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1. 1 On March 6th, 2008, Thea Montandon said:

   Hi! I found your website today through my Google Alert program “tuned” to Skopelos. It’s been so fun to read about your experiences on “my” island. I was especially glad to hear that you’ve brought books with you. I have been trying for 15 years to get a public library in Skopelos … did help open one in Glossa, which I hope you’ll visit. And I hope you’ve connected with my friend Eva at Thalpos Travel, which is on the Harbor Road near Animos Cafe. (Say hello to Michel for me). Eva also has a four year old daughter, so the girls may be in the same class. My Greek friends on the Island are really terrible about e-mailing and letting me know what’s going on. Part of it is their uncertainty about English, and part of it is their lifestyle not including hours and hours in front of computers! I hope you’ll continue your blog … and write to me, too. The Glossa Library has lots of books in English, including a bunch of children’s books. Eva can take you there. Wow … congratulations on your move … you’re very lucky, I think.

   All the best … Thea

2. 2 On June 27th, 2008, Photini said:

   Hi, my name is Photini and my dad’s family is from Skopelos. My husband and I currently leave in Edinburgh, but we are seriously considering moving to Skopelos for good. My family has a summer house near ‘Skopelos village’, but with regards to finding work things may be a bit difficult (my husband is a petroleum engineer and I am a geneticist…). We have been really encouraged by your blog and would love to meet you (if possible) when we come to Skopelos at the beginning of August.
   Hope you continue to enjoy Skopelos in the summer…despite the hordes of tourists…
   Photini

3. 3 On June 28th, 2008, Helen said:

   Hi Photini, glad you’re enjoying the blog. Mail me closer to the time and we can arrange to meet up in August.
   Helen

4. 4 On July 4th, 2008, Alan said:

   Hi Helen & Sean

   Finally made the move eh!
   I told you Greece is the bo–ocks, visited Skopelos 2 years ago, really liked it but Thassos still holds my heart!

   Keep in touch
   Alan from Devon

5. 5 On July 17th, 2008, natalie said:

   hi got directed to your website and just wondered if there are many stray cats an ddogs on the island ? i have visited skala,ithaka and perissa and found this quite upsetting-would luv to visit your island but would like some advice thanks

6. 6 On July 18th, 2008, helen said:

   Hi Natalie, there are not many dogs around and most of the ones you find wandering have usually just decided to go for a walk on their own but do actually ‘belong’ to someone. There are a lot of cats on the island but in the main they are either fed through the tavernas etc or by people taking food to them. For stray cats I would say that Skopelos cats seem to do remarkably well.

7. 7 On July 19th, 2008, natalie said:

   helen thankyou very much for your reply-would really like to visit your island and am in the process of finding the right place lol-cant believe i used to be vegan-think i had an early mid life crisis and went mad started to eat meat 7 yrs ago but luv animals-if i finally find the right place to stay do you need any veagn supplies bringing in return for advice about the island hehe….

8. 8 On July 19th, 2008, natalie said:

   lookin forward to your reply lol-holiday is for me and my fella im 39 he’s 34 and we live in walsall in west mids…..luvverly weather!!!!!

9. 9 On July 19th, 2008, Helen said:

   Hi Natalie, when are you thinking of visiting and what type of accommodation are you looking for? Might be able to point you in the right direction in return for supplies of course!!!

10. 10 On July 21st, 2008, natalie said:

    kalemera? helen not sure on spelling-i might have found a self catering place from travel agents going to look for booking on wednesday when i break up-what supplies would you be needing? i would be happy to bring you some if you can help with places to visit etc although your blog is good for that thankyou xxx hope your weather nice and sunny-you have inspired me to write my own blog but off to library today for a book on weblogging lol

11. 11 On July 22nd, 2008, Helen said:

    The one vegan thing I still can’t get without going mail order, is soya beans - so any packet of soya beans would be gratefully received!

