The heading simply read “Away.” Yes I was feeling the need to get away just for a bit. I wanted to get away from the chaos and the noise that has defined the 2025 political and economic environment to date. Just a little break.
An email from Canadian artist Janice Mason Steeves invited me to join her in the “breathtaking mountains of western Crete in late May to experience an unforgettable Workshops in Wild Places experience.” Janice described the experience as a “unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning landscape, tap into your creativity, and reconnect with nature.” I thought about it for a few weeks. Away I went.
On May 23 I hopped on a plane in Toronto and flew to Athens to grab another flight to Crete the following day. Our adventure began in Chania (pronounced Hania). I managed to arrive 15 minutes before the opening dinner where I met a group of 7 women who would share this experience with me. Dinner was excellent. The highlight was the laughter and camaraderie of a group of strangers from Canada and the U.S. who over the course of the trip would depart in warm friendship. This is what my soul was seeking.
For the first two days of the trip, we explored and learned about the area’s significant history. Janice hired an excellent guide and archeologist, Angelika Tsopela, who led us through this beautiful ‘old town’ with stories about the meandering alleys, ancient ruins, colourful flowers, and old churches. We visited the Archeological Museum of Chania. The Museum houses in its exhibitions galleries approximately 4,100 finds from every part of Chania, covering a wide chronological range from the Palaeolithic period to the Roman era. The Museum was rich with pottery and other artefacts that provided a representative picture of the rich cultural heritage of Chania from 700,000 before present to 4th Century AD.
On day 2, we took a wild taxi ride through a significant wind storm and a rain of mud to visit Knossos, a Bronze-age archeological site in Crete. Knossos was a major site of Minoan Civilization and is known for its association with the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Knossos is considered by many to be the oldest city in Europe and was settled around 7,000 BC making it the oldest known settlement in Crete. I tried to imagine the energy and sounds of the families centuries ago running across this sacred spot and gathering together at its theatre steps carved in stone.
In the Minoan culture, which developed around 3100 BC, the feminine was celebrated and held a prominent, influential position. Minoan society is often characterized by its emphasis on female figures, both in religious and social contexts, including the depiction of women in various art forms. I fell in love with the elaborately decorated pottery, figurines and colourful frescoes. I was inspired by the colours, shapes and textures.
In Heraklion where Knossos is located, we visited the oldest museum in Greece, called the Heraklion Museum. Again we were treated to artefacts from all periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5500 years from the Neolithic period (Stone Age) to Roman times.
On day 3, we left Chania and travelled to our home for the remaining 8 days of the trip: the Elia Traditional Hotel. This is a 200-year-old villa nestled in the hills of western Crete. Surrounded by an olive grove and overlooking the sea, Elia provided a sanctuary to explore our creative side or simply rest and reflect. We were surrounded by bird song in a lush landscape that included lemon trees heavy with fruit, ancient olive trees, and bright pink bougainvillea.
Janice led us through a variety of exercises to connect us to our surroundings with an invitation to express this experience of place through paint. I played with colour, texture and lines. I had fun with it, immersing myself in the act of creating and getting my hands dirty. Each night ended with dinner, laughter, sometimes tears, and fresh food. Our conversations covered all topics – including politics.
To be welcomed and accepted with authenticity into this circle of women of all ages and from different walks of life made the trip especially memorable.
This was the longest I’ve been away from the farm since the pandemic. I was quite anxious about travelling alone, navigating the logistics of getting there and being away at such a distance from home. But sometimes we need to step away, even for a day, into a different space and place to reconnect with ourselves. I am grateful for this experience (and I appreciate that not everyone can escape to Crete). If you find yourself needing a break or if life feels too loud, give yourself permission to step away. Visit a local museum or art gallery, take a walk, go to the park. You might just return better than before.
