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Xoxo Pottery Designs, Sea point by appointment only, Cape Town (2026)

08/06/2026

Dear Diary Day 8: Patmos 🩵

I can now officially confirm — God does, in fact, live on top of the mountain in Patmos. Incase you looking for him…

I felt it on my first visit in 2022. I came back in 2024 to make sure I wasn’t completely delulu. Then last year, after recovering from the shock of Tash randomly appearing in Samos,
I insisted we spend a night here so she could experience whatever magic exists on this island too.

This year, thanks to the Greek ferry schedule being released roughly three minutes before summer started, I was “forced” to stop in Patmos again.
Using the words forced and Patmos in the same sentence feels mildly offensive.

We arrived at 3am after an overnight ferry from Syros and somehow although we all spoke for 4 solid hours we still made it to breakfast with Pam & Alan. Over the years they’ve gone from friends to family, and seeing them again felt like slipping into a favourite, familiar, comfortable story.
They both truly make me smile.

A trip up to Chora and the Monastery was completely non-negotiable. For the bargain price of €2.50 and a 9-minute bus ride, we were transported straight back into heaven.

And then something delightfully Greek happened.
I stepped onto the bus.
The driver looked at me.
I looked at him.
He smiled & said, “Welcome. You’ve returned.”
Without missing a beat, I replied, “I told you I would.”
Honestly, I seem to make these declarations all over Europe. The worrying thing is they keep becoming reality.
Which is why I’ve also been loudly declaring, “C’mon Europe jackpot!”

For anyone wondering, yes, I still have the lottery ticket I bought in Athens sitting in my purse. No, I haven’t checked it yet. Manifestation requires commitment and best believe I am fully committed.

We spent hours wandering my favourite alleyways, poking our heads into tiny galleries, absorbing the almost tangible energy that seems to hum through the monastery walls and once again questioning how a place can be THIS beautiful.

Back in Skala, we still had time for a necessary pool dip, more chatting, more laughing and more stories with Pam & Alan before lunch at my beloved Toksiotis.

The owner spotted me immediately.
“The South African girl is back!”
Then his eyes drifted down to our suitcases.
His smile disappeared.
He knew.
I knew.
Everyone knew.
This was not a long enough visit.

What I love most is watching my special places become Kori’s special places. My people become her people. The travel stories we’ve collected specifically over the last 10–15 years are getting funnier every time we tell them.

For two people who live on opposite sides of the world, we’ve squeezed every last drop out of our time together when are are together.
The marrow, the magic and plenty of hysterical laughter. It’s priceless.

And thankfully, we’re not done yet.
Next stop: Samos 🩵

08/06/2026

Patmos 🧿🇬🇷🩵

07/06/2026

Dear Diary Day 7: The Overnight Ferry 🚢

Why is leaving Syros this hard?
It’s every bit as beautiful as I remembered & if my repeated declarations of love haven’t made it obvious yet, I’ll absolutely be back.

Now, let’s discuss the Greek ferry schedule.
Or more specifically, the complete lack of one.
The timetable for the route I needed wasn’t released until 22 May. By comparison, my personality disorder around travel logistics kicked in around 1 May & my anxiety reached full Olympic qualification status by about 7 May.

Other ferry routes had released their schedules.
July schedules were available.
The moon had completed several phases.
But not my ferry route.

Needless to say, I eventually lost the will to live and simply redesigned that leg of our trip.
My instructions to Kori were clear:
“If you see me moving, follow.”
And also:
“Unless you see me panic, do not panic. Everything is under control.”
Which, if we’re being honest, is the unofficial mission statement for travelling with me.

As a result of the Great Ferry Mystery of 2026, an unplanned 18-hour stop in Patmos was suddenly added to the itinerary. Which, frankly, is no hardship. I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again: God lives in Chora, in Patmos, on the mountain overlooking Skala. I was more than happy to go pay Him a visit.

The moment I realised we’d be stopping there, I messaged Pam.
Pam & Alan are our Patmos besties. They live in Cape Town, holiday in Patmos every year & somehow find ourselves together on a Greek island at least once annually. We should really just try hooking up in Sea point 🤣
It’s become our thing.
So imagine my surprise when I messaged Pam to commiserate over Greek ferry schedules & discovered that not only were they also going to be in Syros… but they were catching the exact same ferry.
Honestly, what are the chances?

I love them dearly, Tash was thrilled she’d get to see them again after meeting them in Patmos last year.

We met at the port & spent the overnight ferry journey talking, laughing & solving absolutely none of the world’s problems.

Then came the 2:30am arrival in Patmos, don’t let the mid morning time slot fool you- the collective energy at that time is somewhere between a military evacuation & a Black Friday sale no hold back on the pushing, shoving and cattle herding whatsoever.
By that stage exhaustion only seemed to intensify the ordinary hysteria.

By 3am we’d finally showered, unpacked, & technically gone to bed.
Im using the word “slept” very loosely here.

Our next ferry wasn’t until 4pm, so we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together at Hotel Skala—my 3rd stay there & proof that I now know Patmos like the back of my hand.

