“I feel proud whenever I have to show my red [Greek] passport,” quotes Victoria Hislop, award-winning author and now a Greek citizen. She was sworn in as a Greek citizen in 2020, and was applauded by Mitsotakis as an important promoter of Greece’s history and traditions.
Hislop is one of the best-selling authors of her generation and is best known for her book The Island. In Greek, it is known as “To Nisi.” Victoria Hislop first met Greece during her journalism career, when she traveled extensively because of her work. One of her assignments included Spinalonga, Greece’s former leper colony. It was here that she was inspired to write her internationally acclaimed novel.
“To Nisi” became an international bestseller and has sold over 6 million copies worldwide. Her works have been translated into 30 languages. Hislop’s second home is located on Crete in the town of Agios Nikolaos. One of her favorite places to eat in Crete is the Carob Tree Taverna in Plaka.
Where is Hislop’s “To Nisi” Set?
The book itself is set in Spinalonga, a small island less than half a kilometer from the Cretan mainland. Hislop has visited Spinalonga over 1000 times. It hasn’t changed much in decades, retaining its Venetian walls and its long, dark, tunneled entrance. For over 50 years, law dictated that all lepers were to be isolated on this island, exiled for the rest of their lives so that they could not infect other Cretans.
Hislop marvels at the “normal life” which blossomed inside – shops, a cafe, a bakery, and 2 churches.
What Does Hislop do When in Crete?
Hislop says that her perfect day starts with a trip to the beach near her home. Voulisma Beach is her top choice. Then, she swims out to a buoy, swims back, and gets a coffee at a local cafe. By 10:00, she is at her desk working, and writes for a few hours. She has tomatoes, feta, and olives for lunch, and then reads for a while. In the afternoon, she writes again and goes to the beach of Agios Nikolaos to visit her mother.
What Stunned Victoria Hislop about Greece?
Hislop was stunned to see that a boat left every week from Agios Nikoloas with Tupperware tins from the mothers of the village. The meals were headed for their kids, who studied in Athens.
What Does Hislop Most Like about Greek people?
Hislop loves the friendliness of the Greeks, and how prone they are to conversation. She says that she has never met somebody who was sad or sullen in her 45 years in Greece.
What are 3 Tips for First-Time Travelers to Greece?
She recommends going to the Acropolis, taking a ferry to a Greek island, and watching the sunrise. Hislop recommends that if you have 2 weeks in Greece, it’s worth spending at least a week on the island of Crete, and driving from east to west. Hislop argues that there’s plenty to see, and that you won’t ever feel like you’ve seen the same view twice.
