Greece is renowned for its mythology; the Gods, her ancient history and philosophers. But fairytales? Not so much. Hidden in the depths of Monastiraki – the famous tourist area of Athens – lies a little fairy tale in the guise of a themed cafe. Here I take a look at Little KooK, the most Instagrammable themed cafe in Athens, Greece.
Little KooK Themed Cafe – Athens
What initially draws you to this themed cafe is the decoration, depending on the theme. When I visited, there was a huge dragon on the roof as well as life-sized playing cards adorning the front.
Where is Little KooK Themed cafe – Athens?
Located in a side street just off the Psirri district of Monastiraki (between Monastiraki and Thission metro stations), just at the bottom of the ‘Street of Lights.’ Even if you get lost wandering around, you can’t help but notice it.
Little KooK Themed Cafe in Athens has to be THE most Instagrammable cafe in the city.
From the minute you step into this haven, you are surrounded by Jack and the Beanstalk, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and A Christmas Tale, to name but a few. Even the staff dress as characters from our beloved books from our childhood (alas, I wasn’t allowed to actually take a picture of any staff).
They tend to change themes and recently (summer 2019), Little KooK Mary Poppins was a popular among children and adults alike.
The menu is provided on a scroll (in Greek which is odd for its position – right in the heart of touristy Athens-but the staff speak great English and are more than happy to translate). The day I went in, I sat upstairs by the Cinderella fireplace, but had a choice of rooms. There appeared to be what I can only describe as a Christmas Carol room, but Cinderella suited me just fine.
With the scroll menu – in the Cinderella room at Little Kook Themed CafeDifferent themed rooms to eat in Little Kook Themed Cafe
Little KooK is predominantly a coffee and cake shop, but do offer savoury crepes. The day I was there, I chose a salmon and Philadelphia crepe, then strawberry meringue. Yum!
Salmon crepe, Strawberry Meringue and choice of cakes at Little KooK themed cafe
Why is it called Little KooK themed cafe?
Why Little KooK? I asked the waitress.
We joke that our cook lives on the premises, and like Cinderella, he has to sleep in the kitchen. When we come in to set up, all the cakes have been eaten, by our little cook
The English teacher in me briefly wondered whether the name should, in fact, be ‘Little Cook’ but I didn’t want to spoil the concept. And besides, as you’ll no doubt agree, the concept is, indeed, a good one.
Atmosphere
Piped classical music, not too loud to be intrusive on conversation and just loud enough to create a cultured atmosphere. And it’s great for kids (of all ages). If you’re anything like me though, a lot of the time you may want to eat away from young children (sorry – but at times I just need peace and quiet). But Little KooK attracts a lot of adults into its wake. The day I went (mid-morning on a weekday), there was not a child in sight (all in school I presume). It’s popular with the Greek crowd, so expect both tourists who are more than a little intrigued, and locals who meet over the famous Greek frappe in a fun environment.
And it’s smoke free! Yes, they’ve managed to implement and keep the no-smoking rule here (those of you who know Greece and/or are frequent visitors will know how hard this is to impose!)
Little Kook themed cafe is, in essence, a place where fairytales come alive.
Have you been to a themed cafe on your travels or, better still, have you been to Little Kook Athens? It’s open every day from 10am to midnight. If you can avoid it on a Sunday in general, it’s best because it’s busy all day – but Saturday in the daytime before 3pm is usually a good time – and during the week is good (when the kids are at school).
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Little KooK Themed Cafe – Athens.Little KooK is a Themed cafe in Athens, Greece. It’s quite possibly the most Instagrammable cafe in the city!
Having penned a post about recommended anti-theft travel items and included in this information the Hynes Eagle 40L backpack review, having received the product to trial – and having had plenty of opportunities to do so on both land and air, I am happy to write my Hynes Eagle 40L backpack review.
**I received this product for a fair and honest review, which I shall give**
As a regular traveller and very frequent flyer, I really was on the lookout for a cabin bag I could comfortably take all my clothes in and my laptop yet be small enough to ‘squash’ (without creasing) into the overhead compartment, without being frowned at by a member of cabin crew, or a member of Groundstaff at the last minute taking it away from me. Not too much to ask for?
Hynes Eagle 40L Laptop Backpack – great carry-on to avoid airline baggage fees
When I saw the adverts for Hynes Eagle and checked out their range, I was immediately impressed by their website and range, and – I have to admit – by the colours of their bags.
Realising I couldn’t expect to place my clothes inside without getting somewhat squashed, I knew I’d also have to invest in some packing cubes – very worthwhile, let me tell you.
Hynes Eagle 40L Backpack Review – on land
I’m used to using wheelie bags at all times for my clothes, and then taking a separate laptop backpack for my electricals and laptop. This was becoming cumbersome as it meant having two lots of luggage.
Imagine my delight when the Hynes Eagle 40L backpack also fits my 13” Macbook.
Hynes Eagle 40L Backpack fits my 13″ Macbook air too
The best bit about the Hynes Eagle 40L Backpack: I could stick it either in the pouch in front of the bag – especially designed with electrical items and bits and bobs such as pens, etc in mind.
I could also roll up and store my chords, adaptor plugs and USB sticks in the special portable electronic accessories organiser (which slotted in nicely on top of the case)
OR
I could slip the laptop in the back of the case, where the straps are usually tucked away. This added a layer of security for me, knowing my laptop was pressed really close to my back.
The backpack also has a small strap you can secure around your waist/bust area…which for me takes that pressure off the shoulders when walking around with it.
All in all, whether taking the coach, metro or ferry to a Greek island, it’s a great product to have. Be sure to scroll through the Instagram images below of my Hynes Eagle 40L Backpack in action.
As explained, the most important aspect for me when I travel is to be able to take cabin baggage.
With airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair increasingly putting restrictions on hand baggage – and with a lot of U.S. carriers too, I really needed a backpack that I could fit my clothes comfortably into – either with packing cubes or not, fit my electrical items and have it comfortably slot into the overhead compartment.
Hynes Eagle 40L Backpack fits nicely in RyanAir overhead compartment
Well, as you can see, my Hynes Eagle 40L backpack does exactly that. This was taken on my Ryanair flight from Athens to Rhodes where I packed lightly for five days for my Luxury Hotels in Rhodes Old Town stay.
What was so nice about it was that I was able to fit a mixture of thin clothing for daytime, but it can get chilly and rainy in Greece during the autumn, so there was plenty of room to pack thicker clothes too.
Overall Opinion of the Hynes Eagle 40L Backpack
I’ve even used my Hynes Eagle 40L Backpack on an international trip, but only a short trip, not a four week stay.
I’d say I’m happy to use it whenever I go for weekend and week long trips, even using it as a laptop bag when I go out co-working with friends, or a small hike and packing food and water.
I would highly recommend Hynes Eagle as a brand. Their delivery from their HQ in the U.S. was fast, well packaged and I love their range of carry on bags, duffle bags, travel accessory bags and laptop bags in a choice of sizes and colours. I hope you enjoy your Hynes Eagle product(s) as much as I am.
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Hynes Eagle – The Best Carry-On Backpack to Avoid Paying Airline Baggage Fees
I write about hotels in this glorious country (Greece), I write about destinations, but one thing I do get asked a lot about is what to wear (for which I created my Greek Island All Round Packing Guide to help you out) and also my Recommended Anti-Theft Travel Items for those with travel security on their minds. But whilst Greece isn’t a strict country with regards to attire, one does have to extend a modicum of common sense in the clothing stakes at times (I have seen some real faux pas) and it dawned on me that a post about etiquette in Greece in general would be useful to have to hand – as what’s obvious to me may not be obvious to others.
Looking to explore Greece from your phone? Download my latest App for Android or Apple: Greece’s Best. It’s all there for you to help with your travel planning.
So, without further ado I present to you the Do’s and Don’ts in Greece, some customs and etiquette if you will – and there’ll be more than just clothing tips.
Essential reading for your trip to Greece includes (shameless self promotion): My debut novel Girl Gone Greek – a fun look at Greek life.
If you’re looking to travel further afield, you need to be prepared to understand what happens in other countries as well. So my collaboration post with other travel writers and bloggers about Cultural faux pas around the world may interest you too.
Do’s and Don’ts – Customs and Etiquette in Greece – Clothing
So let’s start off with clothing. The predominant religion in Greece is Greek Orthodox and you’ll see many churches around the country, both large and small. They’re lovely to walk into and you don’t need to be necessarily religious to appreciate the architecture inside and out. But note: some churches – especially monasteries, don’t like women to show their shoulders, and especially not their legs. If you go visiting the monasteries of Meteora in Central Greece, even if a woman is wearing trousers you have to cover with a wrap around skirt…and they helpfully provide this.
Etiquette in Greece: Wrap around skirt provided at Monastery visit in Meteora – Greece
So, respect this please. Wear a long loose skirt if you intend to go inside churches – and bring a shawl or scarf to put over your shoulders – better still, wear something with long sleeves.
Talking of clothing: I am not going to just single women out. I had an experience back in the summer that made me think of penning this post: Quite happily minding my own business in an Athens coffee shop in the heat, a male backpacker plonks himself down at an outside table opposite me, takes of his backpack – and his shirt…leaving himself topless in the middle of a busy Athenian street. I’m not a prude and love wearing summer clothes, but look – just don’t do it please. Show some modicum of decency. Do you walk around topless (males) in your home city in the summer?
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Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding clothing:Do show a modicum of decency and use your common sense. Carry a shawl around with you that can be used as a cover for legs and shoulders if needs be. Don’t show your bare legs or shoulders in a church, especially not a monastery, and men: please keep that singlet on.
A time when clothing won’t matter so much is Apokries, or Carnival Time that starts in about February each year. Be sure to visit the country during this period – it’s fun!
Do’s and Don’t in Greece – Beverages
One things the Greeks love is their coffee. And the most famous Greek beverage? Frappe. It’s made from instant Nescafe, sugar and water and is drunk cold with lots of froth and ice cubes. Think of it as a coffee milkshake, maybe not as thick.
The thing is, Greeks love their coffee so much it is a culture here You can sit around for hours nursing just one cup/glass, and you won’t be harangued by a stroppy waiting staff to move or order more. The Greeks appreciate the good things about life, and that’s a good coffee with good company, maybe playing tavli.
