Skiathos ... makes you happy!

After a nearly four-hour drive from Skopje, we arrived in Thessaloniki after dark. And since we had to head back to the airport at 6am the next morning, we unfortunately didn't get to see the city in daylight. But that didn't dampen our joy over the first meal in Greece.

Unfortunately, there is no direct ferry connection from Thessaloniki in autumn, and the only ferries from Volos depart at 8am or 8:30am. So we had no choice but to take a flight, which - not directly - provided a five-hour layover in Athens. We used this time to have our first lunch in Greece in 2019.

The flight to Skiathos only takes about 25 minutes, and since turbo-prop planes don't fly very high anyway and the weather was perfect, we were treated to a breathtaking view of the sporadic island world right from the airplane. The final approach, where you fly right into the harbor, is the crowning glory. Just 20 minutes after landing, we were already in our guesthouse, which sits above the harbor in the old town of Skiathos. What a magnificent place! Apart from the pretty white houses, the island itself doesn't look typically Greek. Completely green, with dense pine forests right up to the sea, it feels more like the Istrian Peninsula. Our room has a huge terrace with a view over the entire bay. In summer, Skiathos Town is apparently a buzzing party destination, but there's no sign of that now. The super friendly owner of the guesthouse said that many places are already closed, which is indeed the case, but there is still more than enough to offer. The atmosphere is very relaxed, no tourist hordes in sight. We share the restaurants, bars, sights, and beaches with just a few guests who also prefer the quiet season.

The weather is wonderful, a pleasant 25 degrees, the sun mostly shines, and the sea is still a warm 22 degrees and crystal clear. The coastline is spectacular, with beautiful coves appearing again and again.

It's also great to simply wander through the labyrinth of old town alleyways and lose track of time. The owner of the guesthouse mentioned that a friend from Switzerland would be arriving soon. She first came to Skiathos a few years ago and has been coming back every year since. That could very well happen to us too...