“Work hard relax hard”
One month in the Polish Mountains after the lockdown. Followed by one month in Greece around the islands. 3 months initially of the lockdown in London. Whatever I wished to do I have done and continue doing. Waiting for my friend Heather and her little dog Minnie Monkey arriving at Athens tonight 1am from London. She had some problems with her flight through Zurich, which she couldn’t take because of the covid19 restrictions for Americans. She had to spend all night at the Heathrow’s airport to sort out the other flight and pay extra. The whole trip to Greece from London costed her £700. I’ve paid only for a single one from Poland Katowice £25. The whole Covid situation is crazy. When I arrived to Athens one day before my friend’s arrival I had some time to wonder around Acropolis during the night in a company of someone of Serbian origins who spent last 30 years of his life in Norway as a landscape Engeener. He creates a beautiful public spaces to make people happier.
It was nice to talk to him and then I retired in my hostel.
The next day I wondered around Athens in extreme heat and had some dinner (kebab with yogurt and tomato sauce) at the local Greek restaurant opposite to the Syntagma square where most of the busses stop. It looks like a main meeting point. I’ve met the restaurant’s owner who took me on the top roof terrace of Athens to have some freshly squeezed orange juice and look at the beautiful Acropolis. It was such a stunning place and fresh if one can say so with 35 Celsius degrees of heat. We went to watch a beautiful sunset in Kifisia.
I came back to my hostel to take my only handbag amd check out. I have been offered in the middle of the night the lift on the scooter by the hostel’s staff member to take me to the bus stop at Syntagma. It was so nice of him. We arrived just in time to catch the bus directly to the airport. I was so pleased to be able to arrive at the airport at 1am. Just in time to welcome my friend who was traveling from London through Frankfurt to Athens.
After her 2 sleepless nights and boarding on the other plane she hired the car and we went to the friendly pet hotel in the Athens. It turned out that the hotel was pets unfriendly and we were refused to check in at 4am. Likely we went to the next hotel, hided Minnie Monkey and had some sleep.
The following day we were trying to find the vets and we scratched our beautiful BMW by driving it through the narrow streets of Athens. It turned out that it wasn’t a right vets clinic. We needed to go by car to the one 40 min away from the centre. Finally we found the right clinic and Minnie Monkey has got vacations for some Greek dizzies. We were ready to go for our Greek adventure.
31 July 2020
We drove for a couple of hours to the Euboea (Evia) Island to settle for a couple of days at:
Porto Evia Boutique Hotel
Amarinthos marina Evia Island, Eretria 340 06, Greece
+30 2229 036000
https://goo.gl/maps/1MLN1XhjD7U4DQyh6
The hotel was very narrow but all the rooms were facing the sea.
The weather was stunning and very hot up to 40 celsius degrees.
We went to the restaurant to have some sea food meal made of grilled octopus. I was swimming in the sea while my friend Heather was ordering her food. Basically her table was on the beach so she could deep her feet in the cristal transparent water of the Mediterranean Sea.
When I returned from my joyful and refreshing swim after an half an hour the meal was ready by she didn’t enjoy the grilled octopus so I’ve eaten it instead.
The grilled octopus was very bitter in comperance to the boiled one. At least this was the explanation of the waitress who didn’t want to give her any refund or different dish, obviously before I ate it.
This is why she didn’t enjoy it.
We walked around the town - along the sea. There were many cafes and sea food restaurants. We swam and have some restful time.
The following day we went to another restaurant just near by the one we visited the day before and we had some babagabush (blanded grilled eggplant), extra garlic tzatziki, some local fresh grilled fish. The meal was not too bad. On the house we’ve been offered some fruit: the watermelon and yellow melon. This is a tradition in Greek restaurants so far to offer the clients at the end of the meal some fruit or yougurt.
We were invited by the hotel’s owner to join him and his friends on his private engine boat and go to a desert island not far away from the hotel Porto Evia.
When we reached this beautiful little island with a turquoise water and sandy Caribbean style beach we couldn’t anchor that because of the strong current.
