The Topos Retreat team did a wonderful job of making us all feel that the village of Vasa was our home for the duration of the writing retreat. Beautiful local accommodations were arranged for us. We enjoyed breakfasts and suppers thoughtfully prepared by Manolis and his assistants, and more traditional Cypriot lunches at a number of the village tavernas, which allowed us to give back to the local economy. Morning workshops were held on the veranda of the main house, which was breezy with a lovely view of the village. The optional afternoon excursions led by Nicoletta provided the opportunity to become more deeply acquainted with local history, architecture and agriculture, as well as immerse ourselves in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea at Aphrodite’s birthplace – all of which gave us a deeper sense of the place in which we were writing. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the other participants, and have returned home feeling rejuvenated and ready to get back to my novel. I would highly recommend participating in a Topos retreat, and am so glad I signed up this year!