12. 12 On July 22nd, 2008, natalie said:

    i am sure i can fit some in my suitcase lol-will let you know if we are successful in booking hol to your island

13. 13 On July 24th, 2008, natalie said:

    ok………we are booked to alonissos…..hoping this will give us scope for adventure…to skopelos……with soya beans haha…depart 2 weeks friday…

14. 14 On July 28th, 2008, Maria said:

    Hiya

    I visited Skopelos 10 years ago and I fell in love with it. I am Greek (originally from the island of Syros) but I have been living in Inverness for 8 years.

    The weather is too depressing :((( and my partner, who is English, and I have often talked about moving to Greece. Skopelos is the first place that comes to mind because I loved it so much although it must have changed since.

    Our biggest problem is finding a job esp for Kevin as he doesn’t speak the language. He does IT support and he thought about going mobile like Sean does DOH! idea already taken! :)))

    Can I ask, what was it that made you move to Skopelos?

    By the way, I am dairy and yeast intolerant. Is there Alpro or Provamel as it is called these days, unsweetened soya milk available??? :)))

    Keep updating your website, we love reading your adventures.

    xxx

    Maria

15. 15 On July 28th, 2008, helen said:

    Hi Maria, neither Sean or I speak the language but we’re muddling through work wise at the moment. Obviously working for yourself and not speaking greek is okay but you’d really struggle to find employment without the language skills. It really depends what Kevin can turn his hand to!!
    We moved to Skopelos because Sean had lived here for a few months some years back so we knew a bit about the island and weren’t coming in completely cold so to speak.
    Alpro is currently available in one supermarket on the island but whether it remains so we’ll have to wait and see. A few places in Skiathos stock different brands of soya milk, flavoured and unflavoured.
    Come and visit Skopelos again and see if it’s as good as you remember (it will be) and then think about whether it would make sense for you to move.
    All the best
    Helen

16. 16 On July 29th, 2008, Maria said:

    Thanks for the advice Helen.

    I am planning on studying for the Proficiency in English this year and perhaps sit for the ECDL as in Greece it is not good enough to say you can do something, you must be able to prove it via a certificate!

    Kevin wouldn’t mind working in bars, he has done bar work in the past, but IT support & web designing is what he has been doing for years. He has also worked as a tour rep in the past.

    We are open minded, we know we are not going to be rich we just want to live quietly and enjoy the Greek lifestyle.

    If we do visit the island this summer I will let you know and perhaps we can meet up and have a moan about the Greek bureaucracy and the taxi drivers!

    Kala na pernas!

    Maria

17. 17 On August 7th, 2008, natalie said:

    hello helen i have got you 2 pkts of soya beans from holland and barret-dont know how im going to get them to you-we fly out tomorrow-maybe if i use internet cafe n check this site we could arrange something?-we are planning on visiting skopelos sometime on our hols so it just means arranging it with you-look forward to it-hope i dont return with two bags of soya beans lol-or you could email me-i can email off my phone so that would be good…..alonissos here we come…..

18. 18 On August 25th, 2008, Susie said:

    Hi there!

    I, too, am planning to move to a Greek island and so far Skopelos is at the top of my list. I will be coming over this winter to look at houses. I would like to find a place to rent for a few months, but would be willing to start with a short term rental, room or hotel Where did you stay when you first moved to Skopelos? I need somewhere to “land”, with my dog, starting the earliest in November.
    Thank you.

