by Vasilis Vafidis Lavonte David Buccaneers Jersey , Anastasia Balezdrova, Liu Yongqiu

ATHENS, June 2 (Xinhua) -- White houses, blue shutters, wild flowers, local food and special sweets .. the tiny Aegean island of Donousa brings you hundreds of years back to the original Greek life thanks to its remote location and rough seas surrounding it.

Located about 200 km southeast of the Greek capital of Athens, Donousa is the northernmost and the most remote island among the small Cycladic islands, which also include Schinousa, Koufonisia, Keros and Iraklia.

According to the mythology, Winemaking god Dionysus offered Ariadni, the daughter of Minos king of Crete, a hiding place in Donousa so that Thesseus, the mythical founder-king of Athens, could not find her.

A settlement dating to the Geometric Period (circa 900 BC to 700 BC) as well as remains of Bronze Age dwellings reveal the historical importance of the island.

With an area of 13.75 square kilometres, it is the second largest among the small Cycladic islands. But while the others are well protected by the mountain ranges on the two large islands of Naxos and Amorgos, Donousa is exposed to strong winds. When the north wind blows, the sea runs high and even large ferries cannot reach the harbor.

But the harbor of Donousa provides quiet and calm waters. During the summer, it's a home not only to the usual boats and vessels of local fishermen, but also for the sailing yachts, inflatable boats and catamarans of tourists who spend their summer vacations in this part of the Aegean islands.

The landscape is typical traditional Cycladic: white houses, blue shutters and many colorful flowers on the windows and in the gardens. The rooms-to-let are also built in the same style to not break the harmony of the landscape.

Still there are no hotels on this island. The visitors and tourists can rent small studios that are equipped with small kitchenettes.

Apart from fish and other traditional Greek food, the restaurants in the island can serve local dishes such as kid (young goat) with potatoes, kid stuffed with rice and dry cottage cheese.

The local sweets are xerotigana (fried dough with honey, sesame seeds and chopped nuts) and pastelli (honey, sesame seeds and spices), which the hosts serve on aromatic lemon tree leaves.

If you are brave enough, try the traditional aperitif rakomelo (brandy brewed with honey) -- be ready to get drunk as the honey prevents you from feeling the high alcohol degree.

Despite surrounded by rough sea, Donousa is blessed with several peaceful beaches where visitors can enjoy the sun and dive into the emerald waters of the Aegean Sea.

On the seabed in Kedros beach lay the remains of a German warship sunk by Allied troops in World War II. The only surviving part is the keel of the ship, around which a real marine world has been created.

Walking through the narrow streets of the villages or hiking along the traditional paths are very safe since the island has very few cars to bother you.

Life on the island runs at its own pace, which is an attraction itself for visitors.

"The permanent inhabitants of our island are 110 people. The last three years we have a great increase of the number of tourists. In August we can accept approximately 1,200 visitors. Most of the locals work in the tourist sector. The other main activities are fishing, farming and livestock raising," Dimitris Prasinos, mayor of Donousa, told Xinhua.

Prasinos said the development of the island, particularly tourism, attracts young men and women back to Donousa.

"20 young men and women who left for Athens for studies and work returned to Donousa last year, among them are plumbers, electricians .. One is a baker at the bakery founded by his father many years ago. Some of them opened new restaurants, while the others run rooms-to-let," he added.

One of them is Anna Koveou, who has a restaurant close to the port with a beautiful view to the endless blue horizon.

"I was born here and lived until I finished the high school. After that I went to Athens for studies, stayed there for nine years and then returned. I've been living here for five years," Koveou said.

For tourists Donousa is among the difficult islands to reach, but Koveou said this is not the case for the locals.

"I was grown up here and don't feel that the island is very isolated as it seems to those who live in Athens or in other big city. I chose to live here because I love Donousa and could not afford the rhythm of the life in Athens. I want to support my island and do everything that I can to promote it," said Koveou.

Ilias Prasinos, who is running a restaurant at the Kedros beach near the war ship wreckage, shares the same feeling with Koveou.

"My family's origin is Donousa and I returned every year for my summer vacation. Some years later we opened a restaurant, so I started coming to the island for 4-5 months every year. This year I decided to come back and live permanently in Donousa," Prasinos told Xinhua.

These young people enjoy the calm and quiet island.

"In summer we are working in our restaurant at the beach. In the winter life is calm. We are dealing a little bit with agriculture, a little bit with livestock raising. And it's completely enough for us," Prasinos added.

Their return has already had good impact on the demographics of the island: five new residents have been born here since the beginning of this year. In some years they'll be the students of the island school where only six children are studying today.

As a peaceful home to interesting plants and birds, the island is also a small paradise for those who love to explore the nature.

Among the nature highlights in Donoussa are sea caves. Visitors can explore by boat "Spilia Tichou" (meaning cave of the wall) with its beautiful stalactite formations, located northwest, and "Fokospilia" (mea