Meet Andrew & Maryann

The Artists, Travelers, and Dreamers Behind Unrushed Europe

Hi there! We’re Andrew and Maryann, and fifteen years ago we took our first “real” trip to Europe—the kind where you’re not just checking boxes, but actually living somewhere for a few weeks.

That trip changed everything.

We came home different. We moved slower. We appreciated simpler pleasures. We started cooking differently, decorating differently, and frankly, being differently. Europe didn’t just give us vacation memories—it gave us a lifestyle we wanted to keep living.

So we created three ways to share it with you.

The Three Parts of Our European Life

Unrushed Europe (you’re here!) is where we share everything we’ve learned about traveling Europe after 50—the practical stuff about which hotels have elevators, which cities are walkable, and how to travel comfortably without spending a fortune.

Heliora is our Mediterranean-inspired lifestyle shop. After years of bringing home pieces from our travels—that perfect linen shirt from Barcelona, those beautiful tiles from Portugal—we started creating products that capture that sun-soaked European coastal feeling. From hoodies that remind you of Barcelona mornings to art prints that bring the Aegean into your home, Heliora is for people who want to live that lifestyle every day, not just during vacation.

Andrew’s Art is where Andrew’s artistic journey lives. Inspired by the colors, light, and architecture of the Mediterranean, Andrew creates original artworks and prints that capture the feeling of European travel—not realistic postcards, but the emotion of watching the sunset in Santorini or walking through a Lisbon neighborhood.

Our Story

Andrew spent his career in graphic design, but art has been his constant companion since childhood. He started as a realism snob (his words!), but European travel broke that open. The colors of the Mediterranean, the abstract patterns of Portuguese tiles, the way light hits ancient stone—it all transformed his work from realistic to expressive. Now he creates art that doesn’t just show you a place, but makes you feel it.

Maryann is the heart of our travels and our business. She’s the one who talks to shop owners, finds the hidden gardens, and somehow always discovers the best family-run restaurant. She’s also the reason we started Heliora—after years of curating beautiful European-inspired pieces for our home, friends kept asking “where did you get that?” So we started creating our own.

Together, we’ve learned that European travel isn’t about seeing everything—it’s about absorbing something. And then bringing that feeling home.

Why Three Websites?

Great question. Here’s how they work together:

Unrushed Europe helps you experience it. We give you the practical advice to travel Europe comfortably, affordably, and authentically. We’ve been to these places, made the mistakes, and learned what works for travelers over 50.

Heliora helps you live it. We create products that let you bring that Mediterranean lifestyle home—whether it’s apparel that reminds you of your favorite city, art that brings Europe to your walls, or goods that make your everyday life feel more sunlit and intentional.

Andrew’s Art helps you feel it. For those who want something truly unique, Andrew’s original paintings capture the emotional essence of European places—the pieces that make you pause and remember why you fell in love with travel in the first place.

Our Travel Philosophy

We believe:

  • Slow is better than fast. Three nights beats one night, even if it means seeing fewer cities.
  • Comfort matters. No amount of “authenticity” is worth a sleepless night or aching knees.
  • Mid-range is the sweet spot. We’re not backpackers or luxury travelers—we want value, comfort, and authentic experiences.
  • Bring it home. The best trips don’t end when you board the plane. They change how you live.

Let’s talk real numbers: We typically spend $100-200 per night on accommodations (mid-range hotels with elevators and good locations), but we balance that by eating where the locals eat—away from the tourist traps where the food is better AND cheaper. We book trains and activities weeks ahead for better rates, and when we rent apartments, we’ll cook a few meals to offset restaurant costs. All in, we budget around $200-300 per day for two people, covering lodging, food, and experiences. Not budget backpacking, not luxury travel—just smart, comfortable travel. We travel in shoulder seasons, book months ahead, and cook some of our own meals. We’re not wealthy—we just prioritize travel over expensive cars and country club memberships. We stay usually in the heart of the towns for easy accessibility to all the must-see sights and transportation hubs. We eat far away from the tourist traps, which truly gives us a sense of experiencing living as the locals do.

How This All Works (Full Transparency)

Let’s be completely honest about how we sustain this:

Unrushed Europe includes affiliate links for hotels, tours, and travel services. When you book through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places we’ve actually been or thoroughly researched, and we’ll never recommend something just because it pays higher commissions.

Heliora sells products we design and curate. This is how we actually make a living—when you buy a Barcelona hoodie or an Athens art print, you’re directly supporting our ability to travel, create content, and keep building this community.

Andrew’s Art sells Andrew’s original paintings and prints. These are one-of-a-kind pieces or limited editions, and they’re how Andrew’s artistic passion contributes to our European lifestyle.

We’re building something unusual here: not just a travel blog, not just a shop, not just an art business—but an entire ecosystem around European-inspired living. Some people will only use our travel guides. Others might skip the travel content and just love the products. Some might collect Andrew’s art and never visit Europe at all.

That’s perfect. We’re not trying to sell you everything—we’re offering different ways to connect with the lifestyle we’ve fallen in love with.

What We’re Building

Right now:

  • Publishing 2-3 destination guides per week on Unrushed Europe
  • Launching new Heliora collections inspired by our travels
  • Creating new artwork for both prints and originals
  • Building a community of people who believe life after 50 is about quality, not speed

Our goal for the next year:

  • 50+ detailed European destination guides
  • Quarterly Heliora collections tied to specific cities/regions
  • A series of large-scale originals capturing iconic European destinations
  • A weekly newsletter connecting all three: travel tips, product launches, and behind-the-scenes on Andrew’s art

Let’s Connect

We’d love to hear from you:

  • Email: unrushedeurope@gmail.com
  • Instagram: @unrushedeurope, @goheliora, @andrewrundoart

Tell us where you’re going, share your European-inspired home, or just say hi. The best part of this journey is the community of people who understand that the goal isn’t to see everything—it’s to truly feel something.

Ready to start planning? Check out our [destination guides].

Want to bring Europe home? Visit Heliora.

Looking for original art? Explore Andrew’s portfolio.

See you somewhere sunny,

Andrew & Maryann

P.S. – Yes, we take most of the travel photos you see here. They’re not professional quality, but they’re real. Just like everything else we do.