There is something quite unique sitting high up above the Harbour at midnight, watching, listening and admiring the view around you. On a hot summer’s night like the ones we’ve been having lately, the air is still, the temperature is in the high thirties (even at midnight), and the lights are on everywhere.

The view you can see is from my balcony high up in Mavrovouni and although it is only 5 minutes (and a hundred odd steps) away from the centre of Yialos, it feels quite isolated despite the other houses all around. Mavrovouni is mainly a residential area and there are not many tourists walking by during the day. At night you hardly ever see anyone walking at all.

It’s amazing how you can hear so much and at the same time feel how quiet it all is. The children are still at the playground by the square and if you concentrate you can hear them counting as they play hide and seek at midnight. Summers are usually like that for children in Greece. Being up and playing until late is hardly uncommon and the idea of a strict bedtime is almost non-existent. Parents take their children out with them and on a place like Symi you see children everywhere around the square while the parents enjoy their food and drink nearby.