And this is why I love Greek culture. You’ll see young people drinking coffee at 11pm with their friends, playing tavli (see my British vs Greek culturepost for an in depth look at these cultural differences). They enjoy alcohol as it’s meant to be enjoyed; with good food, good company and good times. If they’re not actually eating a meal, then there’ll almost always be some small snack accompanying the alcoholic drink ordered. The etiquette in Greece is not to go out with the intention of ‘getting smashed.’
Some etiquette in Greece tips regarding drinking: You may not think twice about binge drinking in your home culture. Well, please think twice when visiting Greece (or any foreign culture to be honest). Do remember in a way, you are an ‘Ambassador’ for your country whenever you go away, so don’t do anything to give your fellow countrymen a bad name. Do try the frappe, it’s a delicious drink! And some places even put a shot of Baileys with it – even more delicious. Do take your time over coffee – there’s no rush. Do remember people in Greece don’t tend to drink at home before going out, and they start going out about 11pm. Don’t think that because you get away with it at home that you’ll be OK drinking yourself silly and vomiting in the street – or worse, a local’s garden (if on an island). It’s not funny, it doesn’t show you’ve had a good time and worse still, you’re a bad ‘Ambassador’ for your country.
What_Not_to_do_in_Greece_Travel_Tips
Dos and Don’ts in Greece – Customs and Etiquette regarding Transport
The public transport – in Athens at least – is very very good, especially the Metro. It’s clean and some stations even have ancient artefacts in glass cases on display, usually found when the Metro was being dug up and constructed. After all, this is a country that dates back to ancient times.
Etiquette in Greece – Artefacts inside the Athens metro
It’s very clean and worth using. Take a look at Syntagma Metro Station Archaeological Collection. It’s easy to use as there’s just three Metro lines to have to navigate – not like London’s, but then to be fair, London’s transport system has been running for a lot longer. Athens’s Metro System only really modernised in 2004 in time for the Olympic Games.
Athens Metro System – Greece. Clean and easy to use
The ticket system is easy to use with re-chargable Electronic Cards (paper tickets, so don’t get confused and think it should be a plastic card), that you can buy for varying amounts, each allowing a certain amount of journeys. IE: each journey is (only) €1.20 (Athens is not zoned, unlike London) – and you can buy a card, for example, for €13.50 that covers 10 journeys plus one for free.
Athens Metro Ticket – Greece
Machines to buy them have languages in Greek, English, German, French and Russian. So you won’t be confused.
But alas, in my experience the Greeks seem not to understand the concept of waiting for people to disembark the train first before boarding, so be warned it’s a bit of a free for all.
See my Insiders Guide to Visiting Athens for some advice of things to do when visiting the capital on a city break and base yourself in the small, affordable luxury suites of Sir Athens – central and yet hidden away from the hustle bustle.
Driving in Athens, and Greece in general, can be a little hair raising! A list of why:
The Greeks tend not to obey the speed limit – at all: and that’s not on the lower side of it
They tend not to wear their seatbelts in cars or crash helmets on bikes
The rules for roundabouts is this weird system whereby you give way to the cars coming onto it, so you clog up the traffic on the roundabout by having to stop
Stopsigns: virtually ignored. So if you’re a pedestrian, be sure to not assume that just because your green man is showing means you can happily cross
On the subject of pedestrians: they are also a menace! To be fair, the sidewalks/pavements are quite narrow, so one has to walk in the side of the road at times…but car drivers; beware the pedestrians who think the street is their domain and walk nearly in the middle of it!
What not to do in Greece – tips and advice
Some customs and etiquette in Greece tips for Driving and Public Transport: Do wait an extra few seconds before crossing the road after your man has turned green – to allow cars to actually acknowledge they’re required to stop. Don’t forget to use the public transport in Athens – especially the metro. It’s clean, easy to use (and cheap) feels safe (I’ve not had any problems, touch wood) and as mentioned, quite classy. Don’t think you’re driving too slowly by driving the speed limit; everyone will wizz past you. You are the one being correct – stay that way. Do remember to give way on a roundabout, that means stopping for cars that want to come onto the roundabout as they just wizz onto it.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my brief, what I consider essential etiquette in Greece. Most of all, I hope it helps you to enjoy your holiday.
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Etiquette in Greece; the Do’s and Don’ts of travelling in the country by an Athens Resident. Photo “Santorini, Greece” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by szeke
You’ve come to Greece for your holidays and your friends and family are good-naturedly envious. You feel obliged to bring a Greek souvenir back for them as a gift, and also for yourself because there’s no doubt that a trip to Greece is memorable, whether that be to the mainland, capital or islands.
Want a guide to the country in the palm of your hand? Then you’ll love my downloadable Greece’s Best Travel App for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Top Souvenirs from Greece – advice on what to buy
There will be some affiliate links through this post – meaning if you choose to purchase anything, I will receive a small amount of commission
But what Greek souvenirs are you going to take back for your friends, and yourself? And what will fit in your luggage? Here, I take a look at some of the best souvenirs from Greece to give you some ideas – also where to find them and hopefully something a little different than the bog standard glow in the dark Parthanon lamp!
Kompoloi are a string of beads found used by elderly Greek men (usually) as they stroll down the streets. Interestingly – and I never knew this – there is the Quiet and Loud method to using them: Quiet is usually used in the home where the user threads them – using thumb and forefinger – from the base to the end, then repeats the other way. Loud is more common in public and involves more of a clicking ie: palm up, beads resting on the finger divided into two groups, then swing one end up to click against the other group, repeat on the other side. There’s quite an art to it, as you can see – especially as the user usually has his kompoloi arm behind his back! Best to come to Greece and witness for yourself.
Kompoloi can be found everywhere: in tourist places such as Plaka in Athens or all over the islands. The beads are either dark or colourful, and it’s nice to choose from such a variety. They make a great Greek souvenir to take home as they are light, fit in your hand baggage and are very traditional.
Ahh Tavli: walk past any coffee shop or kafenio (a place usually frequented by older men, drinking their coffees, frappe’s (think froffy coffee milkshake) or even a little bit of ouzo with small meze’s) and you’ll see young and old deep in concentration or playing tavli. To my mind, this is one of the best souvenirs one can buy from Greece because it is so typical of Greek every day life (rather like kompoloi). We know it as backgammon and I won’t go into details about how it’s played, just to say it involves two players and is one of the oldest board games around.
Greece_Best_Souvenirs_To_Buy_Life_Beyond_Borders
Tavli boards are a little big, so think about whether you have room in your hold luggage to fit this Greek souvenir…but it does make a lovely reminder gift for yourself of your holidays; strolling the streets and seeing it played. It can be bought in any tourist area, especially Plaka district in Athens (see below).
Best Souvenirs from Greece – Mati
Mati – the Greek Evil Eye – or a protector from the Evil Eye. A great souvenir from Greece
“What’s a mati?” I hear you ask – and with good reason. Well, if someone glares at a person in Greece, you may see the recipient of the glare cross themselves. You may also see many Greek people (mainly women – and older women) wearing jewellery with what looks like a blue eye; bracelet, necklace, even on their key fobs (I have a small eye bracelet on my wrist just with cotton thread. Yes, I believe in it too, and I’m not an old woman!). It’s thought the person glaring is throwing negativity your way, especially jealousy because you may be: pretty, kind, just simply because that person’s in a foul mood and taking it out on you.
Collection of Mati – Greek Evil Eye – souvenirs: jewellery, pendents. Great Greek souvenirs
So the evil eye charm – mati – is said to prevent the curse from happening, or reaching you. Someone gives you a curse in the glare, but the eye is almost like a protective shield. Symptoms of ‘being cursed’ include feeling sick and especially a very bad headache. Whether you believe in it or not; the mati jewellery and paraphernalia sells very well in Greece. It can be found everywhere. It makes a great Greek souvenir, especially with the superstition behind it, or is it superstition? You be the judge. You can even find the mati engraved in the paths sometimes, as seen here on Rhodes island.
Greek eye – mati – in the street in Rhodes – Best Souvenirs from Greece
Best Souvenirs from Greece – Meli
Meli is Greek for honey and is one thing Greece is popular for in the food stakes (apart from olives). Did you know that Greece has more bee hives per acre than any other country in Europe? It produces all kinds of variants of honey; with orange, thyme, lemon – for example, and the best thing about Greek honey; it’s natural. Hardly any of the processed stuff you’ll find in your own supermarkets.
Greek meli – Honey – is a great Greek souvenir
Honey dates back to Ancient Greek times where Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, believed honey caused warmth, cleaned sores and ulcers and softened lip ulcers. Aristotle believed honey prolonged life – and I am sure there are studies out there that prove this. In fact, just think how you feel when getting a cold and you put lemon and honey in hot water…delicious (especially if you add brandy!)
Be sure to buy some meli to wrap in your hold luggage and take home (and some olives too).
Selection of Greek Olives – they make great Greek souvenirs
Best Souvenirs from Greece – Pistachios
Even if you’re not particularly a nut fan, pistachios are regional to the Greek island of Aegina – just a short ferry ride from Athens. Pistachio trees have been growing on the island since 1860 and the climate lends a particularly good flavour and smell to the nuts.
Pistachio nuts make great Greek souvenirs to take home
The harvesting of them is particularly interesting – similar to olives; large tarpaulins are placed on the ground around the trees and during the month of September, if you visit Aegina don’t be surprised to see people beating the branches of pistachio trees to make the nuts fall to the ground, they’re then gathered in the tarp for harvesting.
You’ll see them for sale all over Greece, but especially along the promenade of Aegina.
Best Souvenirs from Greece – for something a little different
If you’re looking for something a little different; maybe old drachma notes and coins, wooden carvings, paintings and even the odd antiquity, then a visit to the Athens Flea Market in Plaka is a must. You’ll find all sorts of odds and sods.
You may even be able to find some vintage stuff such as copies of old 1950’s taverna menus (in Greek) – but still just that little bit different.
The Plaka district can be found near the Acropolis, just by Monastiraki metro station. It’s a great place to browse away the hours.
