NOSTALGIA: PART ONE

Portes Magazine
Sep 26
3 min read

noun nos·tal·gia | /nä–ˈstal–jə/ or /nə–ˈstal–jə/

1: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to a past period or irrevocable condition

2: the state of being homesick

from the Greek roots nóstos (meaning “return home”) and álgos (meaning “pain” or “ache”)

originally coined in the 17th century to describe a deep longing for home.

In 1977, Margo and I backpacked from Italy to Greece and Egypt where we slept on beaches, the decks of ferry boats, caves in Matala, Crete, patriarchal homes, and family–run pensiones for 100 drachmas ($3.00) per day. The entire summer cost around $700 with airfare.

With 18 rolls of film, I photographed a vibrant village life where a sustainable agrarian economy flourished. During that time, schools were filled with students, churches were packed on Sundays and religious holidays, and the men passed the time in the kafenia smoking, drinking ouzo, and playing with their komboloi.

DIANE ALEXANDER WHITE

In the ’60s and especially the ’70s, Greek society had a strong sense of community. There was no internet, no cell phones—we interacted more. We danced. We had real friendships. Life wasn’t as aggressive as it is now.

People had less, but what they had was richer in quality. Even as a child, I remember having only a few toys, but I cherished each one. Same with materials. Back then, you had one kind of clay. Now, you can call a supplier and choose from dozens. We’ve gained options but maybe lost some of the soul.

CHRISTINA MORALI

CHRISTINA MORALI

Greek nostalgia carries with it a special meaning. In Homer’s epics, nostos signifies the return to Ithaca, to one’s homeland, to one’s true home. A journey to Greece is always, in some way, a return—whether for Greeks or for travelers discovering it for the first time—to a place that makes you feel as though you belong.

ANGELA GEREKOU

During the '50s, '60s and '70s, people were more polite to each other. They cared more! And they also dressed better, and according to the occasion. Beauty was found in personality, not in plastic surgery! You had to do something of value to be in the frontline.

MIMI DENISSI

The era from the 1950s to the 1970s carries a sweet melancholy, a sense of innocence, and a dream that seems to have been lost. There was a strong feeling of hope, creativity, and transformation.

On one side, there was romance and poetry. On the other, an inner search. It was a time full of contrasts. This is the feeling I try to capture in my work, a nostalgia for something I may not have lived through, but which feels deeply familiar.

ANTONIA IROIDOU

Vintage, to me, is synonymous with romance. On a technical level, it represents craftsmanship, mastery, care, and dedication. Professionals of that era invested time and effort into creating things that were both functional and aesthetically complete.

Nostalgia is the memory of beautiful moments and elements from the past that are now almost nonexistent—and thus even more precious. It’s an emotional connection to something that may be lost but continues to live on within us.

The era of the 1950s–'70s influences every aspect of my life—it’s not just a preference, but a way of living. From the way I dress to the objects I collect, it shapes my daily life. Professionally, as a hospitality consultant, I’ve incorporated this aesthetic into a variety of spaces I’ve helped create—from hotels and homes, to curated events.

One example is my approach to design: I admire how architects of the past used simple materials from the Greek landscape—stone, wood, etc.—to create something that reflected the identity of the neighborhood. Today, with easy access to imported materials, we often build disconnected from the land. I strive to bring back that sense of authenticity and connection to place and spirit.

THOMAS GATOS

IMAGES: Diane Alexander White