Xios

Where to even begin? We didn't want to go through Istanbul again on our way to the Balkans, so we decided to go via ferry through the northern Aegean islands. I was excited to see Lesvos (Lesbos), the home of Sappho and ouzo, but we were closer to Xios (Chios, Hiyos, etc.) and decided to go there first. It was so beautiful we decided to stay and skip Lesvos altogether.

The ferry from Cesme, Turkey:

We stayed at a re-purposed monastery with a sublime view:

And the swimming was the best yet!