Eventually we went back towards the Evia island we left before.
As we anchored in the sea and went for a swim on the return we couldn’t switch on the engine. We were stuck. Likely not too far from the shore. Eventually there were some friends of our boat’s owner who rescued us to the shore a little bit farther away than the hotel where we stayed. We’ve got picked up by some hotel’s workers in a very dirty and old car, not mentioning without the air conditioning and windows. We couldn’t complain as we wanted to be back.
After 3 days we were heading to Delphi. But somehow we had to stop by the BMW service because our air conditioner was not working. We were carrying with us our little Minnie monkey donkey dog and we were concerned about her. After a few attempts of finding some authorised BMW service we managed to find one and the mechanics were so kind to look after our car immediately. We waited for the diagnosis. Finally they fixed up the car by adding some special liquid and the air conditioner started working again.
We drove through these incredible mountains to reach the most beautiful place in the world - Mateora.
We stayed at this lovely and very good standard accommodation located next to the rocks.
San Giorgio Villa - Meteora's budget accommodations -
Kalabaka 422 00, Greece
+30 21 0578 9320
https://goo.gl/maps/dSdRMJj38KV8saPi6
At their peak in the sixteenth century there were 24 monasteries at Meteora in Greece. They were created to serve monks and nuns following the teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Much of the architecture of these buildings was Athonite in origin.
In the Byzantine times, monks had the inspiration to construct monasteries on top of these rocks so that they would be closer to god. The foundation of Meteora monasteries began around the 11th century. ... For many centuries, the monks used scaffolds for climbing the rocks and getting supplies.
We’ve managed to visit in 4 days a few monasteries. Each of them was spectacular.
We wanted to visit the Theopetra Cave but it was under the construction. We’ve still managed to go there by our car and watch the oldest human settlement in the history.
Museum Of Theopetra Cave
Θεόπετρα 422 00, Greece
+30 2432 072196
https://goo.gl/maps/BqGgWuFjux5s26xDA
Zakynthos 4th Aug 2020
We arrived at Zakynthos by the ferry Levante. It took us one hour from the mainland Killini Port. The cost of shipping the car was €37 and €9.5 each person’s ticket. We took an evening ferry at 9:30pm so we arrived at 10:30pm on the Zakynthos island. As we drove we passed by very tourist locations, it felt like being in Cancun (Mexico) or Florida. Many cafes and restaurants greeted us. We were hoping our apartment was going to be more remote. As we reached “Panorama in” with seafront view we still have an impression of being somewhere turistic. The apartment was specious, consists of two bedrooms with kitchen, a bathroom and a balcony (€70 per night).
When I walked up the colours of sunrise and a beautiful scenery of the blue turquoise sea were breath taking. We new we ended up in the best possible location we could find. The swimming was amazing, yet the water was quite choppy.
Panorama Inn Apartments
Agios Sostis 615, Zakinthos 290 92, Greece
+30 698 656 6157
https://goo.gl/maps/bLAo1CEQj9S6bTd38
While cooking breakfast the stove blowed up. After we announced about this little incident to our hosts, we’ve been told that apparently it has already happened in the past. The hosts were an elderly couple who were running their supermarket, apartments and quite nice sea view restaurant. It was impressive to see them running this place. It seemed very well organised and quite innovative. The accommodation could have been kept better and cleaner, not mentioning the dangerous repetitive stove explosions, dirty shits and floor. But what was really distinguishing this place from other was and incredible location by the sea. We wanted to expand our stay there for a couple of nights but our sea view room was taken. We moved away from this beautiful location and went back to where we came from Argassi.
We stayed still by the sea at :
Chryssi Akti
Main street of Argassi, Argassi Zakynthos 291 00, Greece
+30 2695 028679
https://goo.gl/maps/HQ5GqzKevkGY8LVY6
The view was nice and the accommodation was ok. (€70 breakfast included). We stayed in the area of lots of cafes and restaurants. We already turned the island around to see the famous shipwreck beach from the top.
