#verina has plants

[uncreative-cryptid]

the adhd is adhd-ing BUT i had a thought as while i wasn't entirely sold on spectro until like, jinhsi, tbh, i may make my resonator a spectro character as i had a fucking BRILLIANT idea (i've been thinking about rocks lately i love shiny rocks)

[jinhsiimain]

Character Impressions

My first impressions + later opinions on the characters

The Goddess she's so freaking pretty!! I actually squealed when I saw her, she's jaw dropping gorgeous. Pls come back miss and don't pull an unknown genshin god on me ☹

Rover - more had hopes for a short haired girl mc but she had to join the rat tail gang :/ amnesia is definitely kind of a boring plot device but I'll roll with it.

Yangyang love her voice, reminds me of Qiqi, cute design - don't really know what role she's playing in the story yet other than like our guide but if she's just that I wouldn't mind having a calm one. she acted a little sus about baizhi and us I guess?? and her role??

I love her connection to the wind via her aero affinity (?) and would love to find more about it as well! She's part of the Midnight rangers.

Chixia she's cute too, her design bugs me a bit cuz of the hair and the weird jacket I guess? she's definitely kind of paimon (sorry for the references but like yeah) food and stuff but she seems to take her job as a ranger(?) seriously!!

Baizhi miss elegant + mysterious. Definitely like her calm aura as well, she's from the academy which I'm really interested in. she knows something and I wanna be in on it too.

Jinhsi ♡ girl appeared out of nowhere and stole my heart, asked me out on a date and vanished for 3 days I'm super interested, miss magistrate looks majestic as fuck. (the reason I like her design so much might me cuz she reminds me a little of firefly)

Sanhua another majestic woman I'm in paradise. her eye thing is so fucking cool I want to know more about her as well. She's suspicious too, obviously, but that's just adding to the suspense. if big plot device why 4 star ☹ (could say the same about the rest of the cast so far ����)

Jinhsi sent her to watch over us.

Mortefi bro has a funky name. at first I was like nahhh but he's kind and I wanna know what his deal is as well.

Jianxin Girl also appeared out of nowhere. the reason I knew her name is cuz i looked at the gacha beforehand. She looks super cool, love her ying/yang/monk theme. massive xianyun/shenhe vibes I think?

She's super kind and I want her to be more involved in the plot.

Scar Okay Scar seems to be the bad guy. He's a little insane and knows too much about our backstory?? And he's got long ass nails. I want to trust him with the lore dumps but he seems really dangerous. His Elysium ability is super cool.

Spiderlily themed girl Scar's companion of same (?) power level. Love her design and voice, hope to meet her again soon.

Jiyan The current general of the midnight rangers, he fought with us at the Norfall Barrens. At first I didn't really like his design but now I think it's neat. He is kind and looks out for us.

Encore ♡ A member of the Black Shores. If sweetness was a person, it would be encore. She is adorable and silly, I love her so much. Her design is adorable and I can't wait to see her again! She's so energetic and loud in the best way and her dynamic with Aalto makes me smile.

Calcharo ~ It appears we haven't met yet

Aalto A member of the Black Shores. This guy I swear to god. At first I thought he would be another Sampo to me because I could not see myself liking him at all, but he is genuinely such a sweet guy??? Like I said, the dynamic with Encore is everything to me and might be my favourite duo so far even. His design is also really cool and he's got such a pretty face, I adore his eyes.

Danjin ~ It appears we haven't met yet

Lingyang ~ It appears we haven't met yet

Taoqi A security overseer? I don't remember her title, sorry- Her design, like almost everyone is really pretty although her jiggle physics are somewhat concerning. We haven't seen much of her yet which is sad but I hope we see more in future updates. Her voice is gentle and I love her vibe although she doesn't stand out to me much (yet).

Verina A botanist. She loves plants and is friends with that one granny and seems to know Encore as well. She is a free spirit and eager to help. Her design might be one of my favorites yet - her dress with the hood, the twintails, flowers and legwarmers are just perfect.

