We arrived at the tail end of the season (On the last day of our stay the shops/restaurants in Plakias were preparing to close for the winter) so our trip was exactly the calm respite we were hoping for. Markella's mother Zoe was a warm and solicitous hostess who made us feel truly welcome, unlike so many airbnbs these days where you never actually see a friendly face. She had baked a delicious cake for us, which was waiting on the table next to some homemade Raki, and her friendliness and enthusiasm served as an accurate introduction to life on southern Crete. We had lots of fun snorkeling and swimming at the small protected beach in front of the house, and although construction season was beginning on the developments nearby, the noise was only sporadic. Our favorite part was of course the veranda and surrounding gardens. In the evening when we returned after hiking or swimming we could smell the perfume of the jasmine flowers. The pomegranates had just ripened and tasted delicious. Zoe even taught us the right way to cut them open (I had previously just hacked away at the fruit.) Everything about the house and its grounds has clearly been carefully tended and planned for maximum relaxation and enjoyment and we certainly took advantage of that, eating our meals on the terrace and in general lying around in the sun and enjoying the sound of the sea. The kitchen had everything we needed, although we brought our own small espresso machine because we don't like to drink filter coffee. (That said, it must be commented on that coffee culture in the area we visited was outstanding: even the most miserable little café served up incredible tasting espressos.) The only thing the kitchen could possibly have benefited from was a small dishwasher, as a good amount of time was spent washing dishes - however I don't believe this is a standard amenity, just something I have become accustomed to since living in Germany. Certainly it was worth it for the pleasure of cooking and eating our meals at the house, even though there was no shortage of fine restaurants within a five minute drive. All in all our stay impressed me enough for me to want to return soon, which is saying a lot since I almost never visit the same place twice on vacation (there is so much out there to discover!) Before we left, Zoe gave us a little gift of homemade quince jam, honey, and raki, and we have been enjoying these treats as the Northern European Autumn has set upon us, with very fond memories of our brilliantly sunny week at Foteinari Beach.