    Thanks

19. 19 On August 26th, 2008, Helen said:

    Hi Susie, when we first moved to Skopelos we stayed at Perivoli Studios http://skopelosholidays.com/accomodation/perivoli/index.html The owner, Apostolos, is also an estate agent so he may be able to help you with your house search. We had our 2 cats with us at Perivoli and they loved it as it’s set in an orchard and we know someone who has stayed there with a dog without any trouble. If you need any further information or help then just let me know.
    All the best
    Helen

20. 20 On August 26th, 2008, Photini said:

    Hi Helen,

    As you may remember, I wrote to you a couple of months ago about possibly meeting up in Skopelos upon our arrival in August….. Life however had a little surprise for us, and we are now expecting our first baby… I guess this makes us want to move even more, but we might have to wait until at least next year.
    As you might have guessed, we never actually made it to Skopelos (or even Greece), but all being well we will be taking an extra long holiday next year (baby is due in March).
    We therefore wish you three, to continue enjoying this amazing island, and if there is anything we would like us to send you please don’t hesitate to ask…
    Kind regards
    Photini & Giuseppe (& little bean)

21. 21 On August 26th, 2008, Helen said:

    Congratulations Photini, I hope all goes well for you and I look forward to meeting you all next year.

    Helen

22. 22 On August 27th, 2008, Gillian said:

    Hi Helen
    Thanks for sending the link to site - lovely to read your blog, brings back so many good memories. Yes, I’d love to come back in May next year, hope it’s not too cold (I’m such a woes - that’s an Afrikaans word). I believe Skopelos is very beautiful with cherries etc. in bloom at that time. Is that so?
    Sydney is still great - after 9 years of living here I still appreciate it every day. I so love living near the ocean, able to see it every day. Someone once told me my affinity to the ocean is because I’m a water sign. But then someone else told me I drowned in a previous life (!!), so there’s a bit of a disconnect.
    We are just going into spring so its warming up marginally, getting light at 6.15 am. We are so spoiled with the weather here; it’s just after mid-winter but does not really get colder than 15 degrees Celsius during the day (gets down to 10 degrees at the very coldest, and might sink as low as 5 degrees in the middle of the night).

    I’m back at work, but have cut back to 3 days a week - the very positive spin-off of my trip to Skopelos. While on the island I had time to think about my life and how much of it I was sacrificing to the daily and ultimately meaningless work grind. Result - negotiated a shortened work week on my return, and am much happier for it -long may it last!
    Have some lovely pics of ‘Junior’ which I’ll e-mail under separate cover.
    Take care - hope your toe recovers soon - use Arnica cream!
    Cheers
    Gillian

23. 23 On September 4th, 2008, Val said:

    Hello, I’m semi-retired (single) and have traveled extensively over the past 10 years. Visited Greece, Santorini and Athens for the first time in 2005 and had a great trip, wish I had known about Skopelos as I would have gone there instead of Santorini….fiannces permitting, plan on visiting May of 2009, time length based on work or not ;-).

    Great blog, many thanks for the above, currently living in a small western town of Colorado, USA….may I help with any ‘needs’? Cheers, Val

24. 24 On September 4th, 2008, helen said:

    Hi Val, May is a great time for visiting Skopelos, things are beginning to open and it’s starting to get warm but there aren’t too many people about.
    Thanks for the offer of help - I’ll let you know!!
    Helen

25. 25 On September 7th, 2008, mick and margaret said:

    Hi Helen and Sean many thanks again for comming to our rescue on Friday 22nd Aug.You are truly good samaritans, we had a lovely week on Skiathos, hope our paths cross again in the future.All the best to you both Mick nd Margaret

26. 26 On September 10th, 2008, Val said:

    Hello Helen….

    Your suggestions on traveling through/from Athens when I visit next May. I’ve read various things about flying Athens to Skiathos? I presume water travel from xxx to Skopelos due to lack of airport facilities. Also available banking on Skopelos? In addition, I’m a budget traveler and very easy to please so suggestions for accomodations? A studio or something similar would be fine, I dont plan on a rental car at this point.

