Greek Expedition hailed in Greek media as a unique project and a digital “diamond”

Greek Expedition has been featured in Greek media by the well-known Parapolitika group as a project and cultural initiative that explores a different side of Greece, through its language, history, music, people, and diverse natural landscapes. The article describes the platform as both groundbreaking and deeply human – a voice that resonates far beyond the country’s borders.

For those who haven’t read the original article, the feature is reproduced in English below. The images included in this post are taken from various articles on our blog. You’re welcome to browse all our posts freely here:
→ https://greekexpedition.com/en/blog-page/

The original article in Greek can be found here →

From Parapolitika, by culture writer Marianthi Kounia:

The platform that brings lesser-known Greece to a global audience

Greek Expedition is an independent, bilingual cultural project that explores Greece from unexpected angles. Based in Sweden, the site is described as a digital diamond that brings the country into focus for an international readership.

The platform was founded by Georgios Xyftilis and highlights what is often overlooked in mainstream travel guides – from historical rituals, architecture, and music to contemporary cultural phenomena, nature, language, gastronomy, and personal conversations with researchers, artists, and craftspeople, as well as local voices working to preserve their traditions.

The articles are rooted in on-the-ground research and everyday observations. At the core of the project are depth, curiosity, and a deep respect for the country’s complexity.

Självklart – här kommer samma innehåll som punktlista:

• Ecological landscapes, environmental work, and stories of nature
• Modern and ancient Greek history
• The Greek language and its nuances
• Music, film, and other art forms
• Folk celebrations and ritual practices
• Architecture, craftsmanship, and contemporary expressions

“Grekonauts” loyally follow the Expedition

The platform has quickly gained a large and devoted readership in Sweden – the so-called “Grekonauts” – while the English version has also sparked growing international interest. In this way, the Expedition contributes to shaping a richer and more meaningful image of Greece abroad – one based on cultural diversity and human experience.

The platform has also resonated with young Greeks in the diaspora, an audience seeking deeper and more meaningful ways to reconnect with their cultural roots.

Greek Expedition is a living platform that continues to grow and expand. It keeps exploring Greece from unexpected angles – through unfamiliar paths, surprising encounters, and stories that invite new ways of experiencing, understanding, and marveling at this multifaceted country.

The Greek Expedition is open and free for anyone who wants to join the journey of discovery.

Founder of the Expedition: Georgios Xyftilis

Georgios spoke to Parapolitika about his decision to create the Greek Expedition, his vision, and what it’s like to live between two countries.

Why I created the Greek Expedition

I had long followed how Greece was portrayed in Swedish media and social platforms – often stereotypically, centered around ouzo, souvlaki, and beautiful sunsets. But to me, Greece means something much deeper and more complex. I felt it was time to create a space that reflected that – a platform that could show a more authentic and multifaceted Greece, rooted in lived experience and cultural respect.

A small market survey confirmed that many Swedes who love and frequently visit Greece were looking for something just like this. With a background in journalism, web development, translation, and video editing – and a life spent between Sweden and Greece – I realized I was in a unique position to bring this vision to life. That’s how Greek Expedition was born, and for the past two years, I’ve been building and running it almost entirely on my own, with some help from friends.

Expanding the vision

Now that the platform is up and running successfully, my vision is to expand it further. I plan to add more languages, starting with a German pilot version, to reach readers in countries where there’s a strong love for Greece.

I also hope to collaborate with other creators – Greek or international – who share the same passion and values. That would allow the platform to grow not only in content but also in form, incorporating more interactive media: sound, video, and new technologies that make exploration more immersive.

Right now, finding collaborators is the most important step. There are so many topics I’d like to cover, but I can’t do it all on my own.

Learning from those who preserve the authentic Greece

I’m encouraged to see more and more people, especially younger generations, showing renewed interest in their traditions and recognizing the value they hold. Many are learning crafts and skills from older generations and finding more organized ways to preserve, share, and even evolve their cultural heritage. That means a lot to me, especially in contrast to mass tourism, which often flattens and erases what is most authentic.

I want to learn everything about their work – the traditions of their region, their history, and the elders who still practice old crafts. I always ask about local associations and cooperatives, their initiatives, and upcoming events. We also talk about how they can gain more visibility internationally – in the hope of fostering a different kind of tourism, one that values and respects the real Greece.

What inspires me most

I’m especially drawn to culture, folklore, history, and the arts, with a particular love for music, since I’ve played traditional Greek music for many years. I also love to travel and discover new places and lesser-known landmarks. One area I’m deeply curious about is what some call “urbanology” – exploring the hidden sides and forgotten corners of big cities.

I also value spontaneous conversations with everyday people, because everyone carries a fascinating life story.

Lastly, I have a strong interest in modern media. I’ve always been quick to adopt new technologies and tools. In Sweden, I spent many years working with youth and media, including running a local TV channel in Stockholm together with a group of young people, which became quite successful.

Living between two homelands

In Sweden, I’m often called “the Greek,” while here in Greece, people refer to me as “the Swede.” That duality can be difficult at times. It can feel like being a half-version of yourself, as if something is always missing on one side or the other. When you spend extended time in one country, gaps appear in your connection to the other – “black holes” in the flow of life that are hard to fill in later. The internet has helped bridge some of that today, but it wasn’t always the case.

I speak both languages fluently, almost as native tongues, but sometimes I wonder: am I truly bilingual, or doubly semi-lingual?

At the same time, growing up between two very different cultures is a huge gift. It teaches you that there are many valid ways of seeing the world – that every coin has two sides.

Between two worlds

I see both Greece and Sweden as my homelands, and I try not to compare them – they’re rooted in completely different cultures and ways of thinking. Still, there are things I cherish in each.

In Greece, beyond the climate, I love the vitality and pulse that infuse everything, and the deep cultural layers that stretch across millennia. That blend of history, language, music, food, and mentality creates a charm that’s hard to resist.

In Sweden, I admire the modern infrastructure, the welfare system, labor rights, and the sense of security one feels as a citizen. I also have a deep appreciation for the vast Nordic landscapes – lush and vibrant in summer, stark and dark in winter. As a Greek friend once told me: “It’s not that Stockholm has the green – it’s the green that has Stockholm.”

When it comes to Greece’s shortcomings, I think most of us are well aware of them. In many ways, they are the very opposite of what I just described as admirable in Swedish society.

As for Sweden, the thing that charms me the least is, without a doubt, the climate. Not so much the cold itself – in Stockholm, we often get minus 12 to 18 degrees in winter – but the constant darkness. Three or four months every year. I’ve never really been able to get used to that. Every autumn, it weighs heavily on the soul.

Miscellaneous information

The original article in Greek can be found here →

Short biography of Georgios Xyftilis here →

On the cover image, Georgios is in conversation with Greek director Periklis Hoursoglou. Read more about the director’s latest film here →