A Greek Idyll

From our current home, an island stranded in the south pacific, we headed to an island a little closer to "civilisation" en route to the UK for our annual trip.  In the current economic climate, under the cloud of the euro-zone in crisis and several countries on the brink of breakdown (if not anarchy were the media to be believed), Greece may seem like a rather strange choice.  In fact we had booked our flights 10 months earlier when things were not so dire and a little bit of excitement never did anyone any harm!

Glossa Outlook

So it was amid warnings of empty cash points, shortages, potential strikes and riots that we landed in Athens and made our way to the isle of Skopelos without incident and without much sign of any problems.  We met Mum and Dad at the ferry port and were soon in the village of Glossa; its steep narrow streets, tiny stores and white-washed houses seemingly untouched by time save for the whine of little scooters and a web of overhead wires.  Eleni's House became our home for the week.

Smugglers Cove

Skopelos is not a large island and yet it has a remarkable diversity and is the greenest isle in the Aegean.  A little car admirable handles the pot-holed roads as we explored from the northern lighthouse to the monasteries south of Skopelos town.  Of course there was also plenty of time to relax at the numerous secluded coves, empty so early in the season, and take a dip in the crystal clear water of the sea!  Once the hectic day was over, a beer on the balcony with a good book in hand provided ample opportunity to watch the setting sun.

Skiathos and the Pelion