The olive harvest begins. This is not just an agricultural event in Greece, it is a ritual. Raki and Tsipouro are also produced and distilled at this time and this is a celebration in itself, especially in Crete. Traditionally this is also the time when every family slaughtered their pig for the long winter ahead. This event marked different time honored celebrations depending on the area. The winters in Greece are usually mild with some exceptions of course. We might be lucky and see some snow. The cool days and chillier nights are essential for the ideal pastime of sitting around the fire at night roasting chestnuts and sharing a glass of tsipouro with friends.

Mother Nature seems to be stretching and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and all five senses come alive. A very special time in Greece. The rains subside; the fields display a tapestry of colors from the countless varieties of wildflowers that begin to bloom. Smell intoxicating ribbons of delicate perfume that drift past you from blossoming orange trees and billowing jasmine bushes. The celebration of life begins again in all its glory. Demeter is reunited with Persephone and to show her joy she decorates the world with vibrant color. The Orthodox Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ, the most significant and lavish of all Greek religious celebrations. Listen to the inspiring sound of church bells and voices of young and old rejoicing in the resurrection of Christ on Holy Saturday. After the long Lenten period, after strict dietary discipline and pious behavior comes the feast and what a feast it is, for the palette as well as the eyes and the ears. Taste the first brilliant morning of Spring, perfect for an outdoor breakfast of fresh squeezed orange juice, warm stone oven baked bread and homemade spring fruit jam accompanied by a richly aromatic cup of just brewed Greek coffee. Time stops so enjoy the moment!

The best of what Greece has to offer. Radiant sunshine and cool, crystal clear azure sea. The juiciest and sweetest watermelon you've ever tasted, and it never tastes better than it does after a mid-afternoon siesta. A warm evening spent under the stars and the full moon in August, which is rumored to have mysterious powers, while enjoying a live outdoor concert or a visit to one of the countless saint's day festivals all over Greece. This is the time to relax and enjoy life for everything that it brings and everything that it simply is. Hot summer days with cool intervals in the cleanest waters of the Mediterranean. Light lunches of sun drenched tomatoes, feta cheese, olives and that irresistible no matter how hard you try to resist, loaf of fragrant bread. Relaxing siestas in dimmed rooms, between crisp white, olive soap scented sheets. Breezy evenings, alive with animated conversations, song, dance and sparkling wine.

Still some warm days (Indian Summers as we say in America) which are ideal for discovering Greece on foot by taking "the path less traveled by" and the first cool evenings, perfect for wine and tsipouro tasting, or rather symposium, at one of the many vineyards or distilleries. Soon the wine will warm and loosen the soul and begin to "draw forth discoveries" as Montaigne said. The cycle of cultivating the land begins with the sowing of the seeds initiating the first bounty of the season, wheat. The first flour which is produced from the wheat becomes bread and is distributed to friends and family. The first piece is thrown into the water well in order to ensure that the wheat never runs out. Perhaps the most beautiful of all regions to be in this season is Pelion with its stunning mountain vistas and charming fishing villages. Enjoy the rich natural bounty of this fertile province. The many varieties of trees and plant life put on a show of their most brilliant colors. The harvest of apples and chestnuts is a celebrated event on the mountain and is one of the most beautiful and memorable times of the year. Try a handful of fresh roasted chestnuts or help yourself to a crisp juicy apple straight from the tree to help fuel your morning hike across a stone paved mountain path. Lunch at a warm tavern next to a wood burning fire and indulge yourself in a well deserved plate of Spentzofai, a colorful and deliciously spicy stew made from sausage and thin strips of green peppers in a robust tomato base perfectly accompanied by a glass of "kokinelli", a locally produced red wine.