The keel of the ‘Little St. Anne’ barge was furrowing with energetic speed through the Gulf of Agios Oros. My skis were safely tied to the railing, ski boots and luggage stowed in the back of the boat. Looking out of the porthole felt like saying farewell to paradise: the sight of undulating hills, densely overgrown with ancient forests; the intricate coast, lined with sandy beaches, steep cliffs and lonely harbours washed by the Mediterranean in all hues of blue – purple, cobalt, turquoise, aquamarine, petering out into long stretches of golden sand. We were speeding past monastery fortresses of grand design, complete with crenulated walls, belfries, balconies and galleries,… Continue Reading