There is something special about Greece that goes beyond the incredible landscapes. It’s an atmosphere that you rarely find anywhere else, a mix of deep relaxation and electric joy that I feel any time I land on one of the islands.
I have been to Greece every year for the best part of the last 10 years. Every time an opportunity arises to get myself a freddo cappuccino in the sun, you can be sure I will be there. This year, though, I wanted to graduate from tourist to short-term resident, so I packed my bags for a month-long stint in the Mediterranean country.
My base was Athens, a buzzing city getting its mojo back. It’s busy, loud and lively – everything you want from a capital and more. But after ten days hopping from cafes to tavernas, we decided to do as the Greeks do and take an Easter break to the islands, choosing Paros as our destination.
From May to September, most Greek islands are packed with tourists and island-hoppers getting their sun fix, but if you want to avoid the crowds and live the real island life, the off-season months are a perfect time to visit as the weather is balmy but not too hot, almost only residents remain on the islands and hotels and touristy restaurants are still closed before the official start of the high season. If smaller islands might feel a bit too empty during this time, I find that larger islands like Paros are absolutely perfect in April and October.
The ferry ride from Athens to Paros usually lasts about four hours, but the day we set off, the sky was gloomy, and the sea was choppy, so it took longer than usual. The rocky ride made our arrival on the island even sweeter, and I couldn’t wait to get to our destination. We got in our little white Fiat Panda – which seems to be the most popular type of car in Paros – and after less than 10 minutes, we arrived at our home for the weekend.
Cristi – whose dad built the house himself – welcomed us and showed us around the property before leaving us to enjoy the bliss of the place. She told me she grew up in the house, and I could only imagine how incredible it must have been to have this beautiful corner of Europe as your home. For the next four days, I would pretend this was my everyday life, and I couldn’t be happier.
