I’ve just got back from a walking holiday in the Greek Cycladian islands of Andros and Tinos; very different, but very similar in many ways, with winding walking paths, terraces, amazing wildflowers, lizards everywhere, and far, far too much good food (and wine and beer).

Also there were goats.

The itinerary was:

  • Ferry from Rafina to Andros.
  • Walking the village back paths around Andros town itself, with lunch at a rural bakery (I was greedy and had a Greek meat pie and a cheese pie).
  • Up to Faneromenis Castle, and then down the gorge to Sineti village, where a taverna happened, and then to Chora.
  • To Apikia village and the Pithara waterfalls, and then down past an ultra-rich mafia villa (highlight of the tour!) to Chora.
  • Ferry to Tinos.
  • Walking from Ormos Panormou to Pyrgos and the marble museum there, and then through ancient paths in the ruined terraces past some old windmills back to Ormos Panormou, where another taverna happened.
  • Falatados to the summit of Exombourgo, and then winding back through little villages to Tinos town again.

Food sampled includes but is not limited to: moussaka, pies, chicken souvlaki, a burger, fried aubergine, loukanika, cretan salad, something in a pot the name of which I can’t remember, goat in lemon sauce, rabbit stewed in onions, chicken gyros, and lots and lots of lots of greek salad, tsatsiki, feta, and miscellaneous random things. Greek greek salad is the best.