Yinlin ~ It appears we haven't met yet

Yuanwu I don't have much to say about him other than that he's goofy and we've barely seen him ;-;

Camellya ♡ MISS ???? GIRL? ??? I am afraid I will like her more than Jinhsi - She's so ahhh HER DESIGN IS EVERYTHING LIKE SHE'S ADORABLE BUT ACTS SO IDK OKAY I love her already. GIVE ME MORE ♡

[hobbysognodilibri]

There we go, finally some Jiahui voice lines!

Thanks again @unrealistic-ideas-for-writers for pushing me to write for her!

--

Self introduction: name's Jiahui, researcher at the Huaxu Academy and collaborator of the Pioneer Association. If you find any ruins or something worth exploring just give me a call and I'll be more than happy to check it out for you!

.

Ideals: as researchers we should not get stuck on research for research's sake. As interesting as it can be, we're ultimately working for people's safety, and our efforts should reflect that goal.

.

Hobbies: a nice walk in the wild is all I need to recharge after a stressful day... And if I come along some ruins to explore all the better!

.

Troubles: despite the technological level of this prosthetic, it still takes a toll to walk on it all day, especially if I'm exploring... I try to be mindful and take breaks when needed, but I can get a bit in my head when I'm excited and forget until it's too late and it actually starts hurting

.

About Baizhi: though our respective fields of research wouldn't normally bring us to collaborate, we've worked together quite a few times. She's precise, clean and efficient, and she's one of the very few at the Academy that doesn't shy away at the idea of some field work, really the perfect research partner!

.

About Xiangli Yao: our common interest on the Court of Savantae has brought us to work together quite often, even outside of the lab. Though people sometimes ostracize him as being a special genius or something, he's actually really easy to get along!

.

About Mortefi: Mortefi? Oh yes, he's actually the one who projected my latest prosthetic! Quite an impressive work, don't you think? I actually just asked him to check my old one, and see if he could alter the suspension... Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the Academy the next day to find a shiny new prosthetic waiting for me!

.

About Verina: I often run into Verina during my expeditions. She's helped me a few times too, her forte was really interesting to research, it even resonated with some samples of ancient plants we found in a ruin a while ago! I kinda felt bad about making her work, so I made sure to bring her out for lunch that day!

.

About Zhezhi: I only met her a few years ago, when I commissioned her a painting to gift my parents on their anniversary. I brought her some pictures I took of important places they travelled to, and she managed to make a true masterpiece! Ever since, she's asked me for pictures for references quite a few times... She's always so shy about it, no matter how many times I tell her it's no problem since I take the pictures anyway!

.

Favorite food: living in Taouyuan my parents and I would always spend the evening together on the Moon Chase Festival, and one of my favorite memories of it are the plumpcakes! Aah we'd eat so many of them I couldn't stand the thought of one until the next year...

.

Least favorite food: I'm not really a picky eater... But I remember my mom giving me some fish and angelica soup when I was sick as a kid and... let's say I haven't tried it since

--

Aaaand that's it for now, I couldn't think of anything else on the spot

If you wanna know anything else about her please ask ahead I love rambling about my OCs

[thefoxtherapist]

Lol lol imagine Aalto paying Calcharo to babysit Encore because he has to go to a mission that's dangerous even for her.

So now Calcharo has to look after encore, I also imagine encore would refuse to go without Verina so now Calcharo has to look after two very energetic kids. He tells Aalto he refuses to do this again but let's be honest he probably enjoyed playing single dad no matter how tiring it was <3

I was going to write something for this but my brain blanked really hard so I'll just squeal

this is SOOO cute!!

Calcharo with the kids vs Aalto with the kids :sob: <3

Cal is equally alarmed as Verina when Encore eats poisonous plants but then he's ALSO eating the poisonous plant to see if its a chili kind of situation or not.

Aalto is surprised to come back to base to see Verina and Encore bundled up fast asleep while Calcharo is cleaning the dishes from dinner, in an apron no less.

[chaoticworldwriting]

Religion:

Temple of the 10 Divines

Over 80% of the total population are members of this religion. It is unknown when this religion was created but many assume that if its lore isn’t true that it is based on true historical events. It is the oldest religion dating back to early human settlements. Though not all the gods are worshiped in every country or within every branch all are still recognized across the board.

