Our little hidey-hole on the island of Kalymnos is Vathi: a well-hidden and very dramatic little spot.

It has a narrow fjord-like entrance, opening up into a tiny fishing village at the head of the bay. It boasts one main street and a collection of houses scattered into the valley; an unexpected patch of lush vegetation on an otherwise very dry and arid-looking island. Vathi is the only place on the entire island that is lucky enough to have it’s own spring water supply, and they use it carefully to cultivate citrus fruits, figs, grapes and anything else that can be persuaded to grow!

It’s also the home of "Poppy’s": a little taverna which has developed a well-deserved reputation amongst the yachties for the best swordfish steaks in the Aegean! What is not so widely known is that momma also makes the best homemade dolmades (stuffed vine-leaves) you will ever taste - and as the folks at Poppy’s are one of our "adopted families", she always makes them for us when she knows we are coming!

Kalymnos is also famous for it’s natural sponges, and there are a couple of little shops in the village where you can buy these and also the most beautiful and intricate hand-embroidery, traditionally done by the local nuns.