It’s no secret that I’m completely and
utterly enamoured with the Greek Islands. I blame the Greeks,
above everyone else, for my holiday obsession. And there are so many islands, you
see, each with slightly different charms, so I have to keep going back
again, every time a different place calls my name.

I am addicted to Greece.

Here’s
what got me hooked:

1. Beautiful
   BeachesThis one goes without saying, but I have to start
   here. There is no shortage of gently shelving, soft sand, sloping serenely into the sea
   on the Greek Islands. On a trip to Elafonisi
   in southwest Crete, I discovered that
   Europe can rival any tropical destination for coral pink sand and crystal clear
   waters. If you go to Greece just for the beaches, you won’t be
   disappointed. But there is so much more to enjoy.

2. Home
   Cooked Greek Cuisine
   I will eat
   whatever you put in front of me if it’s Greek. Fact.Moussaka is an obvious choice, but my
   absolute favourite is Lamb Kleftico.
   I love the slight variations you get with this dish, depending on which island
   you’re on and whose wise old mother the recipe came from. I’ve had it on the
   bone, off the bone, wrapped in paper and served as a one pot wonder. I’ve even
   had it put down in front of me wrapped in foil and actually on fire. Flames and all. I’ve never not liked it.
   And given that I cannot help but clear my plate
   everywhere I go in Greece, there’s simply nothing quite like a wee drop of Metaxa, Raki or Ouzo to help your dinner go down and warm (or burn, in the case of Raki) your insides.

3. Fascinating
   History
   I was nine or ten the first time I learned anything
   about Ancient Greece. I remember being
   enthralled by these extraordinary stories as they were absorbed by my
   consciousness. Visiting Greece later in life, I saw that you can’t go
   anywhere without being immersed in some of this wonderful history and
   mythology. From the ancient Palace of
   Knossos in Crete, to the Asklepion in Kos; the birthplace of Hippocrates and modern medicine. And not
   forgetting the volcanic island of Santorini,
   rumoured to be the origins of the legendary Lost City of Atlantis. 
   All this without me even mentioning Athens and the Acropolis. 
   Enough said.

4. Family
   Values
   I’ve watched three
   generations of a Greek family dancing together; I’ve seen children
   following their mother with toy brooms as she cleaned the rooms in the little
   apartments run by their family; I’ve been told by a Greek tour guide in Crete
   how elderly parents and grandparents live with the younger generations of
   their families so they can be cared for, just as they cared for their own
   youngsters, before they grew up. All in all, the Greeks have taught me a lot
   about the importance of family and looking after each other.

5. The
   People in General
   The last time we visited Crete, the owner of our
   accommodation gave us a bottle of wine
   from his village because we were still (relative) newlyweds. Unfortunately, it tasted kind
   of like I imagine petrol does (I really wanted to like it), but it was still a lovely gesture. When we left, we got hugs and kisses as though we were
   old friends. This year was much the same, as Costas told us how it makes
   him sad to see people go once he’s got to know them a little. The Greek Islands are bursting with
   wonderful people, just waiting to welcome you.

   What do you love about Greece? And which island should I visit next?

Sadie