Studying abroad inevitably means missing important days with loved ones back home. Mother's Day is this Sunday, and while you may not be able to see your mom, Santorini is the perfect place to find her a great gift.
Mothers vary in their styles and interests, so they can be hard to shop for. But even if your mom is incredibly picky, you can't go wrong with natural, Greek-made products. Practical items sold in Greek stores include kitchen condiments like herbs, honey and olive oil.
A common type of shop in Greece are natural stores like Cava Mejjo. You can find a pack of seven spice and herb mixes for under 10 euro.
If your mom isn't fond of cooking, Cava Mejjo also sells other things she can use to pamper herself and have a relaxing night. Wine, Greek snacks and skincare products like creams and serums are great options for a mom who could use some time to treat herself.
A variety of bath and body products can be found in the same type of store.
Foot cream is available everywhere, but when in Greece you have to get anything that is made with olive oil!
If your mom has a lot of jewelry, there are plenty of unique jewelry boxes and dishes sold in Santorini as well. Many of them are hand-painted and affordable. She doesn't just have to use it for jewelry either - these gifts can serve as a display for anything she wants to put in them, or can stand alone as a display piece.
These jewelry boxes are sold for 15 euro each and feature paintings of Santorini.
Have a tight budget? These small painted dishes can serve as beautiful jewelry holders, and only cost around 4 euro a piece.
An evil eye necklace and one of these jewelry holders would make a lovely Mother's Day gift. They are also compact enough to travel home with, and most shop owners are happy to wrap ceramic items in bubble wrap.
*Note: these affordable painted dishes are great gifts for anyone who appreciates mandala/flower designs, not just Mom! Pick out several different ones that reflect your loved ones' personalities.
While in the realm of personalized ceramics, another great option are hand-painted mugs.
What mom doesn't love coffee? In a shop called Avva Mapia Gallery, each mug is hand-painted in the neighboring island of Sifnos, Greece. Each mug has a traditional Greek symbol on it. For example, this one has pomegranate painted on it, which represents good luck in the house.
