NOTE FROM THEANO:

In the 1970s, my grandfather built the first-ever rooms in the town of Armenistis, and my mother, Keti - also known as our daughter Stella’s “Yiayia” (grandma) - kept them active for the past 30 years. As a child, I spent every summer, mingling with the English, French, German and Dutch backpackers who discovered the island early on. When the rooms were sold out, the visitors would sleep in the yard and on the roof, on some mattresses my grandfather would roll out. My grandmother Panayiota would survey the sea of (very happy) humanity in our yard from her perch as she knitted blankets for each of her grandchildren. Every morning, guests jockeyed for a turn in the communal bathrooms. And every evening, my grandfather would share with them his fisherman’s catch of the day. Guests would contribute a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread or even a song in return for their supper of fresh fish, Apostolos’ homemade wine that was never far from his side and the lively company. Twenty or so people would gather around the makeshift communal table my grandfather fashioned from planks of wood. Interspersed between generations of Hrousis, there would be plenty of eating, drinking, singing and storytelling in varied languages accompanied by the requisite hand gestures for emphasis.

These are my earliest - and happiest - childhood memories.

My goal was to come back one day with my own family and continue in the traditions of this little corner of paradise. We hope we can help our guests experience the same feelings of welcome, inclusion and hospitality my grandparents engendered all those years ago.

All are welcome to enjoy this truly special and spectacular part of Greece. Have a great summer!