Deb: Monday 29th April. Got up at 4am to take Colin to the airport. So, were in the capital, Mytiline, before 7am! For once, Alan & I were up before the numerous mini markets, bakers and souvenir shops opened! Did get a lovely breakfast overlooking the harbour. Then sought out an ouzeri (the equivalent of a brewery, only they produce Ouzo!). Found the one that allegedly makes the best of all Ouzos. It had a tiny shop but as well as bottles of ouzo, there were huge barrels and locals were taking in bottles to be refilled at a massive 2 Euros! Anyway,we got an 8 euro bottle which I will have to wait to open, as we have half a bottle to get through.

It is SO hot that even though we sought out a couple of areas high up for a walk (gave up on the salt pans in Kalloni, which is where we do a birdwatching stroll) as it was way too hot. However, even higher up in the hills it was boiling; we did a walk that only lasted about 30 – 45 mins. Too hot. Around 30 degrees – it's supposed to be around 21! We did call in to a tiny village (Moria) really Greek; no tourists in sight!) to have a look at a roman viaduct, which was fabulous, but, typically Greek – they don’t really seem bothered about it; there’s no information on it at all. But in a magnificent setting, so while understated, very impressive.

Nearer to home, we have been excitedly watching the progress of a building going up in Molyvos. It was a shell when we arrived and unbelievably for Greece, it’s going up at quite a rate. It makes us laugh – health & safety? You must be joking mate. About six blokes scrambling up a rickety wooden ladder, no scaffolding, no hard hats or any such nonsense. One older bloke waving bits of paper and shouting instructions whilst seated on a chair below. Hope it’s finished by the time we leave as we have been trying to guess what it will be (odds on a taverna??). Later in the week Quite funny, they are clearly panicking now, that it won’t be ready in time (still don’t know what it is) so on Thursday we counted around 15 men working on it – a shambles! Even worse health and safety than previously (someone swigging a beer whilst atop the roof via some sort of wooden contraption). Hope they finish it before we go!

Well, Alan is asleep on the sunbed. Last day with the car tomorrow for another 10 days so we will then have quite some time to laze around the accommodation- I might even start to read something at last!

Deb: Tuesday – last day of the car. Did a short drive and short walk, but though we started the walk at 8 am, by 10am it was roasting, so gave up. A quiet few days now – no car until Thursday week – when we will have it for two days and use it to get to the airport (another 4am start!).

Deb: Thursday. Lovely meal (we chose the fish we wanted from some in the chilled cabinet (fresh) and they grilled it and presented it to us whole, to share). Just superb – simple but tasty and some local wine to wash it down. And warm enough to sit at the harbour til quite late(it’s been cool most nights).

Deb: Good (Holy) Friday. We bought a special loaf to eat today – tsoureki – made with yeast, orange, eggs and spices, with a "lucky"hard boiled egg with its shell painted red, to symbolise the blood of Christ (the egg symbolises rebirth).

Well Easter was very tame! Only a few fireworks and firecrackers, though the town was really busy with Greeks, as they clearly like to come here from the rest of the island on their days off. We have now had four power cuts in as many days. Last night it was around 9.30 pm, so had to scrabble to find a torch!

Alan: So we have pretty much reached the point where there is a week left on Lesvos. This already seems like untold luxury, we would normally now be counting the days down of our second week before returning (to work!) when it is actually our third and the “end” is simply moving to another island. Too good.

Lesvos (unusually for a Greek island) is not the ideal place not to have a car, it’s quite big and while we are clearly in the nicest town we don’t have a particularly good beach in walking distance. In one sense we feel a bit marooned, but it has worked well to stop us rushing about and instead give the sun beds a severe test and start consuming a few books. We are planning to brave what beach we have tomorrow (at last; we have been debating the sea temperature for two weeks now!) as the last couple of days have been seriously warm (comfort depending on the variable wind direction). You can’t beat a Greek island for winding down. The flora and fauna, the beauty, slow pace of life, friendly people, blue sea, if you can’t relax here you are in trouble. It’s fantastic to think how much longer we have with the opportunity to see new islands and at no point looms the dreaded return to work. Just what the doctor ordered.

Deb: Living the dream (see Alan’s comment above).