Mythology & Lore:

There are 10 worshiped gods These gods are

Demetra- god of Death and life- they are said to be the oldest entity in existence and are responsible for the creation of the world and humankind. they are the wides and most prominently worshiped god

Stello- god of the sun, fire, and creation- he is married to Lokni and has two daughters Vevila and Amora. he is said to be the keeper of creation and is responsible for the creation of land. he is most prominently but not exclusive worshiped in the fire islands

Lokni- god of the sky- he is married to stello and has two daughters Vevila and Amora. he is said to control the wind and weather, he is responsible for the creation of birds. He is mort prominently worshiped in Samar

Leviathan- god of the sea- he is the ruler of the sea. He is said to control sea storms and is known to sink ships when he is not given the proper offerings, or when the sailors are not respectful to his waters or the life in them. He is responsible for the creation of sea life. Most prominently worshiped along the coastlines

Vevila- goddess of balance and marriage- she is the daughter of Stello and Lokni and married to Ameryllis. She is responsible for moving the sun and moon across the sky and the change between night and day. Worshiped throughout

Amora- goddess of life and forbidden love- she is the daughter of Stello and Lokni. She is the lover of Demetra. She was responsible for the creation of humans and is known for her love for them. Worshiped throughout

Ameryllis- god of the earth and nature- he is married to Vevila. He is responsible for plant and animal life. Mainly Worshiped in farming communities

Bethalla- goddess of war and knowledge- she was created by Stello to be an assistant to Demetra. She is the keeper of Demetra’s library. And is responsible for creating the first war. Mainly worshiped in Bethlan. The primary goddess in Bethlan the others are seen as second to her.

Kaiokow- goddess of healing and power- she is a shape-shifting god who was carved out of emerald and brought to life by Lokni. She has a strong healing ability and was the created and ruled over the first empire. Worshiped in Kaio

Verina- goddess of winter, storms, and revenge- she was born a human girl but was sacrificed by her village to Leviathan for their safe passage across the sea. Leviathan took her and granted her immortality. She is responsible for winter storms.

Sects:

Though each region technically has its own version and practices, the 2 most diverse would be in Kaio and Lanora. both of these countries are theologies so their government is heavily based on their belief system.  In Kaio their primary goddess is Kaiokow. In Mythology there was a great plague in what is now Kaio the dragon Kaiokow lived in the mountains of this region and in desperation the people that were affected by this page begged Kaiokow to use her healing ability to save the lives of their sick and put an end to the plate. Kaiokow agreed on the condition that she would be placed as their leader and worshiped by the people. she would become the first empress and she built the first divined country. the Royal family is said to be descendants of empress Kaiokow. Due to this history, Kaiokow is still heavily worshiped in Kaio.  in Lanora the primary goddess is Varina. in mythology she was sacrificed to the god of the sea Leviathan in return for her people's safe passage across the waters. Leviathan took pity upon the girl and granted her immortality. after her resurrection, she froze over the land in which her people seemed to find as well as the waters around it as an act of revenge. to grant her mercy and forgiveness the people began to worship her and give her offerings, this practice is still followed in the modern day.

[phgq]

CSC explains Ease of Doing Business Act to gov’t workers

#PHinfo: CSC explains Ease of Doing Business Act to gov’t workers

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Sept. 26 (PIA) -- Public servants in the province are one with the nation’s government  bureaucracy  in celebrating 119th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service this September with various activities.

The Civil Service Field Office – Mountain Province (CSCFO-MP) launched the month-long celebration   on September 2 during the first Monday flag raising ceremony hosted by the CSCFO-MP, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) and the Army Reserve Command.

Director Anita Verina T. Paredes presented the 12 salient features of the implementing guidelines of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery or the EODB EGSD Act of 2018 which was already approved in April 15 and is already effective.   The EODB EGSD Act aims to establish efficient service delivery, prevent graft and corruption, reduce red tape, and expedite business and non-business transactions in government. It also provides for rules, tools and mechanisms designed to improve frontline service efficiency and ensure customer satisfaction.

