Lägenhet i Stenies nära huvudstaden i Andros, Grekland, fantastisk utsikt över byn och havet

I am a 64 year-old Greek TV executive recently semi-retired, living in Cyprus. My wife and I came to Andros for a short weekend back in 2000 and ended up falling in love with the island and Stenies in particular.

A series of circumstances-some might call it fate-led me to buy the house at Stenies (in fact it was 2 semi-detached houses belonging to different owners). One day I hope to live there permanently. An extensive renovation completed in 2009 left me with a beautiful first floor apartment-selfishly for my own use only-and 2 ground floor flats for friends and family. I recently decided to also rent these 2 flats to people who share my sense of excitement in spending quality time in a village that not very long ago used to be the hub of Andros. After all, Stenies is where many of Andros' famous shipping magnates come from. The aristocratic air of Stenies, as reflected in the architecture of its houses and surrounding orchards, is perhaps more typical to the Cote d'Azur than to the Cyclades.

One of my daughter's friends who recently spent a few days at the flats wrote to me: 'It was magical waking up to the chiming of church bells and crickets'. Personally, I am a light sleeper but at Stenies I sleep like a baby, and then I go out on the balcony, smell the air and take in the views of the village, the surrounding countryside and the sea in the near distance. Drinks on the veranda may sound a bit too British, but it is quite a unique highlight of the flats. Because of running waters-a stream from the spring of Sariza runs through Stenies-there is a coolness in the village even in high summer. A stroll downhill to the gorgeous beach of Yialia-with one of the best tavernas on it-is no strain. Before I forget, I really enjoy the absence of all vehicles in the village!