Leisa Tyler

The Slow Life! My parents and husband and I stayed in the Olive Picker’s House for ten days, where each day we indulged in extended breakfasts in our private courtyard, took daily drives to the nearby beach, the villages clinging to the southern coast of Crete or ancient ruins peppering the surrounding hills, then feasted on local delicacies and plonk at one of the village tavernas each evening.

The three stone cottages have been wonderfully restored with idyllic Greek colours, good bathrooms, comfy beds and delightful gardens of bright pink bougainvillaea. Admittedly, Jo and Alan’s own cottage is the most beguiling, if you can nab it, with its rooftop terraces and sunken sunflower yellow lounge. But all the cottages are perfectly set up to deliver a plush bout of the slow life, Crete style, splendidly, indulgently and leisurely.

Just don’t miss the local olives – to be eaten by the handful, grilled octopus by the beach, refills of the cheap but rather cheerful local white wine from the village grocer or Monica’s fetta dip.