Best Souvenirs from Greece – the usual postcard and fridge magnet
It’s nice to take home a small item as an every day reminder to prop up on your mantlepiece such as a postcard, or how about having sunny feelings every time you open your fridge with a fridge magnet? Obviously there are a plethora of postcards and fridge magnets for sale – and it is possible to find ‘nice’ ones and not tacky. My favourites are usually ones with the ubiquitous colourful doors or wooden shutters that so symbolise the country.
Postcards and fridge magnets always make great Greek souvenirs
I hope I’ve tempted you with a few different ideas of best souvenirs from Greece to take away with you after your visit.
What’s been your favourite treasure from a trip to Greece, or your favourite memento from a trip abroad?
For some pre-Greece reading, why not check out my travel novel Girl Gone Greek, ‘loosely’ based (wink wink) on my first year living in Greece as an English language teacher, or for some historical fiction, Chrissie Parker’s novel Among The Olive Groves – based in WWII times on the island of Zakynthos. Both (I have to say) make good reading companions. Take a look at my recommended buys for a visit to Greece below:
I love the contradictions in my adopted country of Greece sometimes. Here’s a great one related to superstitions and the ‘ftou ftou ftou’ and the ftou ftou meaning – or rather, Greeks spitting for luck.
Looking for a travel guide to Greece to carry in the palm of your hand? Then my Greece’s Best travel app for Android and iPad and iPhone is for you.
Not all people, but a lot used to (and some still do) believe that it’s unhygienic to take a new born baby out of the house. Therefore some newborn are kept inside for the first forty days of their lives.
Now for the contradiction:
After this time, the baby can be presented to the outside world. People go “ahhh!” and if you’re a Greek yaiyai (grandmother), they may follow the Greek superstition and think nothing of spitting at the newborn three times, a quick ‘ftou ftou’ to ward off the evil eye.
OK, I don’t mean literally spitting, but there is a custom here in Greece whereby, if someone makes a ‘ftou’ sound at you three times, accompanied by a flicking of the hand in your direction, then that person is actually paying you a compliment. It means you are worthy of jealousy, so by giving you a negative (the spitting gesture) it wards off jealousy and the evil eye.
Here’s my thought: You can keep a child inside the house because one’s afraid of germs, but it’s OK for a small amount of spittle to be directed at a small child – and that’s not unhygienic?
Like I say, I love this country, I really do.
And the Greek custom of spitting for luck isn’t as light and frivolous as one might think either…in the Greek Orthodox church during a baptism, both the priest and the Godparents of said child will ‘ftou’ the child three times to ward off the devil.
This leads me very nicely onto a taster from my novel Girl Gone Greek – about this very issue:
Book cover for Girl Gone Greek – why do Greeks spit at you? LifeBeyondBorders
“Yasu Rachel, mi leni Vasilika,”
came the voice. Vasiliki turned out to be the sister of my new boss and had bought a plate of spaghetti, a jar of honey, and milk!
I smiled gratefully and greeted Vasiliki by planting tentative kisses on both her cheeks. I’d read somewhere that that was the Greek way of greeting others. Vasiliki, in turn, held me at arms length, and proceeded to spitat me three times: ftou ftou ftou and attempt to wave it in my direction with a flick of her hand! Here in the village, at seven p.m. on my first night, I had no idea what this tradition meant and felt stunned that this kind woman, who had brought food, had just spat at me! I became aware that it must be some Greek custom as Vasiliki kept repeating “Oria, oria” and grinning at me whilst rubbing my arm.
I assume it’s not supposed to be insulting, however just the arm rub would have sufficed, thank you very much. And I’m not too sure how much spittle has inadvertently landed on my plate of food I wondered, but smiled back.
Are you tempted to buy a copy and learn more about the Greek culture of spitting, and others? Girl Gone Greek is available on Amazon UK and COM, also your regional Amazon site, in Kindle and paperback.
And yes, I really have been ‘spat’ on in my time living in Greece. As I say, it’s a compliment apparently: you’re a good person and you will get back luck because of your ‘niceness’ so therefore they are passing a negative onto you to ward off jealousy.
Either way, spending time in Greece is a wonderful thing to do, to find out about it’s natural, oddities and eccentricities.
“Vouliagmeni Lake, in the heart of the Athenian Riviera, is the hidden treasure of Attica’s nature. Situated on an idyllic landscape, this rare geological phenomenon is waiting to be discovered.
The lake’s brackish waters, continuously replenished both by the sea and the underground thermal springs, offer a natural and unique thermal spa experience. The imposing rock, thermal waters, the labyrinthine underwater tunnels and the lush vegetation create a unique geological phenomenon. The lake’s present form was created after the roof of the cave fell because of erosion caused by the high temperature of the running water.”
The gorgeous thermal spring waters of Vouliagmenis Lake along the #Athens Riviera, #Greece – LifeBeyondBorders
About an hour away from Central Athens (by public transport) – you can feel your cares and stresses slip away and you gingerly dip into the waters of this natural spa lake.
Check out my Insiders Guide to Visiting Athens to give you an idea of great activities and must sees – things to do that are a little more out of the ordinary
Garra Rufa fish at Vouliagmenis Lake, Athens Riviera, Greece
If you’ve ever been to a fish spa – in Athens or elsewhere, you will know what these fish are: tiny, tickly little buggers that come and exfoliate your skin. Unlike a fish spa – where you merely immerse your feet into a tank full of them – as you swim around Vouliagmenis Lake, stay still for more than 5 seconds and rest assured, they will swarm to your whole body like bees to a hive, and cover you. Or they did me.
Being nibbled by Garru fish at Vouliagmenis Lake along the #Athens Riviera, #Greece – LifeBeyondBorders
It was like tickle torture…but I knew it was supposed to be doing me good. Read more about Garra fish.
An elderly Greek woman grinned at me. I must have looked as if I was suffering because she told me: “Just stay still, bear it…it is supposed to relieve stress and they go to the area you have the problem.”
It was true. They weren’t just swarming around my feet, eating away disgusting dead skin at my heels, they were going to my right shoulder and settling there. I’d had problems with it for a few days – tension from too much computer work.
I could only stay still for about 5 minutes – that was enough for me. Then off I went for a swim again, in the lukewarm waters.
Swimming around Vouliagmenis Lake along the #Athens Riviera – #Greece – LifeBeyondBorders
Year round swimming at Vouliagmenis Lake, Athens Riviera Greece
It’s possible to swim here year round, due to the warmth of the waters. The day I was there (early in September 2015), it was about 27 Celcius. Apparently, the waters never fall below 18 Celcius…even in the winter. To be honest, I’m not sure I’d like to swim there in the winter as winters in Greece can get surprisingly cold.
The water isn’t clear. The nearer you get to the centre of the lake, the more grows underneath (and don’t forget those underwater caves, who knows what’s lurking in there!). So if you like your water clear, maybe just stick to the edges and get eaten by the fish. At least you can see what they’re doing.
Lake Vouliagmenis, Athens Riviera facts
It costs €15 entry (at time of writing) and you can spend as long as you like
The Prive Area with less people and sun beds spread out is €35 for the day
It’s open year round until sunset for swimming, until 2am in the summer for coffee
There is a cafe/bar on premises that serves delicious lunches or snacks. Expect club sandwiches, pasta dishes or just chips (but not the disgusting french fries, proper wedges)
By public transport, take the red Metro line to Elliniko (the end of the line, about 20 mins from Syntagma) then either the 22 bus to bus stop Limni, or I would pay the extra to get a cab right outside Elliniko metro (about 10 Euros). It’s quicker as the bus will take you another half an hour or so
There are sunbeds, free parking and lifeguards on duty
There are often Eventsat the lake such as yoga, children’s events and swimming classes
Vouliagmenis Lake and Athens Riviera – Conclusions
I loved spending a day here, it was a simple trip from the centre of Athens, and I left about 10am and had a whole day there.
See more about Vouliagmeni Lake by A Girl And Her Passport who came with me:
If you’re looking for hotels along the Athens Riviera, check out the below link:
PIN for later
Lake Vouliagmenis along the #Athens Riviera in #Greece is a fantastic natural thermal spring lake, just waiting to be discovered – LifeBeyondBorders
Some may find this post controversial, but don’t forget this is an observation as a British person who lives here.
I’ve lived in Greece for over a decade and notice a very difference of opinion to animals in general in this country – initially when I came I saw that pets weren’t really regarded as such – not necessarily in the bigger cities, attitudes there are changing…but definitely in rural areas. Not just our small feline friends but also dogs. It will seem to the visitor that many roam free – and they do. For example, Riot Dog of Athens was a well known dog, an institution almost.
Cats, however, are seen all over the mainland and islands and admittedly, some in a very sorry state of affairs. It is not all the ‘cute furry cats by tavernas’ that you may think.
Gatti greci / Greek cats by Luigi Rosa on 2008-09-03 14:20:31
But others do lounge lazily outside shop fronts, down cobbled streets and wait by the tables of tavernas or for returning fishermen, hoping for tasty morsels to be dropped their way.
Cats chilling on Rhodes island, Greece – LifeBeyondBorders
There is no doubt that many are looked after and well fed, but the notion of having a ‘pet’, ie: a member of the family is still somewhat an anathema to the population as the animals are sometimes seen as dirty – but attitudes are changing with the younger generation, thank goodness.
Below: Greek cat on Syros island, lying in a very strange position enjoying the winter sun!
There are several private organisations to help the cats of Greece. They work tirelessly to help these animals by:
TNR – Trap, Neuter and Release programmes
Feeding stations and making sure the cats are especially well looked after during the winter months when tourists are less, especially on islands
Fostering and adoption programmes, arranging for the animal(s) to be looked after by a fosterer in Greece before re-locating to their permanent home, whether this be in Greece or abroad
Educate others by going into schools and presenting about their work, basically why animals need our love and care
I stress the fact that there is no such thing as an RSPCA or ASPCA (U.S. equiv), so these organisations are privately funded either with collection boxes placed around the islands and fundraising activities such as bazaars.
Takis Shelter in Crete (this is one of my favourites as this man has dedicated his whole life to the animals. Once a DJ, he gave everything to helping the creatures on Crete.
He makes many videos of his finds. Here is his story:
Nine Lives Greece in Athens is another favourite of mine. They undertake several activities such as bazaars to fund their activities.
