Buckle up; we need to write a novel. But boil down the prose that’s to come and the message is simple: Anapama is rare, a delight, and all that are welcomed there are very fortunate. You should go.
For those of us from the flat lands, we might think that just getting there is a challenge since yes, the access roads are rough and yes, the drive down is steep. But just remember that the journey has been made successfully and without incident thousands of times, trust in those who will welcome you, and all will be well.
Your first welcoming committee is likely to be the dogs, who were very diligent in greeting us as we stepped from the car each time and would escort us back up the drive to the cabin. (They quickly became our firm friends.) This is a space that’s both private and very connected to the rest of the property - you can sit on the porch of your home-from-home and hear the sounds from the pool or watch the cats playing in the garden, but still feel you’re in your haven. You can see the care that’s gone into making the little house, from the fine wood that makes the structure to the amazing artwork that decorates the interior.
Vivien and Olga could not have been warmer, more welcoming, or more helpful, and effortlessly walked the line between being present and letting guests relax in their own space. Part of their genius—at least during our stay—was to make us feel part of a family (a family of travellers?), and nowhere more so than at breakfast. And oh, those breakfasts - varied, unfussy, very generous, and utterly deliciously Sicilian, which when combined with delightful fellow guests (you know who you are) and the wisdom of our hosts produced memorable starts to each day. A rare alchemy to conjure a fleeting but special community.
We could go on (even more), but time to stop. Anapama is the beguiling creation of deeply beautiful people, and we can’t recommend it enough. As we thanked Olga one morning for the fabulous breakfast she said it was “made with love”. You can tell.
Dan & John