Meet Sally
Sally Jane Smith has lived on five continents and visited thirty-three countries, but she gives credit to Greece for turning her into a writer. In 2006, the bus on which she was travelling through Sri Lanka suffered a head-on collision, breaking both her body and her spirit. A decade on, she journeyed to Greece in a quest to recover her wanderlust – and proved it is possible for an out-of-shape, middle-aged woman on a budget, equipped only with a guidebook and her mother’s 1978 travel diary, to experience a remarkable adventure. This is the story that became the ‘Packing for Greece’ series. Sally’s story of her great-great-grandmother’s extraordinary life appears in the anthology Itchy Feet: Tales of Travel and Adventure. Her exploration of travel and grief is included in the Newcastle Short Story Award Anthology 2022. Sally’s first book, Unpacking for Greece, was selected by Greek News Agenda as ‘Reading Greece Book of the Month’ for July 2023.
About The Book: "Unpacking For Greece"
When Sally sets out for Europe with her mother’s 1978 travel diary in her pocket, she is searching for the wanderlust she lost in a devastating overseas road accident.
As she ventures into the heart of the Mediterranean – wandering volatile landscapes, exploring historical sites, pairing books with places and savouring the tastes of Greece – she finds it is possible for a clumsy, out-of-shape woman on a budget to experience a life-changing journey.
In a story told with warmth, humour and a fascination with Greece’s natural and cultural heritage, Sally connects with her past, overcomes her fears and falls in love with life again, one olive at a time.
Book One in the ‘Packing for Greece’ series travels to Athens and Meteora on the mainland; Monemvasia, Sparta and Methana on the Peloponnese Peninsula; and the islands of Santorini and Rhodes.
What reviewers are saying
Kathryn Gauci – A traveller’s reflections on the glory that was – and still is – Greece. I enjoyed this book and admire the author for setting off alone to explore Greece. Having lived there for quite a few years, Greece is a place for reflection and in many ways, discovering oneself as much as discovering the country, its history, and its people. The author certainly did this. I walked in her footsteps as she explored the famous sites, absorbed their history, and reflected on them. Throughout all this, she carries with her a photograph of her mother and grandmother, who had been there years earlier, wondering if they viewed these famous places with the same awe. Despite the hoards of tourists that visit the same famous places today, Sally manages to see past this to the glory that was – and still is – Greece. Her explanations and musings were particularly interesting. A good read.
Maria A. Karamitsos – Journalist, Author, Poet, & Proud Hellene. You’ll travel right alongside her. I am so happy Sally embarked on this trip, not just for herself, but for the amazing experiences she shared with us. Her eloquent and beautiful descriptions are so vivid, you’ll travel right alongside her. You’ll see and feel every moment of her journey, as she grows and changes and comes to terms with much in her life. Her solo trip—and her story—is not just a travel memoir. It’s a story of re-learning to trust oneself, opening to possibilities, making peace with the past, and cruising with confidence through middle age. Bravo!
