Blogs from Sifnos, South Aegean, Greece, Europe

Our discovery of the walking paths was borne of necessity, the only means of transportation that was available to us. However, once we went beyond the concept of commuting we started to experience the pathways of Artemonas, Apollonia and Kastro. Within these few kilometres there was a great diversity of pathways. My favourite was a path from the Windmill through small farms to Apollonia. The stone path wound down the hillside and eventually joined up with a pathway leading into the village. Along this path there were the expected donkeys, goats, cats, birds, chooks and cattle. An unexpected find was an out of the way pottery kiln and an older Greek man. The scenery ranged from beautiful traditional white houses, hay stacks, a ruins, an enclosure for animals, older houses and a magnificent little chapel. The ... read more

Sifnos Island has been a changing kaleidoscope. We arrived by ferry about 8:30pm. We drove through a busy port village with crowds gathered in shops, restaurants and bars; over a narrow mountain road, through quieter villages and finally to a beautiful Bella Vista located far apart high on a rocky cliff. Arriving around 9:00pm, I asked if the kitchen was open. A quiet young Greek girl said ‘I am the kitchen’. In broken English she suggested a taste plate and glass of wine – a wonderful recommendation and the start of an amazing evening. She was joined by two young children and a dog named Bella. Together they laughed and played in the courtyard while our young hostess communicated to us with increasing confidence of her English language about her life in Athens and her love ... read more

We finished our time on Santorini with a visit to Pension George. So sorry to leave the tranquil idelic spot but the trip must go on. Tara, Morgan, Kailey and Melissa you will be happy to know that Helen sends her greetings and says you need to come back! 11 of us piled into the Pension George Sprinter van and headed for the port. Warm and windy today. Got there about 5:15 and ferry was to leave at 6:15. We decided to sit and relax with a salad and cold drink at a port cafe. Great view of the managed chaos that is the port when ferries arrive and depart. Our drama for the day was 3 or 4 groups of people thinking that they could enjoy the chairs and shade without purchasing anything! What are ... read more

It was recommended to us that we pay a visit to the town of Chryssopigi, which is home to what they said was the most photographed church in the world. The town is tiny, consisting of two restaurants and one lodge, but it apparently has a big following. People really love coming back time and again, though I have to confess, it was a little quiet and sleepy for me. We even saw our Norwegian friends there, and had a chat. The town is on the South side of the island, and it was sheltered from the wind, which made it warmer for swimming. The beach is covered with flat rocks, and all three of us got to practice our rock skipping, which both A&N have become experts. We swam, played on the beach, and then ... read more

The island of Sifnos is part of the Cyclades chain and a bit smaller than Milos. Because of this, I assumed it would be more rustic and sleepy, but it appears not to be the case. In fact, it's a pretty happening little port town, and there were pleasant surprises for us everywhere. First off, the main drag of the town is really nice, with lots of neat shops and food everywhere. Best of all, it wasn't tacky and kitschy, but rather interesting. In fact, we learned that in the early days, Sifnos was the source of gold and silver for the Greek empire, but that it was now known for it's pottery. The clay deposits make it an ideal location to make all sorts of pieces in the native style, though I'm not sure what ... read more