Save more with business pricing
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$3.49 with 78 percent savings
Print List Price: $15.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Sally Jane Smith
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Unpacking for Greece: Travel in a Land of Fortresses, Fables, Ferries and Feta (Packing for Greece travel series) Kindle Edition

by Sally Jane Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
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.

Awarded First Prize (Prose in English) in the 2024 Greek-Australian Cultural League Book Awards.

Unpacking for Greece travels to Athens and Meteora on the mainland; Monemvasia, Sparta and Methana on the Peloponnese Peninsula; and the islands of Santorini and Rhodes.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Part of series
    Packing for Greece travel series
  2. Print length
    256 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    June 1, 2023
  6. File size
    5.3 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 2 books in this series.
This option includes 2 books.
  • Kindle Price:
    $7.48
    By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Rate this feature
Page 1 of 1Start over
Previous page
  16. El Maestro: Lady Goatherder 2
    Kindle Edition
    $6.50
Next page
Loading...

From the Publisher

Aerial shot of waterfront town showing terracotta roofs & sparkling sea. Quote by Greek News Agenda.
Seascape showing the volcano rim of Santorini's caldera. Quote by bestselling author Sulari Gentill.
Acropolis temple with female statues named caryatids as columns. Quote by Tina Hartas of Tripfiction
Santorini white arch topped with a cross and hung with church bells. Quote from The National Herald.

Editorial Reviews

Review


"Reading Greece: Book of the Month" - Greek government website Greek News Agenda, July 2023

"A compelling travel memoir that highlights not only the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Greece but also brings the reader along on Smith's personal journey." - Major Greek-American newspaper, The National Herald

"This book will transport you to Greece in the company of a curious, insightful, self-deprecating companion who will definitely share her olives with you." - Strong Sense of Place podcast

"A truly literary memoir - a story of tragedy, resilience and the gradual rediscovery of adventure. Sally takes you with her in every sense." - Ned Kelly award-winning and USA Today best-selling author, Sulari Gentill

"An inspired Greek odyssey, balm for the soul" - Tina Hartas, co-founder of TripFiction

About the Author

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. She has worked in museums, universities, a language institute, a residence for people with disabilities, an art gallery, a primary school and a wildlife park. She also co-hosts two book clubs and assists the organisers of a biennial book-themed convention. She is currently based in Australia. Connect with Sally on social media as @JourneysInPages

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZ2MMW3T
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Journeys in Pages
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0645625714
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ Packing for Greece travel series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Sally Jane Smith

Sally Jane Smith

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Sally Jane Smith has lived on five continents and visited thirty-four 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.

'Unpacking for Greece' was selected by Greek News Agenda (a Greek government website) as 'Reading Greece Book of the Month' for July 2023 and won First Prize in the Greek-Australian Cultural League’s 2024 Book Award for Prose in English.

'Repacking for Greece' was shortlisted for a book award by the Society of Women Writers NSW in Australia.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
101 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book's pacing engaging, with one review describing it as a deeply personal memoir about re-learning to trust oneself and making peace with the past. The book receives positive feedback for its humor.

Select to learn more

PacingHumor
4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, with one review describing it as a deeply personal memoir about re-learning to trust oneself and making peace with the past.

"...It is a deeply personal memoir; Sally Smith does not shy away from examining her own ethics, attitudes and insecurities, and I found it profoundly..." Read more

"...Throughout the novel, she confronts past memories, overcomes obstacles, and manages hiccups in her travels with humility and humor...." Read more

"...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...." Read more

"...It's learning to face fears, find out more about her mother, and herself...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and entertaining.

"...I loved the layers, the quiet humour, the thoughtful reflections and the sheer beauty of Sally’s lyrical writing...." Read more

"...Sally embarked on this trip, not just for herself, but for the amazing experiences she shared with us...." Read more

"...Part travelogue, part memoir and wholly entertaining, this is a wonderful book. Definitely recommended, and hoping for a sequel very soon." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Vmp
    5.0 out of 5 stars A travel memoir to savour
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Firstly, I should say I was a beta reader for Sally Jane Smith’s wonderful memoir. I loved it so much I decided to buy it for myself when it was published. This book is an inspiring account of a trip to Greece taken to rediscover her love of travel. Formerly an inveterate solo world wanderer, Sally’s confidence was literally shattered by an appalling accident on a bus in Sri Lanka and it was years before she collected up her bags and her courage to embark on this journey through Greece, a land steeped in history and packed with heritage sites she’d long wanted to explore.

    This book is about more than just a physical journey, however. It is also a personal road to healing as well as a reconnection with her mother’s past. Sally’s reading matter is another important theme in the book as she enjoys pairing books to places, and her pleasure at seeing what she was reading was palpable.

    Unpacking for Greece is, for me, a keeper. I loved the layers, the quiet humour, the thoughtful reflections and the sheer beauty of Sally’s lyrical writing. I learnt about the loveliness of Santorini, Rhodes and Monemvasia. I visited chapels, temples and archaeological sites I have never seen but feel I have, and I will read it again, more than once. It is a deeply personal memoir; Sally Smith does not shy away from examining her own ethics, attitudes and insecurities, and I found it profoundly moving as a result. Do I recommend it? Absolutely, and without reserve!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Yvi MC
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful journey through Greece
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Since I will be traveling to Greece this summer, I thought it would be fun to read a memoir of an author who has made such a travel. I am not a big memoir reader, but I really enjoyed this one. It starts off with the author sharing a horrible accident that took place on one of her trips, leaving with her with a fear of traveling. Did I mention that she travels solo? I have a friend who travels this way and has incredible experiences. I am in awe of her and this author's ability to brave a foreign place on their own.

