Greece - Folegandros - May 9-19

After five days in beautiful but highly touristed Oia, Santorini, we caught a slow ferry to the island of Folegandros yesterday afternoon. We have been charmed by everything since arriving in this town, the capital of the island which is home to about 600 people in total.

We found a place to stay in the main Chora (town) called Nikos Rooms and rented two rooms for a very good price since each is equipped with just two single beds.

Then we wandered the little cobblestone streets which were quiet as it was near the end of the siesta time (though I imagine it has a different name here). For dinner we went to the square just steps from our room to what became my favorite restaurant in town (Chic Restaurant) and I enjoyed my standard delicious and fresh Greek salad with Ouzo followed by a fantastic lamb cooked in prunes and almonds.

After dinner the kids played in the streets, which allows no cars and has the perfect old world feel of a town square with adults sitting, drinking and talking.

So far there are few other kids to be seen, although we have our eyes open. I suspect on the weekend more might turn up and we could come across a game of impromptu soccer with local kids. In the meantime the freedom to explore and play safely while adults sit and socialize nearby is very special and just what we hoped to find on this trip.

We arrived at the very beginning of the busy summer tourist season and the local people were all very busy getting ready, painting, fixing chairs, getting the patios ready...

This island has become discovered as late, though luckily we are visiting before the town loses any of its local flavor or charm and before the season really gets fully underway.

We discovered a local resort, which is apparently quite unpopular with the locals as the owner is an Athenian who is taking advantage of the islands new popularity and developing it quickly and without care to the traditions of the island. We reaped the benefits of the pool, though, where the kids enjoyed a counter point to village life.

The local beach was a short hike away and we found it beautiful and fairly quiet.

The rest of our days we spent hanging around, reading, relaxing, hiking (mostly Joe and the kids), tasting the local food, and exploring the tiny town.

And then after a wonderful, relaxing nine days, we hopped on the ferry to Naxos and said good-bye to Folegandros.