Shipwreck Beach
ζακυνθος 290 91, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/nDv2C6Sg29GMVEXT8
It was a stunning view. We decided to go on the boat trip around the island. That was the only opportunity left as all the others were sold out. We ended up taking a pirate sailing boat with 300 people on board as opposed to taking a private speed boat and traveling by ourselves. At the end it was the cheapest and more convenient solution for us. After we had a speedy breakfast in our hotel which took us 5 minutes, we went to the pick up point to get the bus and go to the Zakinthos port. Of course we didn’t take the right ticket for the boat but eventually they let us in.
After Crossing Atlantic and living in the past on the private smaller boats, being on such a big ship with so many people was such an experience. When we stoped by the first Xigia beach, famous for terms and holistic treat for the skin, 300 people jumped in the water from our boat and another 300 from the other boat. I found my way to the other side of the boat so I could have some very short (20 min) swim.
Xigia Sulfur Beach
Elation 290 91, Greece
+30 2695 032043
https://goo.gl/maps/KD7BjBokhFRSQSEz9
I was the last one to board and my friend was the fist one to jump in.
We were set up to go to the next spot.
We passed by incredible Blue Caves which were amazing to watch.
Porthmos Zakinthou, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/QzdDkgsfL4q4NE2N9
The shipwreck beach was very beautiful but full of people. I went in the opposite direction to everyone else and ended up swimming in a cave in a turquoise water. I came back after half an hour swim. We continued our sailing around the island while watching the amazing caves.
Our last swimming stop was as the Keri Caves.
Keri cave
290 92, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/hfFQ71j5ged9RQEE8
Probably the best swim but quite short. I’ve managed to jump in and join my friend so at least this one time we could swim together. Someone else was watching Minnie Monkey on the boat.
On board we had some kebab (Minnie and I), and my friend some fries. My friend and I had some sweet treat - A Greek donut. After 4 swims in total in different locations around the island we were ready to get back home and have some ice-cream. The trip lasted from 9:30am until 18. It was worth to do it, even if we were on the ship with many people. It was the only way to go around the island and probable the best way.
My friend wanted so badly to go on the fish flying adventure so she took us on the 10min ride (20€ each). https://youtu.be/10CXeZVODf8
It was a fantastic experience. The sea was ruff, the staff warned us that we need to be careful as this is an extreme discipline. We decided to do it anyway. And yes it was quite challenging. We needed to hold onto the handlers quite strongly in order to be in the flying fish. Sometimes we would be lifted above the surface of the water and flying. This was the best feeling ever!
We stayed on the Keri Beach in this beautiful apartment:
Dakis Studios (50€)
Keri 290 92, Greece
+30 2695 048750
https://goo.gl/maps/X4RaF9bgR8CyapLf9
We had a beautiful sea and mountains view, and we were a walking distance from the beach (5min). I did my morning 1,5 h yoga practice on our terrace followed by a nice swim in the sea (1 h), then homemade breakfast by myself as my friend was having a breakfast at the restaurant. It was a perfect spot to relax and also to go on the private boat trip around the Keri caves and turtle island.
It was a great experience, my friend hired for us a boat for 3 and half hours (€80) and we went to swim in various caves. We’ve been warned not to anchor in a deep water as we might get stuck and it would be impossible for us to pick up the anchor. Of course after the first stop we’ve got stuck. The water was around 10m deep and we couldn’t liberate our anchor.
While I was swimming, my friend made a friendship with a couple of Duch men. They were very keen to help us but after a few free dives they didn’t manage to free the anchor. I also gave it a go but because of my previous head injury I could not do anymore free diving as my ears and head feel as they were going to explode. I’ve managed to dive all the way down over 10 m and tried to free the anchor but I needed more extra time to be able to take it out of the rocks. This didn’t happen as I ended up with the ears and headache. My friend approached the captain in the passing near boat and asked him for help. Beside his doctor’s advice against free diving because of his heart condition, he dove down and after a couple of attempts he freed out our anchor. He was our hero! We were set up for our next adventure. Of course our anchor got stuck again but this time it was in a shallow 2m deep water and my friend managed to free it out .
