind goes back to my first trip to Paris, where I landed at the airport and took a bus to the city center, only to realize I didn’t have cash and my card wouldn’t work. The driver let me take the bus for free. Parisians often get a bad rap for being rude. But I was met with no-fuss kindness that I’m sure I’ll never forget.)
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