The island, Kasos

Since Kassian Clay's name is a tribute to Kasos, it is only suiting to tell you a bit about this hidden gem where I spent all summer holidays since I was born. If you had hours to spare, I would go on and on about my personal memories on the island - but I realize time is precious - so here are three reasons why you should pay Kasos a visit! 

  • Authenticity. If you love the real Greece, then start planning your next summer holiday. Kasos currently has less than a thousand inhabitants, but it has a large diaspora that returns every summer to reconnect with family and lifelong friends. The island is located at the Southernmost corner of the Dodecanese, making it quite difficult to reach by boat or plane. Because of this secludedness, Kasos has yet to see the same modernization happening as elsewhere in Greece. You kind of feel like stepping into a time machine and pressing a fifty-year rewind button. So, what will you find when you arrive on Kasos? An authentic Greek island - where life still remains untouched by the hustle and bustle of modern life. Local fishermen might sell you todays' catch off their boats, the baker will offer you fresh and traditional delicacies, and if you get really lucky, you might run into a 'Kassioti' ('Kassiotina' for women) who offers you some penne with 'sitaka'. This traditional Kassian cheese is made from sheep's or goat's milk, served with a variety of local pasta and sprinkled with caramelized onions on top. To sum it up, Kasos is the polar opposite of the all-inclusive holiday. 

  • Nature. The island is rough, unforgiving and dry, which makes it all the more unique. When you catch your first glimpse of Kasos, you see a (somewhat) big rock poking up from the sea, sprinkled with five tiny villages. Here, the forces of nature are at play. My advice after many years? Leave your curlers and straighteners at home, because there is no way to save your hairdo on a hot, humid August night! Now, does this sound a bit negative? On the contrary. Because of its' rawness, Kasos really forces you to reconnect with mother earth. You simply go with whatever the Gods throw down. Strong winds that prevent the boats from docking? A humidity level of ninety percent? A beautiful, warm day with clear blue skies? We'll take it all. Because on Kasos, you are reminded that we are all simply observers to the impressive spectacle called nature. 

  • Peace of mind. By now, you probably have a sense of how small and remote Kasos actually is. If you're looking for complete, and I mean complete peace of mind, you found your happy place! Because the island is so secluded, it becomes mentally and physically difficult to stay in touch with the 'outside world'. Kasos is the perfect place to detach from it all. Suddenly, problems from your life at home seem a bit less important, a bit less insurmountable. Because in a place where you can't plan further ahead than dinner, you realize that there is no need to anticipate every single moment awaiting us. You realize that whatever happened in the past led you to this happy place. And you realize that maybe we just have to live our lives day by day - giving us true peace of mind.