We had a great 3 and half hours of sailing on the engine boat and swimming in the most spectacular places around Keri caves and Turtle island.
Unfortunately there were no more spare places left in this nice guest house and we had to move somewhere else. My friend had to do some work on zoom therefore she needed a WiFi connection and a new accommodation to stay.
We ended up in:
Villa Theodora (50€)
Keri 290 92, Greece
+30 2695 028932
https://goo.gl/maps/oEV2SWQmdf5Ze85S6
As soon as we arrived, the host asked us if we wanted to book through Booking.com or privately. If we were booking via booking.con app we would have to pay extra for a car park (€7.5) and for checking in earlier (€10). Alternatively we could save this money by paying €50 cash. Obviously there was only one option to choose from, the cheapest alternative. We found it really dodgy. My friend made a booking in booking.com without any extra cost (€50), yet on arrival she found out the the cost is much higher. Of course there was no other option to choose therefore she followed his advice and cancel the original booking on Booking.com and paid cash. She was rushing to get ready for her zoom presentation, she asked the host if we could check in and later pay but he was very particular about it and didn’t allow us to do so. He was a plastic surge working in England. He was a single father raising his daughter. At least it was our guess. This place was nice but there was no proper sea view as stated on the advert, it was close to the sea, only 5min walk. It was near by the same Keri Beach we stayed at earlier.
So the location was very good. Eventually the owner was a nice person, looking after his guests and running a very clean and good standard apartments.
I’ve spoken to one of his loyal - Italian guests and she was very positive about his place. She’s been his guests for ages.
We were set up for our last leg of journey to the biggest Ionian island - Kefalonia.
Agios Nikolaos
Elation, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/UM4GZk2WY9osgzBz7
After we bought the tickets for the ferry from Agios Nikolaos (we had already one for Killini which we lost)
Port Killini
Public Services Building, Killini 270 68, Greece
+30 2623 092339
https://goo.gl/maps/tiUsfarZD8JysXEk8
we went for the most extraordinary the Old Windmill area to swim in the Blue Caves
Porthmos Zakinthou, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/CjWZots6uyAyF6cA7
It was the late afternoon, we needed to go down quite a few steps to reach the beautiful turquoise water of Ionian Sea in Zakinthos. The swim was phenomenal with incredibly cristal transparent water with white rock bottom and very warm temperature. There were few tourists jumping from the trampoline down. Towards the evening the sea was becoming calmer and the colours even stronger.
We needed to make our way back to the harbour of Agios Nikolaos to catch the little ferry to Kefalonia-our last leg trip (€56: car+2pp/1:30h).
We arrived at Poros quite late. Checked in at the family’s hotel Oceanis around the 11pm.
Hotel Oceanis
Poros kefalonia, Poros 280 86, Greece
+30 2674 072581
https://goo.gl/maps/2KtEGosj4zoT2zsv9
The place was very beautiful with the sea view, big apartment and the best breakfast we had so far in Greece (€60 per night). It was run by a very welcoming Greek family.
I was practicing yoga every morning 7:30-9am , then swimming until 9:45 and meeting my friend in the breakfast area on the roof terrace with a beautiful sea view.
For breakfast I had my favourite ham and cheese omelette, orange juice, Greek yogurt with honey, peach and watermelon, some croissant with home made marmalade (apricot, orange, blueberry), other sweets followed by caramelised almonds and cappuccino.
The breakfast and the accommodation were perfect.
It was a three star hotel but the quality was of the 5 stars hotel. The staff members and guest were really pleasant and kind.
We were quite distanced from the most famous beaches such as: Myrtos, Antisamos, Skala, Lourdas, Petani, Xi, Makris Gialos ... It was approx 1:30 h of distance (one way) from our hotel in Poros to each destination.
On Myrtos Beach
https://goo.gl/maps/sa7GrPuDXE23kqNs5
I had such a great long distance swim, the water away from the shore was Cristal clear and I was away from the crowd. Closer to the shore I could smell the sun lotions people were wearing to protect from the sunburn. There were few floating bits and pieces from the ship wrecks I was bumping into while swimming. The sea was pretty ruff, the colours were beautiful.
