My wife Irene, whose (English) family have lived in Greece on the island of Evia for almost as long as modern Greece has existed, had suggested various visits and connections as part of the rich mix of our many and various excursions.

She took us to the British School at Athens whose delightful compound in the heart of the central Kolonaki district is a walled haven. Her family archive there was opened up for us – two centuries of historic photographs, documents and letters.

We also visited the Mediterranean Garden Society headquarters at Spiroza, the Temple of Artemis at Vravrona, where the deep mellow voice of mezzo-soprano Ruby Philogene intoned spirituals as a high priestess of the goddess.

The other musical moments of the tour were varied and memorable – mellow jazz at Athens’ main vinyl record outlet - effortlessly hip; solo harpsichord at Spiroza with the professorial Iason Marmaras, inventive with Frescobaldi and Caccini; and three brilliant young Greek opera singers who gave us an hour of deeply affecting standards in the recital chamber of the Takis Foundation, high on a rocky hill overlooking the city: unlikely and memorable.