Leaving Monemvasia behind, we drive toward the ferry to Elafonisos. For once, we catch the ferry in a single go—just drive on and set sail. The crystal-clear blue water and warm sun promise a fantastic experience ahead.

A Birthday Countdown on an Island

Jinte is counting down the days until her birthday, debating whether to celebrate it here or somewhere else. She’s never had a birthday on an island before, so the idea excites her.

Upon arrival, we park in a gravel lot just steps away from the beach. What a breathtaking spot! In the distance, we see campers parked even closer to the shore. Johan launches his drone, but it doesn’t have the range to reach them. Time to check it out in person.

We take a paved road that soon turns into a rough dirt path. Mirre scouts ahead and spots a few campers, including a rugged 4×4 and a regular motorhome. A Swedish couple has been staying here for two weeks—their 20th visit! They assure us that our large camper will handle the terrain just fine. So, off we go!

A bumpy ride follows, with Mirre guiding us through the rough patches. Zigzagging our way through, we finally arrive. What a spot! Absolutely perfect. The girls are overjoyed—sand!

Five Nights in Paradise

We end up staying for five nights—a record for us! Free camping for five consecutive nights is a new experience, complete with the joy of makeshift toilets. But even that becomes routine.

One day, we explore the island by bike, stopping at a charming little church. Unfortunately, it’s closed, but we continue our ride. Jinte finds it amusing that some Greek churches are as tiny as shoeboxes—perhaps built for mice?

Back at the camper, we bake cupcakes, testing our tiny oven. Surprisingly, it works like a charm! First, we make 12 pink cupcakes, followed by six blue and six purple ones the next day. Jinte decides to share them with the campers around us. With more people arriving, we literally have to keep baking.

Afternoons are spent at the beach, where the girls experiment with floating objects and learn about water temperatures. A natural science lesson in paradise!

Birthday Celebrations Begin

With everyone around us aware of Jinte’s birthday, we reminisce about her birth—five years ago, right after the first COVID press conference. That labor took forever!

After the girls go to bed, we decorate the camper. Jinte wakes up once during the night, but we quickly tuck her back in before she spots the decorations. In the morning, as Mirre pulls back the curtain, her beaming face says it all—priceless!

Gift time! A Gabby’s Dollhouse towel and a makeup set. She’s thrilled. Naturally, we all get makeovers. Diede gets her own nail polish, which she expertly opens—covering the entire bed in glitter. Festive indeed!

The celebrations continue with video calls all day. Some even include surprise gifts from the Netherlands, secretly stashed in the camper. Neighbors also join in, gifting chocolates, lollipops, shiny stones, and a tiara—such sweet gestures.

A Heart-Stopping Moment

As Jinte and Diede play in the dunes, Jinte follows Johan without Mirre noticing. When Diede asks for candy and gets a no, she announces she’s going back to Jinte. Thinking Jinte is nearby, Mirre doesn’t worry—until she realizes Diede is nowhere to be seen.

Panic. The neighbors immediately join the search. Jinte retraces their steps, leading Mirre to a hidden spot—where Diede is calmly sitting. “I was looking for Jinte but couldn’t find her,” she says. Relief washes over us—tears of fear turn into hugs of comfort.

Surprises and Farewells

In the afternoon, we find a playground the girls hadn’t noticed before—surprise! But the biggest surprise? A video from Jinte’s classmates singing happy birthday. She glows with happiness but casually reminds us, “It’s nice, but I don’t have to go back to school yet, right?”

Dinner is simple but special—sweet potatoes, chicken drumsticks, and green beans. We let the birthday girl stay up late. “Best. Day. Ever!” she declares before bed.

The next morning, it’s time to leave. Sand is shaken from our gear, everything is packed, and we navigate our way back over the bumpy road. Off to the ferry, heading back to the mainland.