On my return from the swim near the cave we were staying at this Myrtos Beach I saw my friend, who was distance water socialising with some Greek men. She was hungry, so they suggested a good quality local restaurant:
Vasso's Restaurant
Fiskardo 280 84, Greece
+30 2674 041276
https://goo.gl/maps/DpWwfbzcuJbG1RPR8
We ended up going there all together (8 people, 5 men and 3 women). They ordered for all of us a variety of different foods: such as cream feta cheese, taramasalad, Greek salad, fries, fried zucchini, fried calamari, linguini pasta with seafood. At the end we had some watermelon on the house which is topical courtesy gesture in Greek restaurants. The meal was extraordinary, very delicious, probably the best we have had in Greece so far (€37 each).
After we went for a walk around the Fiscardo’s yachts area, quite porch and upscale, our friends offered us a nice soft ice cream and the frozen yogurt. We were full, happy and ready to say goodbye and head back to our nice Oceanis Hotel.
We said goodbye and took our car. While we were leaving the car park we encountered our friends again. They reviled us that they lost their car keys. They were devastated and we felt so sorry for them.
We offered them a lift home (to their hotel 1:30h drive on a way back to ours), they were 4 big men but still we were hoping they could fit in our tiny Opel corsa. After we waited for them approx 1 h so they could continue their car key searching, they were determined to stay there until they sorted out the situation. We returned to our hotel.
Beside this misfortune with their car’s key loss, overall we had a great evening in a great company of Greeks from Athens, two of them were originally from Kefalonia - this beautiful island we were staying at. The next day they sent us a message that everything was sorted out, and instead of leaving the island most of they stayed longer, only one of them Dimitris have left.
Their car was taken away with a crane. This was the only way to have the new key cut sorted out. It looked like we passed on to them our bad luck we had with rental cars so far. At the end nothing bad happened and we all were safe.
We went to visit this beautiful:
Melissani Cave
Σάμη 280 80, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/f5BSJ4cRUS7Awne28
(€6 each /15 min boat ride)
The cave was impressive (opened to public in 1963), with a very cold fresh/sea 15 degrees, 15/39 depth water. Unfortunately we couldn’t jump and swim in it but it was nice to visit it on a little boat and watch all the stalactites and stalagmites.
We went back to the Fiscardo’s harbour to have some food, my friend was hungry. We went to a different restaurant:
Tassia Restaurant
Fiskardo, Kefalonia 280 84, Greece
+30 2674 041205
https://goo.gl/maps/jwZWkPNnGwrd7scr8
My friend ordered some feta cheese backed in honey, almonds and figs and some octopus cooked in red wine with dried tomatoes and capers. All was delicious, sophisticated and very salty.
We had our favourite ice cream in the harbour:
Dodoni
Fiskardo 280 84, Greece
+30 2674 041501
https://goo.gl/maps/kHaGhpY9KXyJjo5Z9
and we went to do some girly shopping. My friend wanted to buy a dress in Greece so she did. We found this beautiful, elegant black, long dress perfect to go out with (€150 discounted €90).
She was hesitating and eventually she took it.
We put on our GPS and we drove to:
Assos Beach
Asos 280 84, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/sEvP5BgtArGLbWRq7
Very picturesque harbour with a very pretty and busy 2 beaches. We visited it in the evening so the crowd was gone. The water was cristal clear but I needed to watch up the boats as it was a little harbour.
It was a very turístic area with a lot of Italians, which is a good sign as they always pick up the best spots. Quite pricey and upper-scale. It reminded me of Italian Pontile islands (south Italy). In fact many southern Italy (Naples) people were staying in Greece especially on Ionian islands.
When we were heading back home - to our Oceanis Hotel in Poros - we encountered on our way the huge fire in the mountains.
We had to find an alternative old and long way back home to avoid the fire. Every day there is some little adventure...;)
We’ve got one more week left before heading back home. At this point I wasn’t sure where was my home. Was it in London, in Poland or in Italy? I really don’t feel like coming back to London.