    Cheers to your and your family…..Val

27. 27 On September 12th, 2008, Nicole said:

    Hello:) Enjoy reading your blog! I caught the link from somewhere in TA. Read the complete blog and awaiting for another post:)

28. 28 On September 13th, 2008, helen said:

    Hi Val, flying to Athens would be your best (and possibly only) route and then flying on to Skiathos. They start these Athens/Skiathos flights early in the season (late April/early May) and they tend to be evening flights which means you would probably have to spend an evening on Skiathos, then boat the next day over to Skopelos. If the flights are not running you can either get the metro or bus into Athens city centre then coach from Kannigos Square to Agios Konstantinos or train to Volos and then boat over to Skopelos.
    Skopelos Town is well served with banks and cash machines so getting at your money would be no trouble!
    If you’re not renting a car then I’d suggest staying centrally, perhaps at Sotos Pension (see the main Skopelosholidays.com site) although in May there are some really good deals on car hire.
    Hope that helps
    Helen

29. 29 On September 30th, 2008, Lindy said:

    Hi Helen. How nice to read all these comments - and to find your blog. Guess what? I first visited Skopelos in 1981, and again in about 2002, when my husband (an architect)and I found a beautiful olive-grove hillside plot there. I now am the delighted and proud owner of a lovely Skopelos villa and we visit every year - with every intention of moving over very soon. I want to see the change of seasons on the island, celebrate Skopelos’ special days with the locals, plant my garden and tend to my olive grove. I should love to meet you next time I come over. Lindy

30. 30 On October 2nd, 2008, helen said:

    Hi Lindy, glad you’ve found the blog and enjoy reading it. Whereabouts on the island is your house? When do you think you’ll be making the ‘final move’?
    Let me know when you’re next visiting and we can arrange to meet.
    All the best
    Helen

31. 31 On October 2nd, 2008, Lindy said:

    Hi Helen. Up a very steep and windy road, going up to the area called Karavotsakisma (or “Yioxannesbourg” by the locals). My husband is very keen to get you husband’s e-mail address so that “Mr Skopelos IT” can set up all the computer internet connections etc when we (and our neighbours) need them. Your little girl looks a sweetie - my two are sadly no longer little but university students now. Still lovely and sweet, but Imiss my little “pikkies” (as we call them at home) - it means “littlies”. Keep well. Lindy

32. 32 On October 8th, 2008, Val said:

    Good day Helen,

    I trust you and your family are doing well.

    I presume you are ex-pats on Skopelos and am curious as to what general Greek paperwork dance you went through to make your move? I dont need heavy details, just curious what kind of things….?

    Cheers, Val

33. 33 On October 9th, 2008, Helen said:

    Hi Val, Sean and I are British citizens and junior is an Irish citizen so we all come under the EU and as such are free to move within other EU countries without the need for masses of paperwork! I know other people on the island from outside the EU who have had to go through a lot of rigmarole to establish their residency here but I’m afraid I don’t have more details.
    Helen

34. 34 On October 11th, 2008, Val said:

    Hello…..

    Thanks for your reply. If you know anyone who has gone through the paperwork stuff, would you please ask them to suggest a website?

    I’ve looked extensively and havent found a list or whatever to submit.

    Thanks again, Val

35. 35 On October 12th, 2008, Val said:

    Hello Helen,

    Please disregard previous msg, a Greek-American friend of mine in SoCal suggested one, though it’s not official and it answered my questions.

    Val

36. 36 On October 31st, 2008, Jacqui said:

    Hi Helen, Thank you for directing me to your blog (via Tripadvisor) I will keep reading your adventures and it feels great to share your experiences. Maybe one day I will write one of my own! I moved from County Cork to Lakonia this year and am battling to restore my 130 year old house on a very limited budget. But, as you said, who cares about the credit crunch when you have little money to start with and live in such a beautiful place! Best wishes to you all.
    Jacqui

37. 37 On October 31st, 2008, helen said:

    Hi Jacqui, we very nearly lived in County Cork but the house purchases kept falling through, once in Ballydehob and then again just outside the city. I really like Cork especially the Quay Co-op for lovely vegan food!
    Good luck with the house and if you feel like mailing then drop me a line here or through Trip Advisor.

    All the best
    Helen

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