From Britain's rain to Greece's sun: a dream life of beaches and pork souvlaki, shadowed by the bugs
Jess, a 30-year-old originally from Scotland, left rainy Britain to open a souvlaki shop with her partner in a sunny village a few hours from Athens. She shares the differences between the two countries on TikTok and has drawn hundreds of thousands of views. She loves the almost instant-dry clothes and the chance to go to the beach almost every day. Yet one downside looms large: the insects. A lizard wandering into her home and hiding under the sofa left her petrified, and although Greeks call it a lucky lizard, she doesn’t feel lucky.
In This Article:
A sun-soaked new life: opening a souvlaki shop near Athens
In 2024, the Scot moved to a small village near Athens to start the business with her partner. She has become a travel influencer, posting about life in Greece and contrasting it with the UK. The climate and pace of life let her do laundry in a few hours—she dries clothes on the balcony after a morning wash and can wear them within about an hour. She explains that she can visit the beach almost every day because the weather is warm and reliable.
Gluten-free cravings in Greece: loving pork souvlaki, steering around celiac disease
Her culinary love grew quickly; her current obsession is pork souvlaki. But she has celiac disease, so gluten-free options matter. She looks for gluten-free restaurants and bakeries, and when options are limited in her rural village, she travels to Athens where there are more choices.
Missing home, paying for care: the price of living abroad
Despite the sun, she misses home: watching her two nephews and niece reach milestones, celebrating birthdays with friends, and even small errands like Home Bargains or Tesco—done in person rather than on a screen. She notes that healthcare in Greece isn’t free the way it is in the UK, and she would have to pay if she needs it. She hasn’t needed medical facilities yet, but she is learning Greek and continues to work in her boyfriend’s shop, sharing life abroad with a growing audience.
No regrets: thriving in Greece and learning Greek
Still, she doesn’t regret moving. She’s determined to immerse herself more in Greek life, learn the language, and expand her business. She remains grateful for the sunshine, the scenery, and the food, and she keeps posting to TikTok about her journey as she builds a life two hours from Athens.