The salient features include the coverage of the EODB EGSD Act which applies to all government offices and agencies including local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other government instrumentalities, whether located in the Philippines or abroad, that provide services covering business and non-business related transactions as defined in this Act.   Other key components include the Citizen’s Charter wherein posted information should have a comprehensive and uniform checklist of requirements, Zero Contact Transactions, 3-7-20 Day Processing Time, Grant of Automatic Extension, Anti-Red Tape Authority, Anti-Red Tape Unit in the CSC, Report Card Survey, Administrative Jurisdiction and Penalties, Violations and Persons Liable, and Implementing Rules and Regulations.

MPSPC President  Dr. Rexton F. Chakas  also briefly explained the meaning of the CSC anniversary theme of “Civil Service @119: Upholding Integrity and Building a High-Trust Society.”

A high trust society, he said, is one when the behavior of the population towards each other is predictable – meaning  people  follow broadly understood norms of behavior supported by rule of law.

During the launching, Provincial Administrator Amador P. Batay-an led the   civil servants in the province in reaffirming and renewing their commitment as public servants.

Government employees  in Mountain  Province reaffirm and renew their commitment as public servants during the launching of the 119th Philippine Civil Service anniversary  in the capital town of Bontoc. 

Other lined up activities included a tree planting the Supang-Data provincial road in the municipality of Sabangan and trekking for a cause on September 20 spearheaded by the Provincial Council of Personnel Officers. Proceeds of the activity would be given as financial assistance to patients undergoing dialysis at the Bontoc General Hospital. . (JBS-PIA CAR, Mt. Province)

        BONTOC, Mountain Province, Sept. 12 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Field Office – Mountain Province (CSCFO-MP) launched the month-long celebration of the 119thAnniversary of the Philippine Civil Service in the province which was conducted on September 2, 2019 during the first Monday flag raising ceremony hosted by the CSCFO-MP, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) and the Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM)   Director Anita Verina T. Paredes presented the 12 salient features of the implementing guidelines of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery or the EODB EGSD Act of 2018 which she said was already approved in April 15 and is already effective.   The salient features include the coverage of the EODB EGSD Act  which applies to all government offices and agencies including local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other government instrumentalities, whether located in the Philippines or abroad that provide services covering business and non-business related transactions as defined in this Act.   The EODB EGSD Act aims to establish efficient service delivery, prevent graft and corruption, reduce red tape, and expedite business and non-business transactions in government. The Act also provides for rules, tools and mechanisms designed to improve frontline service efficiency and ensure customer satisfaction   Other salient features include the Citizen’s Charter  wherein posted information should have a comprehensive and uniform checklist of requirements; Zero Contact Transactions; 3-7-20 Day Processing Time; Grant of Automatic Extension; Anti-Red Tape Authority; Anti-Red Tape Unit in the CSC; Report Card Survey; Administrative Jurisdiction and Penalties; Violations and Persons Liable; and Implementing Rules and Regulations.   Paredes also shared briefly regarding the Maternity Act of 2018 particularly on the maternity leave which increased to 105 for delivery and 60 days for miscarriage , and also the sharing of 7 out of the 105 days of maternity leave to the fathers thus extending the latter’s paid paternity leave to 14 days.   Dr. Rexton F. Chakas, MPSPC President shared a beautiful message focused on the theme of this year’s Philippine Civil Service Anniversary which is “Civil Service @119: Upholding Integrity and Building a High-Trust Society.”   Chakas said a high trust society is one when the behavior of the population towards each other is predictable – meaning we, as a people follow broadly understood norms of behavior supported by a rule of law. This also means that if we have unity of mind among the purpose of our laws, we normally act towards the purpose of the law because we are sure of the majesty of the law, we are sure that the penalties of disobedience against the law will surely be meted out. For low trust society, the behavior of the population towards each other is divergent and cloudy, the behavior  is unpredictable and this society experiences high levels of corruption and inequality. Chakas also said that integrity which means honesty, reliability and truthfulness is an important ingredient in the evolution of our society into a high-trust one.   He also discussed Stephen Covey’s outlines on the difference between a high-trust and a low-trust place or low-trust and a high-trust culture in his book First Things First, which he situated it in the work place.   On supervision, according to Covey, in a low trust culture, supervision is always associated with control and check up (why is the recording of comings in and goings out of office be that meticulous? Why is it that despite the filling up of DTRs are physical presence is still monitored? Because we are in a low-trust culture). In a high-trust culture, people supervise themselves according to an agreement. The criteria are clear and the consequences are set. The manager or the administrator becomes a facilitator, a coach and a counselor.   As far as evaluation is concern, in a low-trust culture, the people are into external performance evaluation and judgment. Why?, because they are seen as one who lack integrity and will evaluate their performance higher than what they have really accomplished. The voluminous reports that they have to make and to submit are actually symbolic of the low-trust and confidence in our culture. In a high-trust culture, people judge themselves and management does not require reports upon reports which are being required of the people every now and then.   As far as span of control is concern, in a low-trust culture, the span of control is small so that you are given more time and more energy to check on your people. But in high-trust culture, you do not have to cover and check your people. You are not trying to control but trying to release people. You are give more people under you because the agency believes the personnel can be trusted as regards the attainment of goals.   In moderation, in a low-trust culture, you have the carrot and the stick strategy of moderation. There has to be a stick because you are dishonest and cannot be trusted. In a high-trusted culture, people are internally moderated, they are fueled from within, they are fueled by passion, they are not fueled by penalties.   As far as structure and systems are concern, in a low-trusted culture, it is characterized by bureaucracy, excessive rules and regulations, restrictive and close systems. The level of initiatives is low because they are taught in our low-trust culture only to wait for what they have to do. In high-trusted culture, structures and systems are align to create empowerment that is to liberate people’s energy and creativity.   “Evolving a high-trust society cannot be done overnight. I doubt if it can be attained in 20 years. But let us be encouraged to keep building a high-trust society rather than a low trust one. Let us build a high trust culture in our organization because it is intrinsically right and better for the whole Philippine bureaucracy,” Chakas said.

