Hi, I'm Maria Paravantes: the founder and host of TheGreekVibe.com, the ultimate go-to source for all things Greek. When I'm not traveling, I love to explore on foot, uncover the secrets and stories behind destinations, cultures and music. But above all I love to share my finds and I am passionate about creating experiences using the power of the written word. I was born and raised in Chicago by Greek parents, and have over the last 30 years as a professional journalist written about tourism and travel, gastronomy, arts, music and culture, economy and finance, politics, healthcare and social issues for international press and media, including for Lonely Planet, Fodor's, The Telegraph, Reuters, Tripadvisor, Huffington Post, and Billboard, among others. I am currently senior editor and features writer at To Vima International Edition and tovima.com, where I also write my own column All About Greece.