It was six years ago, when our lovely cousins Stathis and Evaggelia invited me and my wife in a daily excursion in Marmari, because Stathis wanded to show as an area that, as he constantly used to say, impressed him. After a pleasant 50-minuet travel with the local boat from Rafina we arrived in Marmari, a small picturesque fish village, that only with the view of this small port with the fishing boats and the small coastal shops brings in the mind nostalgic pictures of forgotten seasons.

We followed the provincial road that leads to Karysto and after almost 3 km we turned in “Sfiridoupoli’s” destination. We droved about 500m more and we reached our destination.

What I saw was engraved from then indelibily in my memory. In a virgin region in the place “Lykorema” we were found in sides with wild low vegetation, bushes of an Aegeansea island, schoina and wild olives that are resisted in the north air that goes down from “cavo doro” which finishes in the rocks of the sea.

In front of me the blue of N. Eubean was unfolded, opposite the eastern coasts of Attica, right the cluster of S. Petalioi and left in the depth the vastness of Aegean. I felt my squeeze and without a second thought it came in my brain the verses of Elyti: “God how much blue do You spend in order we can’t see you”. I am sure that a proportional picture would constitute his source of inspiration.

It was what we call “love with the first glance”. I said that this place, with the rough barren landscape, the view of the immense light blue, the small creek with the crystal waters (bantering I say to my sons that from above I can see even the octopuses that hide in the rocks) and the combinations that colors make because of the [fikiades] that are created in shallow, is my own paradise.

We immediately advanced the process and acquired the coastal plot right next from our cousins’.

The house that we build is simple, utilitarian and absolutely included to the natural landscape, drawn in order to appear and develop functional the enchanting view of the region. My dream is to become a place of peacefulness, calm, relaxation and enjoyment of all these that nature offers to us generously but we can’t enjoy in the inhuman big city.

It is really an escape, something that I wait with joy (“anxiolytic” as characteristically I say), when the Weekend I take the boat and come in my “paradise”. I usually sit in a certain point of plot, from where I love to gaze the sea and leave my thought to travel. All the seasons, either in the winter when in the road to Lykorema on my left I can see the snowed ridge of “Ochis”, or in spring with the full of green nature, either in the fall with the intoxicating smell of wetted ground, or in the middle of the summer with the hot helium to burn the Stone and play with the sea but also with the all weathers, as well, the no often, is truth, smoothed sea or foggy Eubean “who” white tries to resist in the fury of north, “my paradise” speaks to my soul. It smooths me, it calms my soul, it brings me near the God and it makes all the significances and the problems of everyday routine appear small, curious, distant and foreigner.

I share the same thoughts with Stathis, that I will owe him till the end of my life gratitude for his gift to show me this place, which is so close and at the same time so far from the ugliness of the noisy big city.

Stathis, a friendly, cordial, open heart, with soul of a child, sensitivities, love for the nature and her beauties, also admirable of the sea, was inspired by this place and having knowledge and faculties devoted to its built-up promotion and develop.

I think that Stathi’s life decision to elect this place and his beauties creating tasteful, harmoniously tied up with the environment and included in this residences, is primarily work of love for the fellowman. Only thus I can explain his conscious choice and the indefatigable effort that many years now overwhelms in order to make known in the world and share this place with the beauties, the secrets and the enjoyments that it can offer. But not with anyone but with those, who really search for them and can feel them.

Tasos Passas & Elli Andrianaki, Lowyers