Two months ago I had to move out from the spacious place I was staying at. I really loved that place. After two month of being away in Poland and in Greece I don’t feel anymore like coming back to London.
We had still 7 days left of our amazing trip around Greece.
My friend wanted to go back to Zakinthos to the Old Windmill beach with blue caves. She didn’t like the fact that we were isolated from the most beautiful beaches in Kefalonia.
Anytime we went to visit some stunning beach it took as min 1 and half hour to go there and the same to return. There was much less choice of the hotels by the sea, nothing by the beach in Kefalonia.
She was missing the walking distance places from home to a beautiful beaches. The beaches were more accessible in Zakinthos than in Kefalonia.
Thought both islands were very beautiful but different. Kefalonia was much bigger and more developed in terms of infrastructure, it was also more expensive.
Zakinthos was more accessible to everyone with some mass tourism. Both were remote with stunning landscape.
Towards the end of our stay in Kefalonia, we went to this picturesque beach in a little harbour. It was nice because we went there quite late so it wasn’t really crowded.
We stayed in a little place by the rocks and swam in this beautiful Cristal clear water.
Agia Paraskevi Beach
Σάμη 280 80, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/qkNHgLu9WyBdW1e96
On the last day of our stay in Kefalonia we went to the Paralia Petani Beach
282 00, Greece
https://goo.gl/maps/dgsYhUGuY7x4dd2i9
It was one of the most stunning beaches in Kefalonia. It was tricky to park, other drivers were very anxious and we couldn’t really get through the traffic, but eventually we managed. We walked along the beach as we usually do all the way to the end so we can have some shade and little cave. My friend went first for a swim so I could stay with Minnie Monkey as we usually do and then it was my turn to swim.
I swam further up and I saw another couple of little beaches. The water was nice, a little bit mercky at the shore and much clearer further up. After 1 hour of swim we went to the good Italian restaurant by the sea.
Erasmias petani
Lixouri, 282 00, Greece
+30 2671 097372
https://goo.gl/maps/qnSYd4gBoSw1yjo48
My friend ordered some fried zucchini with tzatziki and sea food risotto, which she shared with me. It was very delicious. One of the best restaurants we’ve been to in Greece.
We were ready to take a car and drive to the Pessada harbour. As soon as we arrived we had some short time left for the swim before boarding on the Ferry to Zakinthos. The water was Crystal clear, similar to the blue caves in Zakinthos.
19-24 Aug 2020
We came back to Zakinthos for the last 5 days of our journey to enjoy the turquoise sea by the Old Windmill.
First time when we sailed around the island my friend spotted it out and she wanted to come back to the same location. So she booked:
Lithies Boutique Hotel
Korithi 290 90, Greece
+30 695 519 1850
https://goo.gl/maps/Bs8AW3PQc4KuEDdR6
Next to the caves: 20 min walking distance. We stayed in this amazing hotel owned by locals with a beautiful sea view with a large swimming pool near by Blue Caves.
I did my yoga practice every morning after a sunrise 7:30am by the pool (1:5h), followed by 45 min swim in the pool. Then a big breakfast: watermelon, eggs, cheese,.....
We were heading back to mainland. On the way to Athens we stoped for food at:
Ostria
Palea Ethniki Odos Patras Pyrgou, Patra 250 02, Greece
+30 261 067 1680
https://goo.gl/maps/e33PJbPRJwZdg9RXA
It is in a beautiful setting by the sea. As we arrived at 7:30pm the owner was swimming and he was about to open at 8pm. He made an exception to serve us before his opening time, which was really nice of him.
Our stay was getting to the end. We had such a great time in Greece during our monthly road trip across the main land and Ionian islands. Meeting amazing people, eating great food, visiting beautiful beaches and enjoying the Mediterranean climate.
We decided to return back to Greece anytime soon.
Greece is a must trip for everyone.
Thank you my dearest friend Heather for taking me on this amazing journey. We had an unforgettable time as always!
