Return to civilization
Both Alonissos and Skopelos have been wonderful, in part because of their quiet, calm nature; they have been the perfect get-away, an escape from the rigours and demands of day to day life, all framed by blue sky, blue sea, and pine forested mountains. Today we left Skopelos, returning to Skiathos, which although smaller than both Alonissos and Skopelos, is very much the “capital” of the Sporades, and it felt like a return to a busier, more noisy, modern world.
We arrived in the afternoon, had a little explore, found a small beach and some pretty streets, but as the sunset and darkness began to fall, the town came to life. It was definitely more “touristy” , which is not necessarily a bad thing. On the previous two islands, I had been more than happy to head home to read and sleep, my belly full after a delicious meal; in Skiathos, however, I was energised by the vibrant bustle around, watching the people parade up and down the main street in their finest going out gear, the water craft plying their trade in the harbour, the music – other than some low key local music, we had heard little on our trip, now “Mamma Mia” was being played by every returning day trip cruise.
We climbed some stairs to a high point (passing a bar on our way) and gazed down on the bright lights of the town below. Welcome to Skiathios, and welcome back to 2025.