It was supposed to be a three day getaway. After we arrived in Athens - and with jet lag still taking its toll - the idea was to escape the city for a few days and enjoy time by the water. Good think Pappou and Moca persuaded us to stay a few extra days, five in total. We took the car to Agios Kostandinos and, from there, the ferry to Skopelos (with a stop in Skiathos). By early afternoon we arrived and drove straight to the beach, our beach. Limnonari is a small bay with just two tavernas and one hotel (more like rented rooms, really). It was perfectly small and accessible. Our rooms were behind the taverna, just 25 meters of so from the sea.
Moca realized early that the free loungers and umbrellas were a hot commodity and so morning often started with her making her way to the beach and setting up for the rest of the morning. The rest of us would wake up later on and enjoy a breakfast of yogurt and honey and bread and fruit out under the trees. Then it was off to the beach where Irini gradually got more and more adventurous, starting from merely swimming between adults with outstretched arms, and finishing with snorkel and mask (courtesy of Moca) swimming happily above the rocks. Amalia too was happy there. The slope of the beach allowed her to decide how deep to go and with the added confidence afforded her by her inflatable arm bands she too happily played in the water.
It was five days of sloooooooow. Taverna, beach, nap, taverna, beach, dinner... and so it went. The time allowed us to roam a bit too. Skopelos is a green island and there are parts to it that might remind one of a national park. Then there are beaches with crystal clear water. The people too are friendly as can be. The added bonus is that, unlike some other islands, Skopelites (as they refer to themselves) are extremely proud of the products they produce there: Honey, yogurt, fruits (especially plums), bread.
In all that we found wonderful moments. Family filled. Laughter. Giggling. Sunshine. And the nights were perhaps even better. With the coming of night we would venture across the dirt road and over to the beach. We would take over five lounge chairs waiting for the next morning and lie down, the children on our stomachs, and look for shooting stars. The sounds of calm waves lapping away echoed and the night sky was moon-less, making for perfect star gazing. One one particular night, as we also had the accompaniment of a trio of musicians playing Greek music in the background, we saw lots of them. The record, set by Natalia, stood at eight shooting stars in about a half hour.
What a wonderful statement of Greece. In the distance the worries continued, for the Greeks and their economy. But here they were making the best of it. Somewhere between their hospitality of visitors and their caring for each other and this island environment, Skopelos was home.
