Where to stay

Our first accommodation in Megalohori in 1988 was Hotel Dina with views right out towards Piraeus and the mainland of Greece. It was only on our second visit that I realised that in he hallway was an iced water machine. From then on I made good use of it. For one thing, the local water that comes through the tap is not recommended for drinking. For another, it is a great thirst quencher for those on holiday in a hot location.

Hotel Dina, like a number of other establishments was really apartments - not a hotel. But it was very central in the village and it was only 2 minutes to any shop or taverna in the centre. On a later occasion we decided to choose Hotel Boulas where it was possible to get breakfast in the bar which became a taverna in the evening. This was a good decision! We felt very comfortable here. Boulas boasted shower curtains and a defined shower area separate from the loo and washbasin. This helped control the water that always seemed to get everywhere at Dina.

Over the years we got to know our friends Donald and Dina Lofthouse. They lived in Derrbyshire, not too far from us. Dina had been born on Anghistri and two of her sisters lived in the village. So it was, when Don was ill (terminally, as it happened) we were asked if we would like to use the house next door to Hotel Dina which was the old family home of the Dede family. This was very comfortable and we loved it.

Then there was a break of a few years when we didn't visit Anghistri. But eventually we returned and this time we booked in at Hotel Boulas which by now had a swimming pool. It was a triumph and we loved it. Thus it was that we determined to stay at this hotel each time we came. We are now friends of the owners and we get looked after very well each time we arrive. Nowadays Pauline and I are restricted as to how far we can walk so we tend to lounge by the pool every day reading copious books .

There are a number of hotels and apartments on offer in Megalohori. Several hundred metres to the right as you leave the port is the apartment block we still know as Kitsolakis Apartments, named after the late father of Yannis Logothetis. Walk left at the port and you find Theris Apartments owned by George and Katerina. These are modern and up market from some of the other places. Further along you reach Hotel Nontas (pronounce the T as a D) and this is a very unusual shape. Theo Katsias, owner of Supermarket Nontas (his late father's nickname) is the proprietor. Just up the hill from here is Hotel Flisvos. Eventually you reach Hotel Dina after passing the little cemetery.

Take the hill directly leading from the port and the first building offering rooms is Hotel Milos owned by Yannis and Paniotis Logothetis. Around the village, if you ask, there are small old Greek houses available to rent for long or short periods. Quite a number of houses have been built which can be available to let for the summer if you so wish.

But, for us, there is nothing l;ike a stay in Hotel Boulas where Christos and Beverly welcome us and keep us entertained as we use their pool bar for refreshments each day. The photos show pool activity at Hotel Boulas. In the first I am swimming up the pool and in the second you can see Christos hard at work!

But come to Anghistri and let it worm its way into your affections as it has ours. You will not regret it.