Looking at the key ingredients of an IE Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course.
Beyond careful planning and organisation, other powerful elements shape the experience: the place itself and the people who live there, the participants, and the relationships they share with the trainer. These were the key ingredients that made this CIG course in Greece so unique.
We gathered in Anogeia, a renowned mountain village in Crete, birthplace of some of the island’s most celebrated traditional musicians. At 700 metres above sea level, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 6 degrees Celsius (yes, it can be cold in the south!), we met in the heart of the Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark, beneath the imposing peak of Mount Psiloritis — the legendary mountain of Zeus.
The participants formed an inspiring mosaic of natural and cultural heritage professionals. They travelled from every corner of the island — east and west — to meet under Zeus’ mountain: cavers, mountain leaders, tourist guides, museum staff, and museum educators. Yet, what made this gathering truly special was not only the diversity of backgrounds. It was the joy of training friends and long-time colleagues — people we have met time and again along the stony paths of our island. Sharing such a transformative experience with those you have grown and worked alongside for years — How rare and meaningful is that?
Even more touching was returning to a village after ten years and being welcomed with such warmth. Despite the rain, members of the cultural association guided us through their village, Gonies, proudly revealing its hidden corners — its ‘gonies’, as the word beautifully suggests in Greek. And then came more surprises: they had prepared a feast in our honour. This is the true meaning of ‘filoxenia’ — Cretan hospitality at its finest.
As a final gift, we gathered with the villagers to watch a short film about the heritage of a local instrument, the lute, and the moving story of a woman from the village who secretly learned to play it at a time when girls were not allowed to study music.
This course was truly a blessing. I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making this first interpretation course in southern Greece a reality, in collaboration with Mountain Leaders Association of Crete and Unesco Psiloritis Geopark.
Penelope Gkini is an IE Certified Interpretive Guide and Trainer. You can reach her at: porizocrete@gmail.com.
To cite this article: Gkini, Penelope (2026) “What truly makes a difference in a CIG course?”, Interpret Europe Newsletter Spring 2026, p. 15.
Available online: Interpret Europe Newsletter Spring 2026.
