Kithnos

Like most of Greece the history of this island goes back millenniums ago when it was famous for producing the lyrical poets Simonides and Bacchlides and the physician Erasistratos. Those names are long in the dustbin of history, but in their day their fame brought world travelers to these shores. Now it is the quiet bays, whitewashed houses with bright blue shutters, old Greek women dressed in black and picking their way down narrow stone streets, and shops selling locally made items crafted with care that bring the travelers.

We choose an anchorage that is well protected from the sea and has a sandy beach connecting a smaller island to the main island. This is a bay where no lights from even a village penetrate. When the sun sets, the inky night skies are punctured with a dazzling show of nighttime pricks of light. The nights and the waters are warm enough to dive off the boat and just float looking up and dreaming of another more ancient time. I some how feel connected to a civilization that extends back so far in history who also looked at that spectacular sky. While the world has changed dramatically from their days of glory, the one thing that remains a constant is the night sky.

The gang hikes to the small village at the far end of the bay for a night of exploring. When everyone returns back to the boat at around 2am they share tales of hitchhiking in the back of a pickup, renting motor scooters, more amazing food and unlocking the magic of this Greek island. There is plenty of time for napping in the sun on the front of the boat while we travel to the next island adventure in the morning.