Unwrap the box with Dimitris Kouvelas

Assembling custom made gift boxes is our way to express our passion for anything Greek of incomparable quality. This is how we get closer to you. But this time we want to turn the spotlight on the people that inspire us. So, this is another episode of the Unwrap the box interview concept and yet still so special! And today's guest is Dimitris Kouvelas, Member of the Greek Parliament, Lawyer at the Greek Supreme Court and former vice-chairman of the Municipal Council of Thessaloniki. But above all someone who loves Greece as much as we do. 

What does he have to share with us? Five questions, 5 minutes, words that will stay with us forever! #begreek

If you were to put in a box your favorite memory, what would that be? 

I would definitely put the memory of the birth of my three children, the first moment I set my eyes on them. This memory is beyond any competition. But why have one box if you can have many? In my second gift box, my favorite memory comes from the most unforgettable trip I had in New Zealand at Easter time some years ago. I have been in many places, but this one was special because it combined awesome nature scenes with welcoming people, adventure and a small but thriving Greek community that truly inspired me.

What’s the one thing that always reminds you of Greece?

I would never have said it better than Elytis, “If you take Greece apart, in the end, you will be left with an olive tree, a vineyard, and a boat”. This is what reminds me of Greece, the combination of landscapes that literally take your breath away, mountains that plunge into the sea, along with our famous Greek love for a good life and our spirit of ingenuity. For me Greece is not just one thing, it’s the spirit that vivifies all this God-blessed spot on earth.

What would make a perfect gift from Greece?

A very good Greek wine will certainly be first on my list. Not only we do have top-of-the-class local wineries, but for me, wine has a social aspect. With some wine, you can always create a great opportunity for sharing it with friends and loved ones. I would have accompanied my special gift with some traditional delicacies, savory and sweet, to symbolize the many flavors of Greek life.     

Have you ever tried to make from scratch something for a loved one? Was it a success?

It seems impossible to be a father these days without a minimum of imagination and creativity. Hopefully, my most recent creation from scratch resulted in an unprecedented weekend success, given that it made me look as a world-renowned engineer in the eyes of my children. I simply took some pieces of paper and created ships and airplanes, of different sizes. What followed was really fun!      

If your summer vacation were a gift box, what island of Greece would be a part of it and why?

Crete. For me it is not just a place, but an inspiration, too. In my mind, it is Greece on a small scale, with the unbelievably beautiful nature and its open-hearted, free-spirited people. It is the island of Kazantzakis, but it is also my maternal grandparents’ birthplace. I feel proud to carry inside of me a small portion of that unique Cretan spirit.

Today's episode of Unwrap the box interview concept with our truly inspiring guest Dimitris Kouvelas is now over. It was as if we traveled with him back in time and experienced the moments he shared with us.

Who's next to come? Stay tuned!