I don't know if anybody was watching Yotam Ottolenghi on More4 - he has a cookery program visiting the Mediterranean Islands. Today was Crete. He went up to the mountains to eat Lamb with a local family and it reminded me of a time in Symi about 13 years ago. I and my then partner made friends with a lovely lady who looked after our room. Maria took us to meet her family and as it was Easter, invited us to the Easter celebration feast in the hills. It was wonderful; all packed on to the back of a truck sober on the way up - barbeque lamb and the local firewater to drink, music, dancing and very tipsy on the way down!
I think for me the most wonderful thing about Symi have been those unexpected moments when I am made to feel like a friend - not just a tourist.