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Our Own Odysseys: Island hopping in Greece

From Nights 2 February 2016

Lynda Mara travelled with her mother, to the islands of Samos, Paros and Mykonos in 1996, where she enjoyed dazzling white architecture (they put salt in the plaster to make it sparkle) admired working donkeys, got locked out during the siesta, met a spitting image of her daughter and didn’t smash a single plate.

Older woman in the Mykynos town square. Many of them come to the local marketplace bringing produce from their gardens, sometimes carried by a donkey. (PHOTO: Lynda Mara)

First view of Mykynos - our last stopover - from one of the bright yellow ferries that run between the Greek islands (PHOTO: Lynda Mara)

A gem of a wall painting in Samos village (we saw no tagging in Greece, even in Athens) (PHOTO: Lynda Mara)

Donkeys seem to be cherished pets and are important contributors to the fortunes of the extended family. They are only seen in the towns in the early morning. (PHOTO: Lynda Mara)

In Samos, Paros and Mykynos the street paving was always painted this way. Occasionally symbols were painted on to the pavement, and we were told these indicated routes to a church. (PHOTO: Lynda Mara)

Lynda was sorely tempted by the balcony sign! (PHOTO: Lynda Mara)

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.