Nine Lives Greece Bazaar – Athens – Cats of Greece – LifeBeyondBorders
They also operate a fooding programme throughout the year where cats are fed in all the different neighbourhoods of Athens by volunteers.
See here for more in Athens. There are many other cat and animal organisations across the different islands, etc so be sure to look out for them.
Rescuing Greek Cats
As I live in Athens, initially I was not sure how long I would stay, so I fostered several cats from them, and I did not only save them, I felt they saved me. It can be lonely at first being in a strange city, so to have these little creatures around me and knowing I was helping until they found their forever home really helped.
Below is one of the first cats I got – Branson, so named because he was found dumped near Athens Airport (the name reflecting Richard Branson).
After being with me for about a month, he was finally adopted.
Now I have two Greek cats of my own: Felicity (the black cat) and Moutzouri (meaning ‘dirty face’ in Greek). They were rescue cats too: Felicity having been hit by a car at some considerable speed and has a permanently broken left leg, but she gets around just fine and has a very unique character, very vocal with me in different intonations depending on what she wants and her mood.
She is very confident and is not afraid to go up to strangers and wind herself around their legs…she wins over the hearts of everyone who meets her without fail – even non-cat lovers.
By contrast Moutzouris was quite badly traumatised and abused by being kicked (sad and angry face from me) so of course I couldn’t turn him away when I was asked to help nurse him, and I just couldn’t let him go.
His past trauma means whenever anyone new comes to the house, for example, he runs and hides in the wardrobe/closet and won’t come out until they have gone.
Or if there is a loud noise such as the rubbish bin collectors or even my doorbell ringing, he hides.
With me he is a totally different cat – he has imprinted on me and is very affectionate, often sleeping on my head at night, or on my chest. It’s true what they say: when a cat is so obviously happy with its human, I would rather lose one night’s sleep than risk moving the animal – just to see his little satisfied face after all he’s been through.
We have one white Greek cat in our neighbourhood who we all think was abandoned by its owner because it’s very friendly.
She is fed by many different people and refuses to come inside: the local bakery, pharmacy, hairdressers and nail parlour all leave food and water out for her, and at roughly 7pm every evening I make sure to pop my head out of the apartment block where I live and jangle my keys and like Pavlov’s Dogs, she comes running and mewling for food which I give her on the doorstep.
The younger generation in particular have a much better attitude to cats in Greece, and interestingly I read this BBC article that claims that actually, it’s the French that are the champions for abandoning pets.
Cats in Greece – Tips
If you’re vacationing here, maybe carry a small bag / box of dried cat food in your bag to scatter down as you go.
Don’t judge too much – you don’t know the whole story and the cats could be very happy outdoor neighbourhood cats
Look out for the local animal rescue programme – most islands and places on the mainland have one – and you may be lucky: they may just be running an event such as a Bazaar during your visit
Why not volunteer? Syros Cats and Takis Shelter are examples of places that accept volunteers
Have you been to Greece and seen the many cats roaming the streets and alleys?
Do you have an adopted Greek cat?
Share in the Comments or head to my Facebook page and share there.
Turkish Baths are not a new phenomena. According to Wikipedia, Turkish Baths:
…[are] a place of public bathing associated with the Islamic world
With Greece’s history, it is no surprise to know that modern day Turkish Baths have sprung up, especially around Athens.
Al Hammam is a traditional Turkish Bath experience in the centre of Athens, right near the Acropolis in the buzzing Plaka neighbourhood – the perfect place to visit after a day’s sightseeing.
Disclosure: the treatments were offered for free for an honest and frank review of the experience. Please note despite this, all thoughts and opinions remain my own.
See more things to do when visiting Athens on a city break:
Turkish Baths – Athens: What and where is Al Hammam?
Al Hammam Turkish Baths are also located in Chania, Crete and in the Plaka district of Athens. Actually, more towards the Anafiotika neighbourhood, literally under the Acropolis, so imagine the views from the rooftop terrace where one can sip tea and eat Turkish treats after your experience? It’s literally a 100 metre walk from the museum Bath House of the Winds.
Bathhouse of the Winds – Athens – Greece
They offer a variety of packages and treatments that can be found on their website. The one hour experience I had was called the Al Hammam. This included:
30 minutes sitting in the Hammam followed by;
15 minute body exfoliation with a kese glove
15 minute hair wash
15 minute olive soap bubble massage
Imagine how you felt coming out of that! Afterwards, you could sit on the terrace with those magnificent Acropolis views I mentioned, sipping tea and eating treats. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
What’s an Al Hammam Turkish Bath treatment like?
Gorgeous lighting inside the mist room of Al Hammam Turkish Bath – Athens
First you sit in the Hammam ‘mist’ room. After changing in the (rather small) changing rooms into either disposable underwear (if you’re happy to go topless), or swimsuit (like me), then you enter the marbled, humid, steamy room and sit around, basically like a sauna and getting hot and sweaty. But it’s larger than a sauna; it’s circular and as you gradually get hotter and hotter, you can fill up a bowl of cold water and pour it over you.
I’ll be honest though. The steam filled the room quickly and together with the heat, I did start to feel a little claustrophobic and mildly panicky, but not to worry- it’s perfectly OK to step outside of the room to cool down a little, relax more. And besides, it’s only 30 minutes total. But if you’re new to the Hamam sauna experience, just be aware it does get hot and steamy. More so than an ordinary sauna.
2. Next you lay on the slabs of marble tables.
Olive oil soap is mixed and spread over you with a kese glove, and you’re literally covered from head to toe in bubbles, massaged and oh boy, do you feel like you could fall asleep combined with the heat and massage.
The soapy massage treatment at Al Hammam Turkish Baths
3. Next, a cold sharp shock awaits you (but you are warned). The girls massaging you tip cold water on you to wash off the soapy bubbles on your body and hair. This serves to also raise the blood pressure as it’s significantly lowered and you need to be careful.
4. And then it’s off to the showers to get dressed and sit out, relaxing on the terrace.
Shower and products available at Al Hammam Turkish Baths, Athens
Al Hammam Turkish Baths Athens – Facts
The one hour 15 min Al Hammam treatment costs EURO €49.00
Address: 16 Tripodon & Ragava St, Plaka, Athens
Tel: 0030 211 012 9099
They also offer the opportunity to book out the Hammam for 2 hours for groups of 2 – 6 people
A range of massages are on offer; from Tai, Indian Head, Foot to Athletic and many others
Also manicures, pedicures, waxing and eyebrow shaping
Tip: Don’t drink alcohol before you go, and drink plenty of water that’s on offer there – you’ll literally be sweating out toxins
Thank you – Al Hammam Athens for this wonderful experience.
Not to be confused with Nafplio, Nafpaktos in mainland Greece is a place I’d vaguely heard of, but wasn’t sure exactly where it was. When I was invited to go and explore this neck of the woods with Go Nafpaktia, I jumped at the chance.
Things to do in Nafpaktos – where is it?
As you can see from the map above, Nafpaktos is located just opposite the Peloponnese area of Greece and is approx a 3 hour drive from Athens (depending on weather and traffic), on the western mainland on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth. The region is known as Aetolia-Acarnania and zoom in on the map above, you’ll see a small bridge spanning the Gulf (near Patras). This is the rather spectacular Rio-Antirrio cable bridge – one of the world’s longest multi-span cable bridges and the longest fully suspended bridge at 2250 meters. It crosses the Gulf of Corinth from the town of Rio on the Peloponnese to the town of Antirrio, near Patras. Hence the name.
You can also cross the Gulf by small roll on/off car ferries. The journey takes 15 minutes and cars cost approx €6.50. I travelled on the minibus by ferry as it’s cheaper than crossing the bridge: €13.20 at time of writing for a car . Double check here for updated prices.
For more beautiful pictures of Nafpaktos and Greece in general, head to my Instagram account and follow me.
Things to do in Nafpaktos
Battle of Lepanto
If you happen to be in Nafpaktos on 7th October, every year the Battle of Lepanto is celebrated. Basically, in 1571, during the heart of the Ottoman rule, the Christians wished to take back control of their region and the Battle commenced in the Gulf of Lepanto – an inlet in the Ionian Sea between the Peloponnese and Northern Greece. It was a huge success for the Christians, but with many lives lost (primarily on the Turkish side).
Every October 7th, there is a battle re-enactment in the harbour of Nafpaktos and we were lucky enough to be there during this time; fireworks explode, whole families with their young children and grannies and grandpas attend and the street is alive with everyone craning to see the puppet like re-enactment on the harbour walls, with the important few such as the town’s Mayor, the priest and head of Police sitting on a raised stage.
Tip: Get there early, say 6pm and hold onto each other’s hands! You may very well get separated in the goodnatured revelry.
Battle of Lepanto – NafpaktosBattle of Lepanto Fireworks – photo courtesy of Travel Bloggers Greece
The Kastro (Castle) of Nafpaktos
Thought to be built on approx. 5 levels (from the pyramid shaped hill at the top of the town all the way down to the harbour), the Castle is one of the largest in Greece and very well preserved. Its construction was actually completed by the Ottomans in the 15th Century and its picturesque location with stunning views across the Bay of Patras means it’s popular with tourists who visit, making it a good afternoon trip for your Nafpaktos itinerary.
There are a number of choices of accommodation. On this trip I was hosted at the Hotel Akti and my room was huge with a view of the sea and a four poster bed.
Don’t take my word for it though, check out other people’s views on the hotels:
Hotel Nafpaktos kindly provided evening meals during my trip.
Conclusions for visiting Nafpaktos Greece
I’d say Nafpaktos is a wonderful weekend (or even slightly longer) getaway from Athens. It takes roughly 3 hours by KTEL bus, the long distance buses that leave from Athens (Kifissos stations) and costs approx. €30 one way (this includes the road and bridge toll) at time of writing.
Go Nafpaktia who can seamlessly organise all aspects of your Nafpaktos adventure.
The Ionian Greek island of Zakynthos is known for package tourism and popular resorts, but it’s possible to visit its quieter and more traditional side too. Let’s take a look at the more traditional side of this island such as olive oil making and things to do on Zakynthos.
Book your private Zakynthos Villa Residence. Click on the image to find out more.
