Saturday 31st August 2013 – Skopelos, Greece

The taxi arrived just before 06:30 and it was a very easy half hour journey into Volos port, most sensible people being still in their beds.

The Express Skiathos ferry is a large twin-hulled ship and there were a number of articulated lorries waiting to load as we climbed the steps to the passenger deck. The air-conditioned lounge was very comfortable and as the weather was rather dull, we spent most of the early part of the journey in there.

Arriving in Skiathos, it was obvious that there had been a recent heavy shower with water lying in the streets. Given that it was a 3hr 40m journey we investigated most of the ship and towards the end we sat at the stern where we were sheltered from the wind. The views were very murky due to the poor weather but we didn't have any rain.

The ship actually calls at Skopelos Island twice, once at Glossa at the northern end of the island and then at Skopelos Town after travelling down the entire length of the island. This mean that we got a very good, close-up view although this side of the island is sparsely populated and quite mountainous. Arriving at Skopelos Town we saw Norman and Deborah waiting for us on the quay and were soon greeting them and chatting as we walked with them.

We had seen a few photographs of their house but have never been able to coordinate a visit, so it was great to be able to see the house in the flesh. And a lovely house it is. A traditional Skopeletan town house, it has two floors and a basement. Greek houses often have the living accommodation on the first floor and the bedrooms on the ground floor. This is a very sensible arrangement in a hot country where the ground floor is cooler for sleeping. However, a previous owner had modernised the house and changed the arrangement to the standard English arrangement with the bedrooms on the upper floor. The modernisation had been very tastefully done, maintaining and enhancing the character of the house whilst increasing the space available by deepening the basement to provide a large lounge.

Photos: Jason of Jason and the Argonauts fame, set sail from Volos and this is a replica of his ship, the Argo, moored in the port of Volos; Norman and Deborah's house.