- PATMOS

PATMOS: See PhotoGallery at foot of article. Click on pics to enlarge.

Patmos vies with Sifnos as my favourite Greek island. I have had the extreme pleasure of visiting it a number of times, as well as living and working there. I never tire of it. In spite of what tourist guides might say about the main promenade of the main town, Skala, I love it! It has a fabulous buzz! It is one of the most perfect places of any island to people-watch!

Plonk yourself down at a table at Arion Cafe-Bar with all those fab-looking Italians and watch the world go by! It's just brilliant1

Patmos can be quite expensive; it is the sort of Mykonos of the Dodecanese.

Skala is attractive enough with its vernacular Patmian architecture, but the big treat is the hora with the monastery of of St John the Theologian. Needless to say, a visit to the monastery is a must. Its interior is picturesque, and the icons in the museum are fabulous. And you can spend hours wandering around the alleyways in the hora.

Beachwise, I also score it a good six out of ten. The town beach is not great, but if you are prepared to schlepp, then Psili Ammos is not to be missed! It's a drive and then a long schlepp over the mountain, but what a super beach: sandy...and with waves, noch! And...what a sunset!

My other fave beach is Lampi at the top of the island It is famous for its multi-coloured pebble beach. It's never crowded and also has two no-frills tavs right on the beach.

There are some great spots for late-nite vibes, both in hora, as well as down in Skala. My favourite is Art Cafe, down near the harbour. Tav-wize I like O Kipos, a slightly tacky-looking tav in the backstreets. Lovely owners and they serve the best grilled pork chop in the Dodecanese ( well, at least they did on my last visit!).

Of course, Patmos is special because of the many super folk I met when I worked there. In common with all the islands I have visited, I found the islanders friendly and helpful; and it is that which makes it a very special place.

PHOTOGALLERY BELOW: CLICK ON PICS TO ENLARGE

Monastery of St John

Patmos:Grikos

View of Skala

Hora

Psili Ammos

Cave of the Apocolypse

Lampi Beach

Tav: Lampi Beach

Secluded bay