Things to do in Zakynthos: Aristeon Ecological Olive Press
Olives from Aristeon Olive Press – Zakynthos island, Greece
Located near Lithakia Village, this family business started operation in 1850 and the current factory is only four years old. I never thought olives could be so interesting to be honest! Did you know there are over two million olive trees on Zakynthos and that in the harvest season (October to February), they are gathered from the trees in the ‘traditional way’ – that means people putting a net on the ground and beating the tree with long wooden sticks, getting the olives to fall in the net!
They’re then put into hessian sacks and taken to the factory where they’re processed. Leaves and branches are separated from the olives and these are mashed for 45 minutes to a fine pulp. The ‘first generation’ olive oil is made on the premises (some with lemon and orange mixed in too – it’s delicious!) – but I also discovered that the pulp is sent to the Peloponnese can often be used to make ‘second pressed olive oil.’ This is not the ‘real deal’ and is often the cheaper oil you’ll see in the supermarkets.
Trust me, there is a difference in taste.
Nothing goes to waste
Even the stones are ground and used as heating oil on the island! My host at ZanteHotels4U informed me that a 140 square metre home can be heated for €7 a day with the ground stones.
The ground stones are used as heating oil
Things to do in Zakynthos: Beaches, Turtles and Caves
For your free download for recommended Greek island packing list, click here.
Onwards to Oasis Beach, Marathonisi Island (where the famous caretta caretta (turtles) lay their eggs in breeding season) and the Keri Caves.
First off was caretta-caretta spotting (turtles), and we saw a large one. To be honest, it upset me somewhat as there were too many other boats around this poor creature who probably felt crowded and scared, but travel blogger My Greece My Travels wrote a very good post about the turtle experience and how to respect them. Do head over to read it.
We spent some time relaxing on Oasis Beach (secluded, only reached by boat) and as it got busy with yet more boats, our guide whisked us away to Marathonisi Island.
A word of warning: Don’t spend long in these spots, neither have much shade, especially the island as it’s where the turtles lay their eggs and any form of putting an umbrella in the sand could potentially hit and break a buried egg.
And then the highlight of the day: Keri Caves. Just see for yourself as a picture paints a 1000 words:
Cave spotting – look at how blue the water is! No filter, promise!Deep in the Keri Caves – ZakynthosKamares Arches – Zakynthos island, GreeceKeri CavesExploring the blues of the Zakynthian coastline
Notes:
Boats can be rented for €150 a day – it’s (apparently) not necessary to have a guide with you, they’re easy enough to operate (this is what I’m told – I didn’t try it myself, and wouldn’t want to to be honest.
For an extra €30 you can have someone with you to drive the boat. Both prices (€150 without driver or €180 with driver) are for 6-7 hours rental.
***A special thanks to Zante Hotels 4 U for hosting us during our stay in Zakynthos. They can organise all tours and accommodation. Contact them via email: [email protected] or call: 0030 26950 29700 or via their website. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own, despite any complimentary services received.***
Have you heard of the Diapontia islands in Greece? Not very likely as Greece has so many islands and islets. Many people think of Santorini, Mykonos or Rhodes – these are the most well known islands but alas, attract a package tourism crowd due to the fact they have an airport.
Disclosure: I was a guest on Erikoussa and at the Acantha Boutique Hotel. This in no way reflects my writing
For the ‘real’ Greece you need to discover one of the best kept secrets in Greece – and for this you need to travel a little further afield, yet still surprisingly easy. Let’s take a look at the best kept secrets in Greece, more specifically the Diapontian Island of Erikoussa and the Acantha Boutique Hotel.
Best Kept Secrets in Greece: Diapontian Islands – where are they?
The Diapontian islands are made up of three bigger islands that have a very small population; Othoni, Mathraki and Erikoussa – plus nine uninhabited islets, some even just rocks where wild goats may roam and the only way to ‘visit’ them is by yacht or catamaran, mooring up offshore to swim along their coastline.
They’re in the Ionian sea at the north western most part of Greece, some 6 miles from the popular Greek island of Corfu.
It’s possible to fly to Corfu from several European destinations, also from Athens and then catch a ferry either from Corfu Town harbour, or take a taxi to the northern little port of Sidari and hire a private motor boat to take you on a day trip around the islands. Corfu Holidays Direct can arrange such a trip and transfers, very professionally with air conditioned mini vans that seat up to 7 people, or taxis for up to 4 people. From airport to motorboat, they have you covered.
Best Kept Secrets in Greece: Erikoussa island
Erikoussa is the most northern island in the Ionian chain and is only 8 nautical miles (a 40 minute boat ride) from the northern Corfu port of Sidari – a pretty place to stay in itself.
It’s named after the gorse bush ‘reiki’ which flourishes from October through the autumn / fall season across the island, covering it in a purple haze. At only 4.5 sq km (1.7 sq miles) it’s tiny, but still manages to offer a lot in the way of golden beaches, mainly in the Port as this is where the people live and life goes on.
There’s a population of only 30, with 2 children in the school. It’s like stepping back in time, except internet access is available.
The north west of Erikoussa is covered in steep, cliffy beaches – it’s best to take a boat trip around it and explore.
Best Kept Secrets in Greece: Hotel Acantha
As you’ve seen, Erikoussa is like stepping back in time and, thankfully, lacks the crowds that mass tourism tends to bring.
I’d recommend spending at least two nights on Erikoussa purely to relax, or base yourself here for longer to tour the other Diapontian islands. Acantha Boutique Hotel is the only ’boutique’ style hotel on the island that offers unparalleled relaxation with only 5 suites, the top suite with huge balcony offering stunning sea views, the rest with garden seating on the ground floor.
It’s possible to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner here – lunch ranging from a simple salad (personally that’s all I needed in the heat) and dinner very fish based using the catch of the day from local fishermen. Speak to the hotel about your dietary needs.
Be prepared to relax and go with the flow. They have a section of the beach at the front of the hotel just for their own guests. It’s wonderful; roll out of bed, eat a healthy breakfast of fresh bread and jams then a 2 minute walk and you’re at the beach.
Although it’s officially an ‘Adults Only’ hotel, as with all things Mediterranean the love of children flows through, and as the restaurant is also open to non guests, you may see families frequent the venue too.
Clearly there is so much more to the country than mass tourism shows us. I enjoyed my time on the Diapontian island of Erikoussa and do hope to go back in less stressful times. Alas the Covid 19 situation meant many in the tourism sector were suffering in various ways…I hope better times for everyone and to re-visit.
To book your luxury Secret Greece experience, including yachting around the Diapontian islands, contact Fly Me To The Moon travel – specialists in showcasing authentic Greece to the discerning traveller.
I’ve visited the Shard in London before, but during the day. This 95 storey, 11,000 glass panelled skyscraper located in Southwark, a district of London near London Bridge station on the south side of the River Thames, looms stately-like at 309m (1,016ft) over all who hustle and bustle beneath her. She (I like to give it a gender as ‘she’s’ so majestic, in my opinion) comprises of the following:
72 habitable floors including:
Shangri-La Hotel Reception on the Ground Floor
Retail shop and Observation Deck entrance on floors 1 and 2
Office space on floors 3-28 (companies include Al-Jazeera English & UK, Gallup, Warwick Business School and South Hook Gas
An ‘ultimate penthouse’: 224 meters high over two floors, the equivalent of a 7 bedroomed mansion. Reported price tag is GBP£50 million (USD$77 million)
The View from The Shard (observation deck) on floors 68-72
The Glass Spire spreads up the remaining floors from 73-95
The View from London’s Shard at night is great to see London sparkle. Open from 10am to 10pm allows plenty of opportunity to appreciate different views of the city – and it’s possible to extend an add-on to your ticket price to visit at both times of the day.
NOTE: These are 2016 prices, so do be sure to check.
Shard View Prices
Note: You choose a time when you want to visit and can turn up within half an hour of the allotted time. This is to prevent too many people turning up at once and overcrowding.
**Disclosure: I was offered the opportunity to visit The Shard View at night by Visit London and presented with a Press Pass. All opinions remain my own**
A View from The Shard at Night
Having already been blown away by the Shard during daytime, I couldn’t wait to see it at night. I arrived after 6pm on a mid-week night – actually I’d highly recommend this kind of time. Aside from the crowds rushing to London Bridge at peak rush hour, I didn’t find many people around at this time.
I whizzed through the security and into the lifts. In fact, I had a lift all to myself! I felt a little disorientated as I hurtled up to the 68th floor first of all, at a speed of 6 meters per second!
The Shard- entry
Shard View on three floors
68th floor = Cloudspace where you can learn about all the different sorts of clouds above London
69th floor = Walk around with telescopes scattered around at intervals, for you to enjoy a close up of your favourite view
72nd floor = Open to the elements! (Well, kind of).
I took in all three floors – the 72nd floor as to be walked up to, but it’s not far. I didn’t stay long at the top…it got kinda chilly on a November night!
I have to say though, as I wandered around all three viewing floors, seeing London all lit up at night offered a beautiful perspective of the city I’d never seen before – so high up.
Take a look:
London at night from The Shard
The Shard is one of many tourist attractions in London. For example, you can:
Back in 2016 I was lucky enough to be able to research North Portugal for Rough Guides, who I work for. My journey around this eclectic western European nation helped me realize one thing: as a tourist destination, Portugal has it all. Let’s explore, this time, things to do in the Algarve region of Portugal.
Things to do in Portugal – North/South
You could say Portugal has a North/South divide; the North (Douro Valley. Minho) where I researched—the coast located on the Atlantic—was beautiful with rolling green countryside, vineyards and dramatic scenery such as Geres National Park, yet at an average of 11.5 degrees C in March/April time, a little chilly.
By contrast, located at the southernmost region of the country and on the Mediterranean coast, the Algarve offers average temperatures in March of approx. 15 degrees C (4 degrees makes a big difference!). There’s less rain in March time and its Mediterranean location offers stunning beaches, traditional fishing villages and also an array of golf courses.
Things to do in the Algarve, Portugal
Tourism makes up a huge percentage of income for this region of the country, and it’s not hard to see why. From high quality, blue flag awarded sandy beaches, deserted islands and sheltered coves to traditional mountain villages, you’ll not be short of a variety of activities to undertake, or a choice of beaches to relax on. Beach activities include windsurfing, horseback riding and paddle boarding, or how about mountain or road biking through the trails that meander through farmland, cliff tops and citrus groves? Hardcore activity junkies can also enjoy cliff-climbing, or how about cliff-jumping into the crystal clear seas? There’s no end of activates to keep you occupied.
