Greek islands where we can commune with Nature and locals

Hi, I'm from Canada. My 18-year old daughter and I will be visiting Greece this summer from July 24 to Aug 17. I'm a yoga teacher and she loves to surf (the waves, not the Web! ). We both love architecture, history and playing in the ocean. We're both NOT into drinking and hanging around party animals. We're more into Nature and getting to know locals and other fellow travellers who are mainly interested in immersing themselves in the local culture. And we're vegetarian...

We'd like to visit Athens for 2-3 days then tour a few islands, then settle in a pension or small inn in a 'typical' town for at least one week. Would you please recommend some islands, towns and villages, must-experience places, even pensions or B&Bs to us?

Thanks!

Vegetarians going to Greece? The country that is known all over Europe for serving meat, meat and nothing but meat along with a single alibi salad leaf? I've been to plenty of Greek restaurants, but I cannot ever remember seeing any Vegetarian options on the menues. I also run into a Greek-American girl in Turkey, she said she was a staunch vegetarian but her Greek relatives "got her" and she stopped. She said when she told her aunt that she was vegetarian her aunt stared at her for 10 seconds, then decided: "I'll make lamb, you'll like it."

So I guess you'll be forced to self-cater. That essentially means an island big enough to have a farmer's market or a supermarket along with a holiday appartment with a kitchen. Since there are so many islands in Greece look for one that is good for surfing.

Dear fgirard,

Greece is also for vegeterians I understood your way of life so I suggest going to Ikaria island. There is more "undiscovered" Greece. Local people are wonderful natural beauty is great (beaches even forests and lakes on the mountain). Find yourself more info on the web.

Then another island meeting your criteria is Thassos (northern Greece) or Samothraki (also north). There you can find everything for natural contact; In Samothraki there is also waterfalls where you can swim among an amazing environment into the forest.

Those are the places, I believe someone could really relax during vacation.

Do not hesitate to contact me for any further info on those island, how you can get there, boat, planes, prices, etc

hope c u here,

Christos

Athens Greece

Just a quick note: Ikaria is very good for surfing as well
(not windsurfing though, in case you're interested in that)

you can check it out at:
http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Europe/Greece/Greek_Islands/ikaria_-_armenistis/index.html

oh, and by the way, wrt to being vegetarian, "I'll make you lamb, you'll like it" is from the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"