TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

Dutchman and I came back to Skalochori just before nightfall and we were able to catch lovely pictures of the village with the sun-going-down shadow. In the mountain villages of Greece, especially in the late afternoon when the sun sets, men and women of age come out of their homes and sit outside of their houses while others go to the nearest café or square to gather together. I guess this is a typical thing in the provinces when there is not much to do. Life is slow. Time stands still. Life in Skalochori is simple. It is very peaceful here, and I think fulfilling as well if you do not have the crazy demands in life (like we all have in the city). Dutchman and I loved seeing this part of Greece. It’s so indigenous, so very local, so Greek. I am seeing a part of their daily life. If ever you come to Lesvos, do visit Skalochori or any of the mountain villages just before dusk and you will have the opportunity to witness the unsullied mountain life in a Greek island, and who...

So one morning in Lesvos Island (Greece), Dutchman and I set off with the scooter in search for a place to have brunch. We are heading eastbound and about half an hour into the ride we came across the mountain village called Skalochori. The village is nestled in a small tranquil valley. As we traversed on the quiet narrow cobble-stone streets of the village, we came upon a square with a humongous tree holding a tarpaulin that serves as a sun shade for the cafeteria underneath. There were many Greek men of age hanging out in groups here. Many were chatting, some were playing cards and others were basically just chilling out. In the Greek Islands, we noticed that many old Greek men like to hang out in cafeterias and outdoor cafe terraces while sipping a cup of traditional Greek coffee. I will probably believe if you say that they invented people watching, because that’s what they do the whole day. Nevertheless, all eyes were glued on us, their gaze following our backs as we t...

Dutchman and I stayed until late in the evening in Skala Kalloni, a fishing village located on the Kalloni Gulf of Lesvos Island. I love days like these during our summer holidays where we stay in one location for a whole day and practically do nothing. For us, activities such as eating, boozing, strolling around, relaxing with a book are equivalent to doing nothing. Cheers! Proost! Yasas! Dinner was at ‘Restaurant Dionysos’ on the beach. We had a lovely view of the gulf and the sun setting down the horizon. Being able to watch the sun going down in an explosion of orange and red hues is very relaxing and spiritual. It makes you be grateful of the little things in life. We ordered for our mains, non-Greek this time—a mix grill meat combo for the Dutchman and grilled giant shrimps for moi. As we wait for our food to arrive we focused our attention on to a group of local boys searching for fishes on the beach. The tides were low so I guess it is easier for them to catch ...

The Greek Islands are a favourite summer holiday destination of Dutchman and I. There’s something about these mythical islands, and I am not just talking about overly touristy and beautiful places such as Santorini, Crete and Mykonos. I think it’s a combination of the laid-back beach, the island life, the rich culture and history, stunning architectures and panoramic landscape, and how could I not forget, the food? Despite the fact that tourism has taken over almost a quarter of the country’s GDP, the rural way of life in the islands still hang in the air. Last summer we were in Lesvos Island, part of the North Aegean group of islands near the border to Turkey. Dutchman and I rented a scooter and a car as well to see the island. One of the places we discovered is Skalla Kalloni. Skalla Kalloni is located on the Kalloni Gulf (in the center of the island) and is a popular area for bird watching. Due to its shallow waters birds tend to flock here in the wetlands and take shelter...