I've been meaning to post about my holidays to Chios Island for some days now but unfortunately couldn't find the time! We left on the second of July (on my birthday) and returned on the 11th. Thank God we could watch the Fifa Finals on board ;)

Some info on Chios island:
"Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres (five miles) off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages." [via wikipedia]

We were very lucky as we stayed in one of the most picturesque villages called Vessa, part of the wider Mastichocoria region which control the production of their traditional mastic gum. The villages have been built during the 14th and 16th centuries and were designed in order to form fortified gates to protect against pirates! Most of the villages are now abandoned, especially during the winter season, which is a shame as we were told how these stone narrow streets were boosting with life and happiness some years ago ...

So enough with the talk, here is a selection of photographs I took in Chios, which I already miss!