Hey, fellow wanderer!

Another Wednesday.

At this point I should probably stop pretending these are Tuesday letters.

This week didn't exactly go according to plan.

I went to Greece.

I came home with a cat. 🐱

Not because I'd been thinking about getting one.

Not because I walked into a shelter.

Because sometimes travel quietly changes your plans while you're busy making them.

She started following me around.

The first day I smiled and kept walking.

The second day she was waiting again.

By the third day, I'd started bringing her food.

I kept telling myself the same thing over and over.

"Don't get attached."

You already know how this story ends.

The hardest part wasn't deciding to take her home.

It was catching her.

The moment I finally picked her up, I was convinced she'd scratch me, bite me, and disappear forever the second I let go.

Instead...

She curled into my arms.

Started purring.

And completely ruined every logical argument I'd made for leaving her behind.

The journey home was... interesting.

Imagine explaining to airport staff that yes, there is now a tiny Greek kitten travelling internationally with you.

Then spending the next few hours making sure she was comfortable while wondering whether I'd completely lost my mind.

When we finally got home, the first stop wasn't my apartment.

It was the vet.

Those few hours waiting for the test results felt longer than the entire flight.

Thankfully...

She's healthy.

Just a little underweight.

A little tired.

And apparently convinced that every blanket in my apartment belongs exclusively to her.

She's currently asleep beside me while I'm writing this.

I think she's finally realized she's home.

SHORE NOTES

People always ask me what my favorite souvenir is.

I've brought home shells.

Maps.

Postcards.

Way too many books.

This is the first time I've brought home someone.

And somehow...

She's become my favorite travel story.

Not because it was planned.

But because it wasn't.

The best parts of travel rarely are.

THIS WEEK'S LETTER

I've been thinking about these emails lately.

When I started writing them, I imagined they would mostly be little postcards from wherever I was.

Hidden beaches.

Island guides.

Ferry routes.

But somewhere along the way they've quietly become more than that.

They've become the space between the destinations.

The stories that never make it into the travel guide.

So tell me...

When this lands in your inbox every week...

What are you hoping to read?

More travel stories?

More practical itineraries?

Behind the scenes of building Isle Passport?

More business and blogging?

Or these little life updates that somehow end with me adopting a cat?

Just hit reply.

I really do read every single one. 🤍

FROM MY TABS THIS WEEK

❤︎❤︎ My Travel Essentials — everything I actually use. Not influencer picks. Just what's in my backpack.

🐈 These letters are still powered by curiosity, ferry tickets, and way too many open Google Maps tabs. They're now also quietly powered by one very tiny appetite. If you'd like to support the next island letter, you'll probably end up buying the kitten a treat, too. → Treat the newest crew member​

See you next Tuesday.

...or Wednesday.

At this point, I'm making no promises.

Love, Maya

P.S. 💌 I haven't introduced her properly yet. She still needs a name. If you have one that feels very "tiny Greek island cat," hit reply. I have a feeling you'll come up with something better than I will.