Hi!

My name is Maria, but you can call me Ria.

In 2024, I moved from Brisbane, Australia to Athens, Greece to become a tour guide—and, if I’m honest, to completely shake up my life. Safe to say, mission more than accomplished.

Like many of us, I’ve found it hard to define myself or narrow down my interests to just one thing. If I had to try, right now they’d include writing a book, studying a Master’s in Positive Psychology, and striking up meaningful conversations with strangers.

I know the whole ‘Emily in Paris’ trope has been done—just swap in different countries and aesthetics—but for me, this project means something else entirely.

It’s about self-exploration woven with cultural appreciation. It’s about re-authoring your story, even if you never leave your hometown. And most of all, it’s about storytelling—the kind that brings back the lost art of a good conversation, simply for the sake of understanding someone else.

I hope this project, and the musings that come with it, remind you that no matter your age or limiting beliefs, it’s absolutely possible to create a life that feels meaningful to you.

With love,