Which is fortunate, because tomorrow’s diary entry is dedicated entirely to Patmos…
And trust me, she deserves her own chapter. 💙🇬🇷

06/06/2026

Syros with no trending audio - just right here right now authenticity🧿

06/06/2026

Dear Diary Day 6: Ano Syros & Ermoupolis 🤍

I’m just going to say it now so nobody is surprised later:
I will live here one day.
Not visit. Not holiday. Live.
I seem to set in motion many of my manifestations so hear me now universe : it’s going to happen!

My DNA has entered full activation mode, my soul is screaming, “Pack your bags, Lex. This is the one.”

It’s been such fun showing Tash some of my favourite corners of Syros & getting to experience her first-time awe right alongside her. We’ve wandered the streets, eaten the loukoum, chatted with locals, & generally absorbed every ounce of goodness this island has to offer.

The shops here deserve their own diary entry. Beautifully curated, impossibly charming, & so thoughtfully designed that the window displays look less like merchandising & more like art installations.

A sunset trip up to Ano Syros was non-negotiable.

Perched high above Ermoupolis, with views stretching across the entire town, it feels like stepping into another era. As you weave through the tiny alleyways, you can’t help but notice the craftsmanship, intelligence of design, & respect for the landscape. Everything feels intentional. Nothing feels rushed.

We ordered Negronis—possibly the best I’ve ever had & clinked glasses while acknowledging how ridiculously grateful we are to be back together again. We reminisced about old adventures, told stories we’ve both heard a hundred times before, & still laughed loud enough to alert half the island.

Dinner overlooking Vaporia followed, which felt like a tiny slice of Venice that somehow drifted into the Aegean and decided to stay.
Then, in a plot twist absolutely nobody saw coming…
While walking home down a random side street,
I looked up and saw my friend Francesca.

In Syros.
On a random street.
At a random moment.
Naturally, I reacted with the grace and composure I’ve become known for & screamed:

“I CAN’T BLOODY BELIEVE IT!”

It felt like a little piece of home had somehow found me in the middle of the Cyclades. Hearing that I’d influenced their decision to visit Syros & seeing how much they loved it genuinely filled my heart.

Sadly, there wasn’t time for a proper catch-up because we had a 10pm ferry to catch & another island adventure calling our names.
But honestly… what are the chances?

Then again, I seem to bump into people I know no matter where I am in the world. At this point I’m starting to suspect I’m living in a very elaborate version of The Truman Show. ❤️
And Greece has a funny habit of making the world feel incredibly small, ridiculously beautiful & strangely magnetic all at once. 🇬🇷✨
Syros, I’ll be back.
For now, wish us luck on the next chapter: a 4-hour overnight ferry arriving at the very civilized hour of 02:35am. Can you just imagine the ferry “drop n roll” at that hour!
Although, knowing us, sleep was never really an option anyway.
Especially because, believe it or not, Pam & Allan from Cape Town are on board too. 💫
The circle just keeps getting bigger… and somehow smaller at the exact same time.

05/06/2026

Kini Beach -Syros - Greece 💙🇬🇷

05/06/2026

Dear Diary Day 5: Kini Beach, Syros 💙

Look, I realise I’m developing a bit of a problem.
Every second diary entry seems to contain some wildly enthusiastic declaration such as: “the best,” “my favourite,” “top tier,” “ultimate.” At this point I’m concerned I’m diluting the actual impact of my emotions.
But what would you have me do? Greece keeps showing off.

Syros is just a two-hour ferry ride from Athens, yet it feels like an entirely different world. The port of Ermoupoli is vibrant, the streets are aesthetically indulgent, the architecture is magnificent, and there is more marble here than I thought could reasonably exist on one island.

Everything feels… rich. Not flashy rich. Elegant rich. Like the island got its life together decades ago and has simply maintained the standard ever since.

A quick bus ride over the mountains later and suddenly Kini Beach appears.
And by appears, I mean slaps you in the face with beauty.
Turquoise water. Glistening sea. Golden sand. Not a bad angle in sight.

We immediately claimed our beach chairs and proudly announced:
“First beach day of 2026!”
Not mine, obviously.
I’ve lived in Cape Town long enough to know beach season only end in ends April.

Now onto the ongoing saga that is my foot… ankle… leg…
Honestly, I’ve lost track of which limb is currently filing complaints with management.
Whatever it is, it’s sore.

The limping has increased slightly. The hobbling has intensified. My Voltaren supply has been completely exhausted. My walking speed now closely resembles that of a retired tortoise.

Has it stopped my wanderlust?
Absolutely not.
Should it?
Probably.
Will it?
Also no.
So there we are, peacefully beaching, when a lovely Thai lady strolls past offering massages.

Tash launched herself out of her chair with the speed and enthusiasm of a child spotting Santa in a shopping mall.

She LOVES a massage.
Me? Not so much.
I enjoy them in theory. In practice, I generally don’t love people touching me.
Apparently this is something I should unpack in therapy. 😂
Anyway, after watching Tash melt into a puddle of relaxation for an hour, jealousy got the better of me.

