We’ve been wanting to visit the Greek port town of Gerolimenas in the Mani peninsula since driving through the area in 2019 on our way back from Gytheio. Located on the southern tip of the Peloponnese, Mani is notable for its stone architecture. The region is arid and its warm rocky terrain makes for gorgeous views with crystal clear waters. For our trip, we booked a three night stay at Ktima Kyrimai, a waterfront property built in the 1870s. The historic hotel’s service is as immaculate as its setting. While we could have ventured off to explore the area, we…
Travel
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Continue ReadingZakynthos island is located off the western coast of the Peloponnese. The large island is particularly popular with British tourists and easily accessible by plane and ferry. Where to Stay There are many options to choose from when trying to decide where to stay and if you’re not familiar with the island the plethora of choice can be overwhelming. From the port or airport, you’ll want to head north towards Tsilivi Beach and Agios Nikolaos or south towards Kalamaki and Keri. Choosing where to stay will depend on whether you’re looking for sweeping views and tranquility, a resort style setup,…
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Continue ReadingVisiting 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 –…
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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 ReadingGreece’s islands are world renowned for their beauty. Santorini, in particular, has built a substantial reputation with its whitewashed cliffside villages and stunning sunsets. But there are a whole host of other islands where one can spend an idyllic vacation. A majority of the Greek islands are located in the Aegean sea on the eastern side of the country. However, our trips are focused on those islands in the Ionian, which is located on the western side and closer to my in-law’s home. This past summer, our chosen escape was to the island of Kefalonia, where we spent three days…
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Continue ReadingHaving lived in Boston for over a decade, we make a point of returning to the historic city every other year. During these visits, most of our time is spent in the suburbs. However, this year we chose to end the trip with a day in the city, sharing its beauty and history with our two young boys. With only a day to explore, we had to pick and choose from all that the city has to offer. Thankfully, knowing that we’ll be back helped temper our fear of missing out. Following is how we chose to spend the day.…
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Continue ReadingNew York — the big apple, the great American melting pot, the city that never sleeps. Spending three days in a place as large and diverse as New York City can feel overwhelming. How do you choose where to eat, what to do? In an effort to tackle this conundrum for our recent weekend stay, we chose to limit our activities to a small area of Manhattan — Midtown, the Theater District, and Central Park (map). This meant postponing our visits to Roberta’s Pizza in Brooklyn, the Comedy Cellar in the Village, or the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan. The…
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Continue ReadingBeyond its pleasant aromas and soothing qualities, a glass of wine holds a special power, the ability to convey a specific place and time, most commonly referred to as terroir, the combination of climate, weather, and soil that give a wine its specific characteristics. It is this terroir that the hundred and fifty year old winery, Domaine Mercouri, has captured as the premier producer of geographically protected Letrini wines. Founded in 1864, it is also one of Greece’s oldest wineries, now operated by 4th and 5th generation members of the Mercouri family. The Winery’s Early Years The winery’s story begins…