Monday 11 June Skoutari

Piercingly bright sun as we open our East facing shutters. Limpid sea. The island of Kythia visible on the horizon. We are the only ones at breakfast and chat to the friendly wife of the manager. She also runs a taverna in a hilltop village in the evenings and works until the early hours. She expresses surprise that we have a 27 and 25 year old....she says it must be the cycling that keeps us young. I want to believe that she wasn't just saying this!

Our day on the beach is interspersed with a visit to a little chapel at one end, perched just above the sea, and another, the chapel of Saint Varvara (is that Greek for Barbara?), which is right on the beach. The first one is unlocked and contains an array of icons and votive candles. The second, dating from the 13 century and restored with EU funds,is firmly locked. We drink rose on our balcony as old Helios' chariot dips beneath the western hills. He's had a busy day.