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FO L LOW

THE

SHEPHERD’S

SIGNAL

Giannis Papasifakis blends tradition and tech, turning
a mountain life into a quiet digital beacon.

Interview by Georgia Nikolina

High in Crete’s White Mountains, shepherd Giannis Papasifakis
lives simply, off the land—yet shares that life with thousands online. Giannis Papasifakis
in his mitato, where
What’s daily life like up there—and why share it on TikTok? ancient rhythms meet
I’ve been going up to the White Mountains—Lefka Ori—for 40 years now. I'm 48. the digital age.
These mountains stretch across western Crete, in the Chania region, with peaks
reaching nearly 2,500 meters. Remote, wild, and steeped in tradition. Every sum-
mer, we move into mitata—stone huts used by shepherds for generations. That
becomes our home for months. Life there revolves around the flock. We take the wind. The stream runs for an hour or two,
our sheep up to graze on mountain herbs—thyme, sage, wild oregano. It’s what and 80,000 people drop in to watch. Not be- “SOMETIMES I GO
gives their milk its rich flavor. With that, we make Sfakian graviera, a cheese that cause I’m doing anything special—just to feel LIVE FROM UP IN THE
matures naturally in caves over 40 days, drawing moisture from the mountain a bit of that calm, that raw beauty.
air. Getting there isn't simple. There’s no road access. Everything—tools, supplies, What’s your reward for sharing all this with the MOUNTAINS. JUST THE VIEW,
food—goes up by mule or donkey. From the village of Anopoli, it’s a 7-to-8-hour world?
trek just to reach the huts. But it’s not just about herding. We also gather malotira, It’s not just about money. Real reward is THE SILENCE, THE WIND.
a wild herbal tea known for its healing properties. It grows only here, thanks to the something else. Like when a kid sees one of THE STREAM RUNS FOR
unique sun and altitude. It's been part of local remedies for generations, and now your videos—and two or three years later, maybe a short rest, a glass of wine or a
even people abroad are asking for it. Of course, this kind of life comes with isola- they come all the way up the mountain just AN HOUR OR TWO, AND coffee. But by late afternoon, we’re back
tion. For years, we had no phone reception. We got world news from an old radio to meet you. Just to see the place with their out again—for the second milking.
tuned to a single government station. Eventually, I got a ham radio license—just own eyes. I’m getting older. One day, I’ll have 80,000 PEOPLE DROP IN How many sheep do you have?
in case we ever needed help. Later came satellite tech, which finally brought us to stop climbing up there. It takes strength, TO WATCH... JUST TO FEEL We shepherds don’t say. Call it supersti-
internet and phone access. That changed a lot. I could talk to my family again. stamina. But if a child leaves with a good tion—but we keep it to ourselves. Let’s
I’d had a Facebook account for years, where I’d post bits and pieces of our life. memory—something that stays with them— A BIT OF THAT CALM, THAT just say: enough to handle.
People were fascinated—some couldn’t believe we still live this way. The questions that’s worth more to me than anything else. What advice would you give to someone
started pouring in. One thing led to another, and more people followed. Before Could you ever imagine doing something com- RAW BEAUTY.” feeling lost or overwhelmed by city life?
long, they weren’t just curious. They were connected. They felt something for the pletely different—living and working in a city? I’d tell young people: go out into the
mitato, for these mountains. Just like we do. I’ve had plenty of offers. A lot of people fol- world. Travel. Chase your dream. That’s
Your life in the White Mountains feels protected, far from the noise of the world. Does it low my content and think they’re offering me real wealth to me. In those moments, I feel like the richest man alive. But I’ll say this: how you start to realize that happiness
ever worry you that, through your videos, that quiet life is suddenly exposed to so many? something “better.” I’ve even had the chance I was lucky to travel and work in the city when I was younger. To see how life is out comes from peace of mind—and from
Not really. I’ve been using the internet for years. I think what surprises people isn’t to travel abroad—to places others dream of. there. If I hadn’t, I might not appreciate what I have today. It gave me perspective. It staying close to the land. And whatev-
the way I talk—it’s what they see. Something real. Something unfiltered. Some of But happiness doesn’t come from material taught me what truly matters. er you do—don’t sell your family’s land.
my videos have hit 900,000 views. And I’ve never promoted anything. People just things. What brings me joy right now? Watch- Can you walk us through a typical day at your mitato? Don’t sell the trees, the roots. That ground
find it. They’re drawn to something different. Something honest. It’s not about me. ing the sun set above the clouds. Seeing an In the summer, our days start early. It’s milking season. We wake up before dawn—by carries your story. It might sound strange
I’m just a simple man. I’m careful with what I say—I never want to compare or eagle soar overhead. Spotting the wild kri- five, we’re already out. The land is vast, and the sheep roam free, so it takes time to now, but people are already returning to
diminish other places or fellow shepherds. But people can see it: we live in a beau- kri of the White Mountains. Even drinking a gather them. By 9 a.m., we’ve milked the herd and head straight into cheese-making. the villages. One day, after chasing ev-
tiful land. Sometimes I go live from up in the mountains. Just the view, the silence, glass of water melted from the snow—that’s We prep the dairy and begin making our graviera. That takes us through midday. Then erything, you might understand why. •

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