Last on our itinerary, and certainly not least, is the tiny island of Antiparos with our hosts Arie and Meghana, their young son Nirvan and dog Maya who is reddish brown with a grey face and looks like a small wolf.
I don’t know how to describe this place. For one thing, it is ginormous. It appears to be a series of separate houses connected by cobblestone paths, vegetable and flower gardens. The landscaping is indigenous to the area, and as a consequence is lush and green in comparison to the dry, scrub vegetation that dominates the region.
There are two pools, one outside of my room which is situated in a separate building above the main house. The second, larger pool (both infinity style) is below the main house, overlooking the sea and completely hidden from view. I only found it with the help of the dog. In total, there must be room for 30 or more people on this property. All rooms have their own attached bathroom and several feature small kitchens.
Arie is an artist of sorts and Meghana is a former model who was born in Mumbai. They live most of the year in Tel Aviv but for three months, June to August, they call this island home.
Antiparos is beautiful, quiet and deserted in comparison to its bigger sister Mykonos. I prefer this pace. It I were rich – and I would need to be – I could stay here indefinitely. The population in winter is 800, and the temps never fall below zero. You could walk this island easily, day after day, in the 280 days of sunshine that Greece gets each year.
I don’t remember if I mentioned the water temperature. It is simply perfect. But given that the pools are right here …