In the 15th century, Portuguese explorers used the Algarve as their base to set sail as they set about exploring different cultures. The colourful fishing town of Lagos is testament to this. Now one of the most visited and popular beach destinations in the Algarve—with its vibrant nightlife and bar scene—Lagos is also, however, the centre of the Age of Discovery for Portugal…the many territories and maritime routes discovered. In the 15th and 16th Centuries, Henry the Navigator prepared his sailing caravels to explore the west coast of Africa, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
This headland, also known as Cabo de São Vicente, is the most southwesterly place in the Algarve…indeed, in Europe. The high winds blowing off the Atlantic and pounding the 60-metre jagged cliffs earned it its reputation—at least until the 14th century when explores dared to venture further—as the end of the known world.
The lighthouse here shines out across one of Europe’s busiest shipping lanes and can be seen for up to 60 miles out. It was here that Henry the Navigator spent much of his time mapping his routes and planning his voyages.
From naval history, traditional villages, award-winning beaches and modern nightlife, you can see why Portugal is a popular choice of destination for sun worshipers, families, sports addicts and history buffs. I really enjoyed my time exploring Northern Portugal…The Algarve is definitely on my radar to visit.
I’ve written about Butterfly Twist shoes before. Last time I was given a pair of Madison Twist boot-like trainers to trial out by this English company. They’re still going strong and are very comfortable. I’m impressed because it’s got to a stage that in the winter, I’ve been wearing them every day and they’re still lasting well.
Looking pretty good in my Butterfly Twists Madison shoes in Pewter
As winter really set in, Butterfly Twist asked if I’d like to trial out their wellies. Of course! After all, it’s the season for wellington boots and as their last product converted me to become a fan of theirs, why not have a go with the wellies?
**Disclosure: I received my wellies direct from Butterfly Twist’s head office in the UK to trial out. As always, despite this, my opinion remains my own.**
Butterfly Twist wellies
As you’ll have seen from my last post, the company offers practical and comfortable women’s shoes that are also fashionable and stylish. This isn’t surprising, given the unique way that the Butterfly Twist creators – two brothers and their two oldest school friends – came to empathise with women and their plight with looking good in the shoe department. Let’s just say it entailed the four young men wearing stilettos. Intrigued? Read more!
Types of wellies
But back to the wellington boots on offer.
Butterfly Twist offers two types of wellies:
Windsor
Eton
After looking at their Womens’ Wellies page on their site, I felt a little spoilt for choice, so I went away and made a check list:
1) Did I want something just for the country walks? Well, whilst my family lives in the country and I visit regularly, I didn’t really want to restrict myself. I wanted some wellies that’d be all purpose.
2) I’m really fond of bright and vibrant colours. No problems there, both are colourful.
Both wellies have a variety of colours…and the best bit? A knitted textile cuff at the top in a combination of colours for an added bit of style.
Windsor and Eton ButterflyTwist Wellies
The Windsor is described as great for Festivals and I can see this; it’s less traditional in style, more funky and yet offers good protection.
So I had my answer! The Eton wellies, being ankle boots, covered all my requirements:
1) Colour combination: I chose navy and coral – the nearest to my favourite colour of magenta.
**Note: A check on their website, as of 2017, seems to not show the wellie up in my colour**
2) Town and country style: It’s a great wellie for taking long walks in the countryside, yet also fashionable enough to wander around town in.
3) Comfort: I’ve warn them every day over the Christmas and New Year period, and they’ve not rubbed, my feet haven’t felt like they’re sweating (like they sometimes can do in a rubber boot) and to top it off, they do look really funky! I went sightseeing the other day and wandered around the city for a good four to five hours, stopping for coffee of course. My point is that my feet, although tired from walking, didn’t feet sweaty and the boots are light and airy, perfect for packing or even wearing for travel.
Wearing my Navy & Coral Eton Wellies in the countryside
Conclusion
So far, in the two weeks I’ve had the pleasure of using my Eton wellies/rain boots, I am very happy. They look cool, they’re warm and most importantly for me, I can wear them around town and when walking in the countryside. Also great and light for packing when travelling or wearing for travel.
They came very well packaged too.
Well packaged
Observations
Whilst they do come with a handy shoe/wellie bag, the wellies are a little bit of a snug fit. It’s useful for putting my smaller shoes in, but when travelling and wandering around town, I’d take a light backpack too that’s big enough to store my wellies.
Also, I noticed when the roads are a little wet or icy, the wellies don’t have a lot of grip and I slipped one or two times. Not when walking along a muddy path (which, let’s face it, wellies are designed for), but on icy concrete they’re maybe not so great.
Facts
Eton Wellies retail on Butterfly Twists’s website depending on the season
They regularly have offers and sales
Butterfly Twists offers a variety of shoes such as trainers, ballet pumps and sandals. So you’re spoilt for choice!
There is a Store Locator page on their site where you can find your local Department Store/shop that stocks their products. Alternatively, for buying direct from them, their site states:
All international orders: 5 – 7 working days. Check their site for prices.
Enjoy your Butterfly Twist wellies if you choose to buy a pair.
Being a girl from the West Country of England, I’d never though to explore the county city of Avon – Bristol. I don’t know about you, but as a travel blogger I tend to immediately think to travel further afield and explore. But having spent a lot of time abroad, the more I come back to the UK and my home area of the West Country, the more I see it through alternative eyes…this has prompted me to explore more in my own backyard.
And so on a mini-Press Trip to Bristol, I was offered the opportunity to stay at the Bristol Harbour Hotel.
**Disclosure: I was a guest of Bristol Harbour Hotels. All opinions expressed here are my own**
Bristol Harbour Hotel
Located bang smack in the centre of Bristol, the Bristol Harbour Hotel had been recommended. It’s the City Centre’s newest addition to 4* boutique luxury; 42 rooms ranging from Superior, Deluxe and Corner Suites. It had been refurbished in 2017 with spa and indoor and hydrotherapy pool. The Bristol Harbour Hotel is the newest addition to the Harbour Hotels group who also offer discreet luxury and boutique establishments in Brighton, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Surrey and Hampshire.
The building
As I was shown around the building, what stuck me as unique about the Bristol Harbour Hotel was, what can only be described as its architectural glory. You see, the hotel’s housed in the original Lloyds Bank Headquarters and Midland’s Bank, the Lloyds building being Grade 2 Listed and with a facade inspired by Sansovino’s 16th century venetian Library whilst the former Midland Bank building is Grade 2* listed. What this means, basically, is that renovations must adhere to strict regulations and retain the splendour of old. When you see the outside of it, you’ll understand why.
A huge events space is situated in the former banking hall of the Lloyds building, whilst the spa will be opened in the former basement bank vaults. It sounds a little claustrophobic, but trust me; as I wandered around the admittedly rabbit warren-like vaults, to me it had been cleverly designed and felt more cosy, with some remarkable old vault features in the treatment rooms.
All are, as far as I’m concerned, well designed and finished off with attention to detail. All offer en-suite bathrooms, with the corner suite offering a luxurious roll-top bath in the bedroom, and walk in monsoon shower in the bathroom.
Superior and Deluxe Doubles at Bristol Harbour Hotel
My Bristol Harbour Hotel experience
From the minute I stepped through the door, I was greeted with warm smiles from the Reception staff. The Reception area is temporarily housed at the corner of the building, at the same entrance to the multi-award winning Jetty Restaurant. This will change once the hotel is fully completed and the Reception entrance will move to the wonderful former Lloyds building front – that architectural masterpiece I mentioned previously.
Corner suite
I was to stay two nights in a corner suite on the second floor, overlooking the thoroughfare of Corn Street which housed some of the city’s oldest buildings, now turned into coffee shops, bars, restaurants and boutique eateries. You’d think that being in such close proximity to the nightlife, it might affect a good night’s sleep, but no, Bristol Harbour Hotels think of everything; they provide earplugs in the room – not that I needed them.
And the bed – oh my! I felt like I was in a Disney movie! At first glance it looks quite high off the ground, and in actual fact it is quite. That’s because – in my inelegant words – it’s so ‘puffed up’. By this, I mean you have about four feather pillows, other decorative pillows, a huge feather duvet and then a feather mattress topper. And don’t forget the Egyptian cotton sheets and duvet cover. When I fell into bed on the first night, I was literally asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. This was probably aided by the complimentary gin and sherry – provided in all rooms, and, of course, that roll-top bath! Yes, you can bet I had a good soak before bedtime.
I had no time to feel like ‘Beauty and the Beast’ or ‘The Princess and the Pea’ – in fact, strike that. Didn’t the princess in that story have a bad night’s sleep because she was sensitive to a tiny pea underneath all the mattresses and feather toppers? Not this princess, believe me! If you’re after a good night’s sleep, go to the Bristol Harbour Hotel.
A photo posted by Rebecca – Travel Writer (@beyondbex) on
The Jetty Restaurant
As mentioned before, the hotel comes with a multi award-winning restaurant where one can take their breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s also open to non-resident guests and offers High Tea. This is the place I ate a complimentary dinner on my first night and breakfast on both mornings of my stay.
The menuwas extensive, yet not pretentious. The a la carte menu, which myself and Heather dined from, offered many fish options, and even though we had the option of a three-course meal, because I’m aware my eyes are bigger than my stomach, I chose fish and chips (cod) with gluten free batter, ‘fat’ chips – which were incredibly light and fluffy, I have to say – and crushed peas with homemade tartar sauce. You can bet your life I ate it all up!
For dessert, I chose the peanut butter parfait: Salted toffee popcorn crunch and toasted marshmallows.
As I say, something a little different and special, yet not pretentious.
Dinner at the award-winning Jetty Restaurant – Bristol Harbour Hotel
Being back in the UK, breakfast on both days was obvious: a full-English fry up! Instead of toast I requested fried bread (you can’t quite remove my good ‘ol East London caff roots) with a small pot of tea and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Fried English breakfast at the Bristol Harbour Hotel
The Jetty Restaurant at the Bristol Harbour Hotel offers Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten menus as well as Sunday Lunch and speciality menus such as for Burns Night, etc.
