Yiamas, Birmingham

The village of Plaka sits above the water with the whitewashed houses, blue sea and mountains arranged in the background like scenery from a Greek island advert. It is Crete as you imagine it; here are tavernas with views that would be considered architectural features anywhere else, fishing boats bobbing below and enough bougainvillea to suggest that nature has been allowed to become slightly self-indulgent. It is beautiful in the uncomplicated way that some places are beautiful: stone, sea, sun and very little that needs explaining. At its core is Epico; coffee by day, aperitivo by night, casual little restaurant by both. We went there every day we stayed in Domes of Elounda, partially to offer some space between us and Sophie’s parents, mostly because it was a fraction of the price of the hotel. Whilst the chic Vilebrequin la Plage beach club on the hotels private beach charged a chunky 30 euro for a chicken gyros and 20 euro per negroni, Epico’s was half the price for twice the…