A high trust society will save time spend for controlling, monitoring and checking up. It will also save on gadgets and devices. Just imagine how much the Philippine Government could save if there were no more CCTVs, and high end gadgets to check our attendance. It will also save on efforts and energies that we have to extend in order to solve interpersonal problems, Chakas added.   Chakas ended his message with the following  questions that government employees may discuss in their respective offices. “How about our quest for Regional Autonomy? How is it related to our theme? Does it uphold integrity? Does it help in evolving a high trust society?”   During the launching, the civil servants in the province reaffirmed and renewed their commitment as public servants which was led by Provincial Administrator Atty. Amador P. Batay-an.   Aside from the launching, the Provincial Council of Personnel Officers (PCPOs) and members in partnership with the CSCFO-MP will be conducting a tree planting and trekking for a cause on September 20. Government workers are invited to participate in this activity   According to Mr. Victorino Dines of the Provincial Human Resource and Management Office, each participant will pay a minimum registration fee of P50.00. Those who will not join the activity are also encouraged to pay the minimum amount. Proceeds of the activity will be given as financial assistance to patients undergoing dialysis at the Bontoc General Hospital.    Dines said the tree planting will be conducted along the Supang-Data provincial road in the municipality of Sabangan. After the tree planting, participants will trek going to the blue soil/blue mountain of Sagada and Bontoc.(JBS-PIA CAR, Mt. Province)

***

References:

* Philippine Information Agency. "CSC explains Ease of Doing Business Act to gov’t workers." Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1027795 (accessed September 26, 2019 at 01:13PM UTC+08).

* Philippine Infornation Agency. "CSC explains Ease of Doing Business Act to gov’t workers." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1027795 (archived).

[tripstations]

10 of the best family-friendly hotels and villas in Greece | Travel

Sifnos, Cyclades

It’s rare to find a hotel that appeals to children of all ages. Verina Suites does so brilliantly, and has plenty of perks for adults too. Staff in white deliver homemade lemonade to the squishy day beds that line the turquoise pool. Kids can mess around on giant inflatables or play table tennis, while their parents wind down with outdoor yoga sessions or summery cocktails. Suites in sandy hues are set among fragrant gardens, with terraces where you can doze to the sound of the waves. Shallow Platis Gialos beach is across the road, with pedal boats, paddleboards and a lively strip of tables-in-the-sand tavernas and beach bars to choose from. • Doubles from €110 B&B in low season (fully booked in 2019 school summer holidays), kids up to 16 stay free in their parents’ room Getting there Five hours by ferry or three hours by catamaran from Athens