Conclusion and Facts
If you’re looking for a special weekend break in a city approx. 1hr 30 mins from London by train and looking to stay in discreet, luxurious surroundings amidst historical buildings and architectural wonder, look no further than the Bristol Harbour Hotel.
Due to Covid 19 in 2020, there have been a range of room rates and opening dates, hence it’s best to go to the hotel’s website to check their room rates.
All rooms feature mini-bar, baths and showers (only the corner suites feature the roll-top bath in the actual bedroom), complimentary decanters of gin and sherry, Wi-Fi access, bathrobes and slippers plus hair dryer.
Don’t just take my word for it though. Head to TripAdvisorfor unbiased reviews and special offers.
Spa and Jetty Restaurant open to non-residents.
Make sure you go and experience all the Bristol Harbour Hotel has to offer and report back to me how you found your stay.
When taking a weekend break in the west country city of Bristol, UK (voted by Rough Guides as #4 in the Top 10 Best Cities in the World to Visit – 2017), one doesn’t really think of going swimming – mainly as Bristol is not located by a beach and this is the UK, hence cold most of the time, so you’d be forgiven for overlooking the fact Bristol has a rather smart outdoor Lido and Spa. My visit to the city entailed a visit to the Bristol Lido and Spa, and I visited it in the winter! Read on to discover where to swim in Bristol and my Bristol Lido experience.
Bristol Lido
**Disclosure**: I was a guest of the Bristol Lido and Spa. All thoughts and opinions remain my own**
Located in the upmarket Clifton district of the city, Bristol Lido didn’t always start out as one of the most unique spa destinations in the city. In fact, it’s one of the oldest remaining Lido’s in the UK. For the uninitiated, a Lido is an outdoor swimming pool. There are some in London, the one on Hampstead Heath probably the most heard of, but Bristol Lido opened its doors to the public in July 1850 at a charge of one shilling (approx. 5p in today’s money) including two towels for entry from 6am to 3pm and from 4pm onwards went down to 4D (4p in Victorian money, including one towel. I have tried to find out what that is today, but can’t, sorry. If you find it, let me know!)
Built in an Egyptian style, the Bristol Lido operated as a pool for over 100 years offering a place not only to exercise, but to also socialise. A real hub for the community. The 1930s saw it become the very first electrically heated pool in the UK.
Alas, in 1990 the Bristol Lido closed as it had, over the years, gradually fallen into a state of disrepair. It was sold to a Housing Association in 1998 who fought for 13 years to demolish this once thriving heart of the Clifton community and develop the site into flats. There was a lot of protest from the locals and in 1998, the building was awarded a Grade 2* Listed Building status, preventing it from being knocked down. The locals had won! In fact, this status had place the Bristol Lido into the top 6% of Listed Buildings in the country (and there are a lot of them in the UK, given the country is riddled with old Victorian, Georgian and Elizabethan buildings).
Fast forward to 2006: a well-reputed restaurant city restaurant company, the Glass Boat Company, were given permission to restore the pool and surrounding buildings. The Bristol Lido re-opened its doors in 2008. Open 7 days a week to members and non-members alike, the heated pool is back with the addition of spa facilities, sauna, a 75 seater restaurant in the old viewing gallery of the pool giving you a full view of the pool below through floor to ceiling windows and a poolside bar with indoor and outdoor seating.
It’s quite remarkable to see how this once almost derelict hub has now been restored to its former glory (all buildings are designed retaining the original Victorian features) and, once again, is a place for people to exercise and socialise.
My Bristol Lido experience
During my stay in Bristol, I was lucky enough to be hosted on a spa day experience, kindly arranged by Visit Bristol. I’d heard about the Bristol Lido and to be honest, had never thought to go to an outdoor swimming pool in my own country: the UK isn’t really amenable to outdoor swimming, especially in the winter! Yes, that’s right: my Spa Day was to take place in early January 2017.
OK – apparently the temperature of the pool is roughly 24 degrees C (75 degrees F) and as I arrived, I could see steam rising off it.
Bristol Lido – Look closely, can you see the steam?
It’s not every day I get to go to a Lido, so I decided to brave the cold English winter and go for a dip. But first I needed to shower.
Swimming in Bristol Lido
Before you go into the pool, you need to take a shower – and you must shower naked. There are showers indoors and outdoors around the pool area. The reason for this is because the Lido uses virtually no chemicals in the pool, so in order to keep it clean a special pre and post-swim body wash has been created for the swimmers to use.
Wash naked in the Bristol Lido
After washing and putting my costume back on – in I went to the pool. Re-assuring myself that it can’t be that cold, what with it being heated by over 500 solar panels situated on the roof of the restaurant, I still didn’t quite jump in. Maybe if I’d had a sauna first, I would have done, but I decided a slowly, slowly approach was best.
And I did it! Eventually – after about 5 minutes, admittedly – I entered the pool, did a swift 6 lengths then got out, grabbed my towel and went back inside to once again, shower naked with the post-swim specially designed body wash (provided for free).
A photo posted by Rebecca – Travel Writer (@beyondbex) on
With my blood pumping around my body, I met with my host from Visit Bristol and we went to the viewing area to dine.
Massage treatment
There are several treatments on offer in the Spa section of the Bristol Lido. Facial? Deep relaxation? Mood enhancement? You name it, they have it. I opted for a Foot, Hand and Head Massage which is reputed to be good for stress relief (yes dear readers – it can be stressful running a blog!)
Having changed into a robe, I was led into the waiting area for the spa and drank lots of water whilst filling out a medical form. Then my therapist came to take me into the room; a beach hut themed place designed for relaxation.
One hour later, and feeling incredibly relaxed, I was in two minds whether I wanted to bother going for a swim if I’m honest, I felt so relaxed and thought I could just sit and drink the tea provided in the Spa rest area.
Receiving my spa treatment at the Bristol Lido with Lauren, my therapist.
Lunch at the Bristol Lido
From 12pm-2:45pm lunch is served, with dinner served at 6pm-9:45pm. We ate off the set menuand I chose a Starter of smashed avocado, coriander and chilli toast and then jumped in straight to the Dessert of Chocolate tart, clementine and whipped cream.
Note: I realise from the picture below that it doesn’t look like a lot, but I wanted to leave room for my evening meal. It’s possible to eat more from the set menu, but I chose only the starter and dessert.
My lunch at the Bristol Lido
Note: The restaurant at the Bristol Lido is multi-award winning, therefore expect to be served nouveau cuisine. The restaurant also serves a contemporary Breakfast from 8am – 11:30am and Tapas at the bar from 12pm-10pm. A lot of different options to choose from!
Conclusion and Facts
I’d never been to a Lido before, let alone a Spa/Lido. I was impressed with how Bristol Lido had transformed itself into a place of relaxation whilst retaining its original splendour. I would never have seen myself swim outdoors in the British winter, but I am so impressed with the pool and the temperature that I am glad that I did.
The Spa is an added touch, with numerous therapies to choose from.
When exploring destinations – and cities – to write about or, indeed, if you’re on holiday or a short break, naturally you’ve got to eat. So on my second night in Bristol, where did I go and eat? I’m a fan of Asian cuisine and when I was invited to try out the cuisine of WokyKo along the harbour side in Bristol, in their container village known as Wapping Wharf, I jumped at the chance.
**All thoughts and opinions remain my own, despite any complimentary services**
Where to eat in Bristol Wapping Wharf – CARGO Village
Along the Bristol Harbour side you’ll find Wapping Wharf, the alternative food, drink, coffee shop and shopping quarter of Bristol. It’s re-generated the harbour area and also offers apartments for sale. Amongst Wapping Wharf you’ll find CARGO. The novelty is in the name: it’s a concept made up entirely of shipping containers encompassing places to eat, a florist, a barber and cider shop. CARGO 2 opened in 2017 offering further retail opportunities plus yoga and relaxation space.
CARGOis the location of WokyKo, so as well as having the opportunity to eat one of my favourite dishes, I could sample this in an alternative location…I mean, have you ever eaten in a shipping container? Talk about recycling!
I met my host from Visit Bristol and we made our way to this eclectic area. There’s some great street art on display around the CARGO harbour area – and I was looking forward to the evening ahead.
The appeal of WokyKo is that Larkin Cen, the creator of the small eatery and BBC TV programme Masterchef finalist, is that all ingredients used in the creation of his menu are ‘responsibly sourced’, and to top it off, there’s no added MSG. The place opened in October 2016, so it was a very recent addition to the Harbourside.
You can’t make a reservation – the seating area’s too small – but when you do sit to eat, the open kitchen means you can see the chefs prepare their magic.
WokyKo Menu
Larkin Cen has created an eclectic menu of what he terms as ‘Asian street food.’ And with dishes such as:
Korean Rice Cakes with Red Dragon Sauce
Chicken Singapore Vermicelli with free range egg, Asian Vegetables, herbs, toasted sesame seeds and lime
Aubergine Green Curry with baby corn, green beans and steamed rice
it’s easy to see why I was excited to try out the menu.
I settled on the following:
Bao with Braised Pork, Hoi Sin Ketchup, Apple and Peanut Powder
Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pomegranate and Pineapple salsa
Bao with Salted Caramel Ice Cream (so good my dining guest and I actually had two)
What’s a Bao? It’s an Asian steamed bun, filled with your choice of ingredients. They can be savoury and sweet (see above).
A photo posted by Rebecca – Travel Writer (@beyondbex) on
Conclusion and Facts
The food was undeniably delicious at WokyKo and made all the more unique to be in a shipping container. You’d think that it’d feel claustrophobic as they’re really not that big, not once you’ve factored in that a seating area and kitchen is squeezed in…and were it not for the clever layout, it could well have been a claustrophobic experience, but it wasn’t.
My Braised Pork Bao with Hoi Sin Ketchup, Apple and Peanut Powder was £3.95 each
The Salted Caramel Ice Cream Bao was £4,25 each
There’s an eclectic menu on offer – both lunch and dinner
Opening Times:
Tuesday to Thursday, 11.30am to 10pm;
Friday and Saturday, 11.30am to 10.30pm;
Sunday, 11.30am to 10pm.
