Visiting the Greek castle town of Monemvasia makes for a fun and relaxing getaway. Located on the southern coast of the Peloponnese, the castle is well worth the visit and will transport you back in time. How to Get There As of the writing of this blog post, the only way to get to Monemvasia is by car or bus. You can drive directly from Athens to Monvemvasia in about four hours. Another option is to turn the drive into a multi-day road trip with one or several stops along the way: Athens – Spetses – Nafplion – Sparti –…
Peloponnese
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Continue ReadingLike most, our 2020 summer vacation plans were cancelled. We had a fun trip lined up to visit the town of Monemvasia and hopefully that adventure will be in the cards for 2021. In the meantime, I’ve been reminiscing about last summer’s Greece getaway to The Romanos Resort at Costa Navarino. Located in the region of Messinia, the resort has two golf courses, a beach, spa, several restaurants, and my personal favorite – private infinity pools. Intended as a ten year anniversary celebration, our two night getaway was less about exploring the surrounding region (which has lots to offer) and…
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Continue ReadingHaving previously visited the northern Peloponnesian region of Nemea, we set our sites on the Mani Peninsula, to the south, for our annual summer getaway. The Caves of Diros A three hour drive from our home in the western Peloponnese, we reached the seaside town and capital of Mani, Gythio, by mid-day. With a few hours to spare before our room would be ready, we enjoyed a relaxing lunch in town and headed out for our first adventure, the caves of Diros, a scenic 45 minute drive away. A complex network of underground passages, the caves are filled with stunning stalagmites and stalactites. Long dinghy boats…
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Continue ReadingIf your idea of the perfect vacation includes a mix of picturesque views, historical sites, good food and wine, then you must visit the Greek town of Nafplio! Established during the Greek war of Independence in 1821, Nafplio was modern day Greece’s first capital until 1834. Less than a two hour drive from Athens, the town is a popular weekend destination for Athenians. It is also a thirty minute drive from Greece’s esteemed wine region of Nemea. Having heard so many Greek friends rave about Nafplio and wanting to tour the nearby wine region, we chose it as one of our…
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Continue ReadingA pleasant two hour drive from Athens, in the heartland of the Peloponnese, sits a small chapel. Situated on the highest point of Tselepos’ Mantinia vineyard, it pays homage to Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of winemakers. With depictions of biblical references to wine adorning the chapel’s interior, one is reminded of Greece’s devout christianity and that winemaking, as with all agricultural endeavors, is at the mercy of elements beyond our control. But even more so, the chapel is a reflection of Giannis Tselepos’ holistic approach to winemaking. Having studied oenolgy at the University of Dijon in Burgundy, he returned to…
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Continue ReadingNestled in the Peloponnesian mountainside village of Vastas one will find the small church of Saint Theodora. The road to get there is narrow and windy, testing nerves at every turn. As the GPS indicator inched closer to our destination, anticipation grew. Built in the twelfth century, this church is no ordinary site. With seventeen trees growing atop its roof without any visible root system, the church is considered a “living miracle”. As we made our final turn, I wondered. From parted seas to walking on water, many are the miraculous stories that shaped my upbringing. But they remain stories, accounts from…
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Continue ReadingUntil now, my only experience with fishing involved a single line baited with clams and a catch barely bigger than goldfish (read last year’s story here). Although my husband and his uncle sometimes head out at night troll fishing for larger fish, the thought of being out at sea in the dark is somewhat terrifying, ultimately leading me to pass on these nocturnal outings. That was until this year when they decided to go long-line fishing which involves dropping baited lines at night and retrieving them early the next morning. Although I skipped the evening part of the process, I was…
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Continue ReadingOur time in Greece is filled with rest and relaxation as well as exploring foods produced in the region, such as artisanal olive oil, florina peppers, and mountain tea. There is a long list of locally produced foods that are difficult, if not impossible, to find in the United States. This year, I set out to learn more about Greek wines. While Greece has established its reputation as one of the world’s leading olive oil producers, it isn’t well known for its wines. Last summer I tasted a Greek rosé and found it to be one of the most enjoyable rosés…
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Continue ReadingIf you think the French are the only ones who enjoy snails, think again. Greeks are just as keen on eating the little mollusks. While there are snail farms in Greece, you can forage for them in the wild. There is a field not far from our house with little snails, about the size of a dime. Last summer was the first time I ate them after my uncle-in-law showed up with a plate full. This year, I decided to try my hand at foraging and cooking them myself. And so, armed with a little plastic bag, I set out…
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Continue ReadingWhile most of our meals are home cooked, every summer, we make a point of enjoying several dinners at our favorite family owned seaside restaurant, En Plw, pronounced “En Plo”. During the day, Mr. Dakouras, a fisherman, takes his boat out to sea, while his wife, Kiria Tulla and their son, run the kitchen and service. As with many villages in Greece, our little seaport town of Katakolo offers an abundance of fresh seafood to enjoy at local establishments. In addition to the freshness of the food, it is a treat to enjoy dinner looking out at the sea and the…