Is the word...

Mytilene to be precise, or Lesbos or Lefkas, whichever you prefer.

The boys and I arrived very early, picked up the car at the airport and then headeda little up the coast towards the main town. We couldn't help but park and go for a swim. Hopping around on the rocks about three seconds after this photo, Ben found a friendly local sea urchin. Damn!

At the most precious jewel of a hotel, the Pyrgos of Mytilene, there is the wonderful Katarina, a jewel herself, who spent at least half an hour plucking the fifteen spines out of Ben's foot with great humour and much love. We had breakfast and then shot off in search of whatever while we waited for our room. The boys leapt about a bit and then I fell into a very deep sleep to awake to two boys curled around me like contented dogs and a knock on the door. M arrived and we ventured out into the evening to feast on local delicacies. Oh it was lovely, in a word.