Maybe a massage would help.
Maybe my mystery limb would appreciate it.
Maybe I deserved nice things.
ABSOLUTE.
BLISS.
I have never been happier to be wrong.

Eventually lunch called, as it always does.
Kini Beach has some incredible tavernas, so naturally there was calamarakia, octopus, sunshine, sea views, and the overwhelming feeling that life is actually quite spectacular when you stop trying to rush through it. ❤️🧿

04/06/2026

Dear Diary Day 4: Syros, we’re coming for you 💙

After approximately 3 nights of very little sleep (because apparently Kori & I are physically incapable of stopping ourselves from talking when we’re together), we bravely set our alarms for 6am. Why? Honestly, I still can’t fully explain it.

Packing should have been easy. Unlike the maiden voyage from South Africa, everything currently in my suitcase needs to remain in my suitcase. Yet somehow, it still felt like a major operation.
Athens, you’ve been everything I hoped for & more. Fun, vibrant, chaotic in all the best ways. Thankfully, I’ll be back in a few weeks, so waving goodbye at Piraeus wasn’t quite as emotional as it could have been.

We boarded the ferry bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, frappe in 1 hand, tiropita in the other, fuelled by fully restored Greek-girl sister energy.
After 3 solid days of Kori & Kori time, best believe we’re ready for an island adventure.

I absolutely love Syros. It’s conveniently positioned on my route to Samos, Tash has never visited before, & I haven’t been back since 2022, so a few nights here felt necessary.

Now, can we please discuss Greek ferries?
Because arriving at a Greek island port is not transportation.
It’s an extreme sport.
The ferries themselves are magnificent. The disembarkation process, however, feels like a live-action survival game.
One announcement.
I repeat.
ONE announcement.
Delivered in a tone so casual you’d think they were reminding everyone to stay hydrated or cook with garlic it’ll make your food taste like mine type of advice.
What they actually mean is:

“RUN. GRAB YOUR BELONGINGS.
PUT FOOT & MOVE.”

Suddenly the giant metal hatch at the back of the ferry starts groaning open, diesel fumes fill every corner of the ship, and 100’s of people simultaneously realise they’re either getting off now or spending the rest of their lives accidentally sailing to the next island.
The pushing starts. The shuffling starts.
The collective panic starts.
It’s magnificent.
It’s terrifying.
It’s Greece.

Within minutes you’re standing on the dock, still trying to figure out whether you need to go left or right, wondering if you’ve remembered all your belongings, your dignity & your personality.

Meanwhile, the next wave of passengers has already stormed aboard & that hatch is closing again like none of this ever happened.

This is where the term “Drop-and-roll” was invented!
No hesitation.
No lingering.
No emotional processing.
Just pure Mediterranean efficiency.
Syros… we’ve arrived.

03/06/2026

Dear Diary Day 3: Athens 🩵

Athens has somehow become even more magical because
this time I’m sharing it with my Kori.
A city we’ve both visited multiple times, but never together
as adults. Which means every few minutes one of us is stopping to say, “Look at this!” as though we’ve personally discovered it.

Plaka & Anafiotika were on today’s list & because I’m a creature of habit, I like starting from one specific spot &
doing the full loop around.
We’ve walked the city centre multiple times, but never once along the same route. There are buskers on every corner, music drifting through the streets, & enough distractions to ensure getting from A to B takes approximately 3x longer
than it should.

Which brings me to my Greek travel tip…
Never ask a local how far away something is.
The standard response is:
“Just walk straight, it’s close by.”
Apparently “close by” can mean anything from 2 minutes
to crossing half of Athens.

My all time favourite was an elderly gentleman who looked
me dead in the eyes & said:
“Young lady, use Google.”
Please read that with a heavy Greek accent & dramatic hand gestures.

The problem is…
It was NEVER straight.
It was NEVER 2 minutes by foot.
It was NEVER close by.

At this point I’m convinced “close by” is less a distance &
more a state of mind.
My foot is holding up as best it can after my spectacular fall, although Tash keeps reminding me: “No one’s chasing us.”
To which I continue to reply:
“Yaa, but what if there’s something amazing around the next corner?”
I have absolutely no intention of slowing down.

We’ve skipped the Acropolis this trip, but somehow managed to walk around it like a merry go round.
At any given moment you simply look up,
find the Acropolis & immediately know where you are.
It’s basically Athens’ version of a compass.
On the way home we stumbled across a Thai massage place & honestly, best decision of the day because I’d started moving like someone whose warranty had expired.

We finished our last evening in Athens with a glass of rosé on top of Lycabettus Hill, watching the sun disappear while thousands of city lights slowly flickered to life below us.

City lights make me smile every single time.
Now it’s home to pack, set seventeen alarms, check my suitcase twelve more times for absolutely no reason & get ready for an early start to Piraeus Port.
Next stop: Syros 🇬🇷✨

Xoxo Pottery Designs

08/06/2026

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