    I love that the author didn't stick to all the touristy spots. She was able to bring the culture and the beauty of each area to life with her descriptions and her interactions with the locals and other travelers. She wrote so that I felt as if I were walking beside her and experiencing her journey with her. Throughout the novel, she confronts past memories, overcomes obstacles, and manages hiccups in her travels with humility and humor.

    If you enjoy reading memoirs or simply want to travel vicariously to Greece, I would definitely recommend this story.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Maria A. Karamitsos – Journalist, Author, Poet, & Proud Hellene
    5.0 out of 5 stars You'll travel right alongside her
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I’m 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!

    * I read an advanced review copy
    Helpful
     Report
  • fabulouschrissie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Traveling and Healing
    Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    When Sally's travels in Sri Lanka end with a horrible accident, it's a long time before she can face her fears and go solo traveling again. After much thought, and in the throes of a midlife crisis, she decides to visit Greece, even though she doesn't speak the language. But she has her mother's diary, from a trip she took many years before..... This isn't just a travel memoir. It's learning to face fears, find out more about her mother, and herself. Part travelogue, part memoir and wholly entertaining, this is a wonderful book. Definitely recommended, and hoping for a sequel very soon.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Gail McCormick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something special!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2025
    Format: Paperback
    Having lost her purpose and passion for solo travel in a terrible accident while traveling in Sri Lanka, global citizen and author Sally Jane Smith finally sets out to recover her lost parts by traveling alone to the land and islands of Greece. She takes with her “something precious, something I had been saving for this moment,” her mother’s pocket diary from a pilgrimage that included three nights in Greece, which Smith had never read. Hooked at the start by that revelation, I wanted to know what was written on its pages and how her deceased mother’s words might shape the story. The travelogue part of this memoir is fascinating and deftly written, but it was the intimate details and backstories woven into Unpacking that made it deeply satisfying and joyful for me to read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kathryn Gauci
    5.0 out of 5 stars A traveller's reflections on the glory that was - and still is - Greece
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
    Format: Paperback
    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.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • David
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story of discovery
    Reviewed in Spain on June 2, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    In the final chapter, "Looking Back", Sally Jane Smith suggests that "If you've enjoyed these pages, you probably share my fascination with uncovering morsels of knowledge in each location you visit..."

    She was right: I very much did, and I very much do. In telling her story, Sally uncovered "morsels of knowledge" about her destination, about herself, and in following along with her, I even discovered some things about myself.

    Part travelogue, part memoir, "Unpacking for Greece" is, above all, a story of discovery.
    Report
  • Cathie
    5.0 out of 5 stars GREECE LIKE YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT
    Reviewed in Canada on March 13, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I am a stickler for reading the English language properly used, and this memoir by Sally Jane Smith is letter perfect. But not just well-written. Sally draws you into the scents and sounds and scenery of the Greek mainland and islands in such a way as to take the reader with her, and when the day's hiking or walking is done, she sits you down with her to meals authentic Greek food and wine. I enjoyed every minute and every morsel!
    Report
  • Rebecca H
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and informative
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    What a wonderful book this is. It's a moving account of Sally Jane Smith's trip to Greece which she took to rekindle her pleasure in travel and discover new places to explore. It was an act of courage as she had, years previously, been involved in a horrific accident which destroyed her self confidence. It's beautifully descriptive, I could travel with her as she wandered around Athens, not always following the usual tourist sights. I loved her observations and her resilience and determination to make the most of all the places she visited. I have great admiration for her as I have visited some of the same places but never as a solo traveller. She gives us snippets of Greek History, impressions of the varous people she meets. It's a personal journey for her and she learns a great deal about herself and her mother as well. She had taken her mother's journal of her owntravels in Greece as a young woman in 1978, which she dips into, perhaps for inspiration. A thoughtful and insightful memoir which I would happily read again.
    Report
  • Samantha Hyde
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Travelogue!
    Reviewed in Australia on August 4, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Even if travelogue is not your go to genre, I would highly recommend this inspiring book as it’s a wonderful read! It’s Sally Jane Smith’s story of discovery of parts of herself, of her mother, a journey of healing and how she reclaimed and repaired her wanderlust.

    I was hooked from the first page which starts with a flashback to the horrible bus accident she endured in Sri Lanka.

    I loved the glowing descriptions of Greece: the vivid landscapes, temples, chapels and archaeological wonders and they made me crave to travel again, and travel soon. I felt privileged to be shown glimpses of her life outside travel, her background, of what makes her tick, her likes and dislikes. I enjoyed knowing her reading list, what books she paired to places she visited, the foods she tried out, her sense of humour.

    Most of all, I loved that this book ignited my interest in knowing more about Greece. While reading it, I was googling places/images. What did the Pnyx look like? What’s special about Atlantis bookstore at Oia? Would I enjoy the writers’ retreat at Limnisa? Indeed, I would! I wanted to know more about Selahattin Ülkümen and the part he played in WW2 and so much more.

    Great book and I look forward to the sequel!
    Report
  • Pog Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
    Reviewed in Australia on January 4, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    What a fabulous book this is. Full of passion. I was totally engrossed from start to finish! A must read for all travellers.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report