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Kea is much more fertile than many of its neighbours so it comes as no surprise that food is good, centred around the fresh local produce. Many  dishes are based on the abundant pork meat such as lotza (cured thinly sliced pork), tsigara (pork with fat), homemade sausages, (especially good are the smoked ones), and above all, paspalas made from pork, eggs and tomato, which is eaten at any time of day or night (GR Reporter recipe at http://www.grreporter.info/en/paspalas_pork_tomato_and_eggs/13676).

These dishes are especially good when accompanied by a glass of the local dry red wine, 'Mavroudi'. For those with a sweet tooth there is the excellent local honey, which also features in the 'pasteli' - sesame seed bars, or the wonderful Tziotika Kaltsounia, an icing sugar-dusted crescent-shaped pastry filled with  dried fruits and the ubiquitous almonds.  Or, why not try something a little different - biscuits made with the most unusual of the local specialities - acorns!

The island boasts the only oak forest of the Cycladic islands - present since medieval times. Its acorns have a particularly large cup, which was used in former times for making  dye. Today the acorn is being ''re-exploited'' in Kea - you can volunteer to go acorn-picking in October and stay on a farm! Acorns are removed from the trees by bashing with sticks - then ground into flour for use in the biscuits.The local acorn festival also takes place around this time.

Aside from the acorn festival, Autumn night-life is low-key, centred mainly around a few tavernas and bars with their warm, rather than 'electric' atmosphere.

Nevertheless, people will greet you wherever you are, politely, helpfully and without any curiosity - as if you are just one of the locals going about your daily life. And it is not just the people who are friendly - along your way you will surely meet some stray sheep or goats (even inside the towns) a couple of lone cows or even donkeys... 

All in all, Kea is a truly 'Greek', Greek island, unspoilt by the ravages of time or tourism, open and welcoming  as the perfect destination for an Autumn weekend get-away - a weekend which will surely leave you wanting to return again, perhaps in the summer to sample also Kea's beaches and its varied artistic events and festivals such as those of wine, honey and... fairy tales! See you there!