Lesvos, North Aegean

Every soothingly simple villa at Little Bird on the north coast of Lesvos has full-blown sea views. There are shady gardens, flagstone terraces for backgammon sessions as the sun sets behind the Byzantine castle of Molyvos and an infinity pool (and children’s pool) from which you might spot monk seals or flamingos. Skip down to Avlaki beach for a dip before breakfast at the Bird Café. Kids will love the fruit smoothie and home-made bougatsa (custard pie). Parents can while away the afternoon sampling the island’s most famous products: sardines, olive oil and ouzo. • From €90 a night (from €150 in high season) for a one-bedroom villa (sleeps three); €120 (€185 high season) for a two-bedroom villa (sleeps five), not including breakfast Getting there Thomas Cook charter flights from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham. From Athens, daily flights (50 minutes) with Aegean or Olympic airlines, or it’s 11 hours by ferry. Little Bird is 60km from the airport; car hire recommended

Arcadia, Peloponnese

The nine-suite Villa Vager guesthouse, owned by Nicholas and Marina Vager, is homely yet stately. Marina, an interior designer, created the handsome alpine vibe, softened with lace curtains and wildflower bouquets. She also makes the tastiest pies, cakes and pizzas, (served beside a roaring fire in winter) after a day hiking the Menalon trail or river rafting. Most rooms have stirring views of rolling plains and fir-clad mountains. It’s a great base for active families with older kids; Nicholas’s adrenaline-fuelled quad-biking tours will have teenagers raving. If you want to drag the kids around some ruins, it’s an easy day trip to Mycenae and Olympia. • From €120 a night for a room sleeping three (from €170 in high season), including breakfast Getting there An hour from Kalamata airport or a two-hour drive from Athens

Elounda Bay, Crete

This spot on the island’s north-east coast is a byword for super-luxe holidays. The laidback Elounda Island Villas, blissfully isolated on a tiny, sandy cove, are refreshingly unpretentious and affordable. The open-plan, solar-powered houses are the epitome of understated Greek island style: slate floors, built-in beds dressed in pure white, locally made pine furniture, and canvas chairs on verandas overlooking Spinalonga bay. Breakfast is served in an open-air snack bar, where you can while away the afternoon while the kids (who must be six and over) build sandcastles on the beach. Take older kids kayaking or snorkelling around the sunken ruins of Olous or rent a motorboat to explore Spinalonga island. The houses are self-catering, but there are seaside tavernas within strolling distance. • From €130 a night (from €150 in high season) for a two-bedroom maisonette for four to five Getting there Heraklion airport (an hour’s drive), is served by several flights a day from the UK (in season only) and Athens. The ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion takes five to eight hours

Evia

The 10,000-acre Candili Estate on the underrated (and Greece’s second largest) island of Evia, north-east of Athens, is part English country pile, part Greek history lesson. It’s been in the Noel-Baker family since Edward Noel, a relative of Lord Byron, bought the estate in 1832. Somehow, it has survived – a slightly threadbare but charming throwback, all sagging bookshelves, creaky wooden floors and hand-woven bedspreads. It’s the perfect setting for big family gatherings. The granary has been converted into 10 bedrooms overlooking a pool glittering in a glade. Also in the bucolic grounds is an icy plunge pool fed by a mountain spring, a ping-pong table, trampoline, and croquet lawn. Philip Noel-Baker, the puckish lord of the manor, encourages kids to pile into (and onto) his vintage Land Rover for off-road adventures. At dinner, everyone gathers around communal tables to swap stories over Stavroula’s wonderful Greek cooking. The whole place can also be rented as one, for up to 25 people. • Family weeks from €65 per adult, €40 per child (under 13) per night half-board and including snacks and drinks. Children under four stay free Getting there Two hours’ drive from Athens

