Well, after 32 years of holidays and never returning to the same place, we decided to buck tradition and return to the Souzana Studios in Skala Potamia. This time we took our son, aged 20 and his girlfriend aged 19 as we knew they weren't interested in disco's, music bars etc. We had such a fantastic time last year.

The studios were just as clean and tidy as usual with a couple of welcome additions in 2 changing rooms outside on the patio and a little confined office for Alex business. Tasos provided a welcome like nothing before as he recognised us as did Alex and Sofia the maid.

Our studios were always cleaned daily except when Sofia had the day off on Sundays and everything was in fine working order. Having travelled to Greece for more years than I care to remember I am used to the skillet to boil your water for coffee and for someone to expect a kettle I would suggest that there are loads of kettles in studios in Spanish destinations, so try holidaying there, then compare service, friendliness and value!!! You simply do not expect kettles in Greece, unless stopping 5 star somewhere.

We dined out all over the place in 2003, but this year we limited ourselves mainly between Megas Alexandrous and Nautilos, although we did wander occasionally to Green Sea, Flisvos and Alkyones when we were tired and didn't fancy the long walk. We spurned the horrific Captains after viewing the poor state of the kitchen.
This year we hired a jeep to visit the hills and we were totally amazed at Kastro. The drive up is thrilling, 9km of dirt track roads going uphill! There is a little snack bar/caravan at the top that will sell colds drinks and a few snacks, but try Kostas bar where the ebullient and enthusiastic Kostas will serve ice cold beer and make a few tasty Greek snacks while he entices you to part with any of your £ coins, US dollars or any foreign currency he can eke from you. His wife will give you a tour of the little church next to the bar, but no photos or videos. The other little church at the end of the town houses the 'bone hall', where the deceased residents of Kastro lie. They are buried but after 3 years or so, their remains are dug up and placed either in boxes or a tidy pile of bones in ths bone hall. Gruesome but wildly fascinating.

On the whole, it was a thoroughly successful holiday except for the rain on three successive afternoons, but even this only lasted an hour or 90 minutes. Just enough to try a few beers or mezes!!!

I won't be returning to Thassos next year (too many Greek islands to try) but I will return someday and see how things have changed. One thing I am amazed about is when sites report that the island is dirty. Never have I seen any evidence of Thassos being dirtier than other Greek islands.