Smile

 

These stones made us smile.... We found them on a beach close to Petros Cottage.
Cute aren't they?

Books

Books for Winter Reading

 

If you like reading, have a look at this blog called Greek Island Books...

So far I've read a couple on the list, and they've given me more than a little bit of sunshine, so over the next few months I'm going to try and read them all.  It'll certainly brighten a grey English winter.

 

 

Yes, I did wait for these puffy little clouds to arrange themselves nicely for my photo!  This is Agios Dimitrios on the west coast of Alonissos.  Click on the image for a better look.



The Village Square

The Village Square

 

This photo of the path leading past Petros Cottage to the village square shows how secluded our courtyard is.  And if you look up on the way you can see our balcony, which takes in lovely views of the surrounding area.

 

And here's the village square, a great place for a coffee, a beer or a sit in the shade. You can just see our blue front gate in the centre of this photo.

Cool Beer and a very Cool Beach

 

 

 

Watching the sunset with a sundowner or two, after a lazy day on the beach...

 Meni's Bar at the end of the main walkway in Chora, five minutes from Petros Cottage, is a great place to catch the 'golden hour' and watch the sun slip down behind Skopolos, the island where Mama Mia was filmed.

Click on the beach image for a better look, it's a phone photo taken on the panoramic setting and shows the crystal clear water around Alonissos.  This is Glyfa Beach on the east coast of the island.

Slow Down and Enjoy Summer

 

So here's a photo that really doesn't need a caption.... 
Seen at Glyfa Beach on the east coast of Alonissos.

Balcony Life

 

Our Balcony

 

Our balcony is perfect for watching the sunset, enjoying a leisurely breakfast, or drinking a glass of retsina during the 'golden hour' - that mellow hour before the sun sets. And sky-watching after dark on the balcony is up there with our favourite things to do too.  Have you ever seen the stars in Greece?  Simply stunning. So bright and clear. The Perseid Meteor Shower which occurs during the last week in July and goes on until the end of August  promises to be quite be quite a spectacle in Alonissos this year. Make a wish, there'll be falling and shooting stars everywhere...
 

Have a closer look at the images by clicking on each of them. These photos were taken with my camera phone, the panoramic setting on the second picture has made the balcony look curved - which it's not - but I like the effect!

The Guardian Guide

The Guardian Newspaper: A Guide to the Sporades Islands 

Have a look here at the Guardian's guide to the Sporades islands.  Alonissos is described as 'much more rugged of the islands retaining an exclusive air and some exceptional hiking routes'  It's a brief guide, and I don't think it does Alonissos justice, but it does give a feel for the Sporades islands, and definitely worth a browse....

Turquoise Water

 

 

This is the beautiful turquoise water at Glyfa Beach. And yes, it's really that colour.  This photo is a panoramic image straight from my iphone. Click on the photo to see it in a larger version, it's quite stunning.

One of Our Favourite Beaches

 

 

Isn't this a beautiful beach? It faces south so it's very sunny, but I like the olive trees that grow down to the beach and give some shade in the afternoon.  For me, there's just nothing nicer than reading a good book in the shade at siesta time, especially after a lazy dunk in the turquoise water. Life is so hard, isn't it?  This beach is walkable from Petros Cottage, there's a hidden donkey-path-short-cut from the village, but there's also an unmade

 and picturesque road which makes driving there a good option too.
Click on these images for a much larger and better view.



Postcard from Alonissos

We bought this postcard from a little antique shop in the village, it's a view across the sea to Skopolos, taken in 1989 by Elma Bezou who owns the shop.  But here's the lovely thing - this view is from Petros Cottage, or possibly just behind it.  I think the colours of the sunset might be a little enhanced, but PhotoShop wasn't around in 1989, so who knows? It's a spectacular view anyway.....

As with all the images on the blog, click for a larger view.

Alonissos Tomatoes

 

 

Organic Alonissos tomatoes swimming in local olive oil and balsamic vinegar, just ready for eating with village bread. Mmmmm.....

Heaven is an Empty Beach

 

Heaven is an Empty Beach

Look what I came across on my phone today.... it's a panoramic photo of Chryssi Milia beach, on Alonissos, taken last May.  There were just the two of us. This whole, beautiful beach was ours.  Lucky? Indeed we were....

 

*Click on the photo for a closer look*

Getting Ready for the New Season

Bedroom shutters waiting for new paint



The view from the sitting room window

 

We're getting ready for the new season,

and from now until April, there are lots of

ongoing jobs that need our attention......

The tree outside the sitting room windows is always given a very severe

pruning by the local council, which is great by us as our view looks over the top of the tree, down across the valley, over the sea and on to Skopolos, the island where Mamma Mia was filmed.

The outside of the house gets a complete whitewash every Spring, and lots of new blue paint-work completes the traditional Greek house picture.

Click on each image for a closer look.....