Zagori, Epirus

Want to let your kids run amok in the wilderness? Zagori is just the ticket. This mainland region of soaring peaks, craggy gorges and rippling streams is gradually getting the attention it deserves thanks to lovely lodges like Astra Inn. Open year round, it’s in Megalo Papingo, one of 50-odd villages camouflaged in the hills. There are six wood and stone cottages and the cosy restaurant serves Greek comfort food (river trout, nettle pie, stuffed courgette blossoms) using ingredients reared, grown, or sourced locally by Kostas and Spyros Tsoumanis, brothers who will take you truffle or mushroom hunting in season. Tweens and teens can go wild swimming in rock pools, canyoning, rafting or hit the hills on ebikes. • From €100-€120 a night all summer, €15 per child, including breakfast Getting there Daily flights (45 minutes) from Athens to Ioannina, then one hour by car to Megalo Papigo

Laconia, Peloponnese

Surrounded by more than a thousand olive trees, Eumelia, a biodynamic farm, is sustainably minded and beautifully designed. The five guest cottages have dusky pink and ochre walls painted with natural pigments, beamed ceilings and geothermal heating. Activities change with the seasons: grape pressing, olive harvesting or cooking lessons using organic produce from the farm. Kids can help the owners, Frangiskos and Marilena, to feed the animals, plant vegetables and forage for the herbs that find their way into the wild asparagus omelette, lavender biscuits and fig and prickly-pear preserve served for breakfast. There are free mountain bikes if you want to explore Laconia’s towering mountains or serene coastline. • €160 a night for a family of four (kids under 12), including breakfast Getting there The closest airport is Kalamata (1¾ hours). It’s a 3½-hour drive from Athens

Chania, Crete

Ammos is the gift that keeps on giving for frazzled parents of babies and toddlers. Every year, the owner, Nikos Tsepetis, adds more designer – or as they put it “museum grade” – chairs (yes, every year they add a few new ones) and contemporary art to the all-white sunny living/dining room, more kid-friendly treats to the extravagant breakfast spread, more toys to the playroom and heated pool. After upgrading the rooms, this year he’s redesigned the lobby in undulating white marble. The jackpot: four hours of free childcare from Monday to Friday, leaving parents free to loll on the sandy beach below or have a massage. • From €125 a night in low season and €190 in high season (10% of the room rate for kids from two to 15; 5% for under-twos). Breakfast is €11 for adults and €7 for children aged two to 10 Getting there British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Norwegian operate direct flights to Chania (four hours); flights from Athens (55 minutes) with Aegean and Olympic airlines and Sky Express. Ammos is a 30-minute drive from Chania

Kardamyli, Peloponnese

Wedged between the Taygetos mountains and the Gulf of Messinia, the little seaside town of Kardamyli is where Patrick Leigh Fermor hung up his walking boots and laid down roots. Giorgos and Maria (who also run Fermor’s favourite taverna, Lela’s) have created the Notos Hotel, a cluster of stone apartments and studios tumbling down the hillside above the town. Open all year, the plain but spotless houses make a handy base for exploring the medieval castles, limestone gorges and shingle coves of the outer Mani. You’ll need to make (or pre-order, for an extra charge) your own breakfast and there’s no full-time staff on site. But Giorgos and Maria will point you in the direction of all the best local secrets. • From €100 a night (from €160 high season) for an apartment sleeping four, not including breakfast Getting there Thomas Cook, easyJet, BA and Aegean fly to Kalamata, an hour’s drive away. Car hire recommended

Syros, Cyclades

For Nick and Elspeth Geronimos, the Good Life is all about the humble pleasures that drew tourists to Greece before package holidays and fancy resorts. They have restored a smattering of 200-year-old cottages on Syros, an island with a lively year-round population and cultural scene. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, the self-catering houses are off-grid but brim with thoughtful features for families: washing machines, barbecues, filtered drinking water, baby equipment and kids’ bikes. You can help yourself to eggs, vegetables and fruit from the garden. It’s a five-minute stroll to peaceful Voulgari beach – ideal for toddlers. Older children can learn to sail or go pony riding. • From €90 a night for a villa that sleeps 4 (from €210 in high season), not including breakfast Getting there Ferries depart from Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina to Syros (3 to 3½ hours); daily flights from Athens (35 minutes)

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