One of the things about living in the village, is the silence. We're pretty high up, so no sounds of cars, bikes, or even people. The noisiest thing up here, are the goats! You can walk around the little back streets and not see anyone for an hour. Just the odd cat staring at you wearily, and the sound of the dried leaves blowing across the stone paths. It's hard to imagine it bustling with people years ago when the Islands population was around 30,000.

I really love it. I almost purposely try and get lost, although it's getting harder now, as certain areas are becoming more and more familiar. Each ruin I'm sure has it's own story. Families fleeing during the war, or moving to new places of promise. Who knows. Sadly, it is changing. Not so much the amount of people, It's still quiet especially in the afternoons when everyone is having their siesta. But gradually the old ruins are being bought up, and converted into holiday homes. I feel the mystery is starting to go, and the stories that these old buildings hold is being plastered and painted away. The fresh paint is covering some of the character, history, and hardship that has shaped Symi over the years

So, my advice is to lose yourself. Just for a day. Before everything is sparkling, and pristine, and it's gone forever.