**Disclosure: I was a guest of WokyKo, arranged by VisitBristol. As always, all opinions remain my own**
What life lessons have I learned through travelling?
That expression “Jack of all trades, Master of none” used to really irritate me, probably because it summed me up quite well yet seemed to have negative connotations. In my 20s I was really quite sensitive to the fact that I seemed to have dromomania (an insatiable desire to travel – so much so, there’s a word for it!). I felt there was something wrong with me. Then I entered my 30s and thought “Sod it! I am who I am…I’m not going to change. Why worry what others think of you?”
This post was part of the #travellessons Travel Blog competition by Go Euro (open to UK Residents only).
My life settled down somewhat (much to my patient parents relief) in my 30s while I went back to college and then onto a three year Undergrad Degree programme in International Relations…but then all that talk of foreign countries, different cultures and different ways of thinking only brought back my dromonania. And so – with pride – I continued to be a ‘jack of all trades.’
Here I reflect on some of the life lessons that travelling has taught me…on how being exposed to different cultures, and even weather, can shape people. And life lessons from teaching in foreign countries…how languages affect culture.
We must understand expressions and language in different cultures
It’s important, I feel – particularly in the times we are living in now – to understand cultures and how language and weather shapes a culture. We can all learn from the countries we visit, whether it’s a short city break or longer time away.
By applying these life lessons learnt on my travels, I hope to become a better person. Most have been humorous experiences…I feel blessed to be a “Jack of all trades.”
1. Being spat on in Greece is not necessarily a bad thing
I wrote a post about some of the customs in my adopted country. One of them, particularly by some elderly people, is to make a spitting sound and motion towards you. It’s seemingly quite random, and even weirder, seems to follow a kind act undertaken by yourself.
Example: In my first few weeks in Greece, I was helping an old woman pack her shopping into bags at the check-out. When we’d finished, she made this phlegmy noise and flicked her hands towards me, as if she wanted to flick spit at me. What on earth?!
Hear me out: Apparently, if you do a kind act, some elderly Greeks believe you might get jealously given to you, so they try to get ride of the evil jealousy by throwing something negative at it/you (are you following)? Because after all, why would jealousy want to hang out with someone with spit on them?!
OK, admittedly it’s not actual spittle, but you get the gist, I think.
Life Lesson: Not all negative and seemingly aggressive acts in a foreign country are as they seem.
2. Telling someone to ‘give me’ something, and not using the phrase ‘Please pass me (the salt)’, for example, is not necessarily a sign of rudeness.
Ahh us Brits, we’re so excessively polite aren’t we? We insert ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ so many times into just one sentence, it’s a wonder we actually get out what we really want to say.
When I started teaching English in Greece a few years back, I was amazed that the younger kids would come up to me and say
“Miss, give me a pen” or “Miss, give me a piece of paper.” You can read more here.
At first I would admonish them for not being polite, until I became more aware of the Greek language and in Greek, they don’t use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ anywhere near as much as the English language does. In fact, as a culture they find it odd to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to someone they know…and my example above? Why would you, therefore, say ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ to a member of your own family?! It’s reserved completely for strangers.
Life Lesson: Take time to actually understand the structure of another culture’s language before judging them when they speak English. At least they are making an effort to speak English.
Or if you don’t have the time or the luxury to understand their language, when someone speaks to you in English in a foreign country, whether on a short break or holiday, don’t necessarily jump to a negative conclusion as to their tone of voice/use of words.
Which leads me nicely onto example #:
3. More about language usage.
This time I will use the example of a short break I was on. I had visited Iceland with a friend (way before I ever started blogging) and we wanted to know where to find a certain restaurant.
We popped down to the Reception of our hotel and I asked the receptionist. The conversation went as follows:
Me: “Do you know where ….. restaurant is please?”
Receptionist: “Yes.”
Silence, in which my friend and I glance at each other.
Me: “Could you tell me where it is then please?”
Receptionist: “Of course, let me get you a map. Now then……”
Life Lesson (and note to self): Icelandic receptionist was not being rude or ironic, she was merely answering my question. I should have asked her: “Could you please tell me where the ….. restaurant is?” and she would have done that from the outset.
4. More humility is needed (this is my favourite life lesson from travelling and teaching abroad)
I was teaching English in Sri Lanka and at the end of my first week, on the Friday, the bell had rung and instead of rushing out of the door, the children all lined up and, one by one, proceeded to bow at my feet.
At first I was horrified, merely because my initial reaction was that I felt I didn’t deserve it.
The headmaster came in and explained to me that it is normal, in Sri Lankan culture, to show respect to their elders and especially teachers who are educating them to better themselves. As an addition; I had the right to refuse it, but it would severely insult them.
Life Lesson: Sometimes, even if we feel we’re not worthy, we need to accept that others feel we are and accept they will show it to us. And we must accept it with grace and respect. It’s humbling, it really is.
5. Just because a culture takes a siesta does not mean they are lazy
Oh this is a pet peeve of mine! Ever since southern European countries have been taken to task by the north – especially Greece – I see so much printed in the press about this put upon country.
So I would like to clear something up – and this involves weather and climate…a factor I mention in my Introduction to this piece;
Weather dictates so much of how we live our lives. The southern European countries lead an outdoor lifestyle: cafes, coffee culture, ‘three hour’ lunches because their weather is gorgeous enough to warrant it. In fact, in the summer when temperatures can reach 40 degrees in the cities, smaller shops will open early, close in the afternoon for a few hours then re-open when it’s cooler.
And the same applies to businesses too. In fact, I have managed to get a dental and Dr’s appointment at 8pm at night! I know for a fact you can’t do that in Britain.
Life Lessons: The weather and climate dictates how a culture goes about their daily life. Don’t judge them for it or draw harsh conclusions because it differs from your own.
What have your life lessons been as you travel? How has travel opened your eyes to the world?
Share here in the Comments and join in the #travellessons Twitter chat.
Founded in 1989, CocoMat never started out as a hotel. The company actually makes beds and furniture, but it’s so much more than that…because these beds are luxury, or beyond luxury in my option, and that’s not an exaggeration.
Despite any hosted services, all opinions remain my own
| Originally written in FEB17 | Updated and re-posted in MAY20 |
Why?
It’s not only their comfort level, the fact that all CocoMat’s products are made from natural material or the fact they believe in supporting local NGO’s and contributing to the local community…no, for me it’s the fact that they don’t just pay lip service to the assertion they respect all their staff and feel all their employees have a say in how the company can improve, and it’s the fact that their products are hand made in their factory in Northern Greece – a town called Xanthi – where local people work who follow traditional carpentry methods, use locally sourced materials such as wool, wood, cotton and seaweed (yes, you read that right!).
CocoMat Mattresses
To me, this respect towards its staff, the environment and community shows the product is made with love and care – and this will reflect in the ‘vibe’ of the product, if that makes sense. I truly believe that.
Cocomat Hotels
Skip forward to 2012 and CocoMat opens its first hotel in the northern suburbs of Athens, Kifissia, the Hotel Nafsika, where I had the pleasure of staying. In January 2016, CocoMat revealed their newest establishment, CocoMat Kolonaki – located in downtown Athens, a stone’s throw away from Parliament (Syntagma) Square and all that central Athens has to offer. It’s a great place to stay in you want to be well located for all the sights Athens has to offer. My Insider’s Guide to Visiting Athens can help you with your planning.
Researching for Rough Guides has recently allowed me the pleasure of experiencing the hotel side of this company. I have stayed in hotels that offer CocoMat’s luxury bedding and products, for example at Kokkini Porta Rossa on the Greek island of Rhodes, so I knew what to expect: nothing short of an excellent night’s sleep, at least. So let’s delve deeper into the ‘CocoMat Kolonaki experience’, as I like to phrase it.
Don’t be fooled by CocoMat Kolonaki’s entranceway…this is a priority!
This may sound like an odd thing to point out, but I feel it’s important. CocoMat have a wonderful philosophy of combining their whole product together, which in practice means that you enter the hotel from the Ground Floor shop level then make your way down to the Lower Ground Floor Reception area. So, don’t be confused if your UBER or taxi or Google Maps drops or directs you right outside their shop…the door is open and you just need to go to the Lower Floor to check in (there is an elevator to take you down if you’re coming with a lot of luggage). The building is an old 1935 apartment block, which in Athens are usually quite ugly unfortunately. But this has been completely refurbished to its current minimalist and relaxed style. You can see the wooden panels that adorn the front give it a modern twist that actually cover the balconies of the front facing ‘Boulevard’ Rooms and can be moved to adjust the amount of light to let in. A modern version of the ‘tents’ that one usually has on their balconies.
CocoMat Kolonaki rooms
The total number of rooms and suites at CocoMat Kolonaki is forty-two. They’re divided into three styles:
Boulevard (front) rooms: €210 per night inc. breakfast (August price)
Urban (back) rooms: €190 per night inc. breakfast (August price)
Sleep Tight (internal) rooms: €160 per night inc. breakfast (August price)
All rooms feature the famous CocoMat bed and bedding and whilst the Boulevard Rooms feature those great sliding wooden panels, the Urban Rooms are quieter as they’re at the back of the building. The Sleep Tight rooms can be considered cozy. Whilst they don’t offer a view, they do have an inner window and the rooms have been decorated to a very high standard.
Floors 4, 5 and 6 offer the suites and I was offered a 35 sq metre Urban Suite on the 5th floor. The aesthetics and layout, plus my small balcony, let in plenty of light and my combined bed/sitting area made me literally feel I was at home. Bath robes and slippers are provided and to launch myself into bed after a monsoon shower was sheer pleasure. I felt like a Disney princess!
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Cocomat Roof terrace
My favourite part of the building, apart from the suite. Located on the 7th floor of the building and with sweeping vistas past the Acropolis out to sea and a small herb garden – ingredients used in CocoMat’s cooking – look at their back wall and you’ll see it tastefully adorned with ironic street art by Dimitris Liossis. It really brightens the place up, giving it a relaxed feel and a pleasure to sit on spring and summer evenings.
George Pertesis, CocoMat Kolonaki’s General Manager, arranged my stay and was the perfect host. At the very beginning of this post, I mentioned that CocoMat’s philosophy is to treat their staff as they would treat their customers: with respect and honour…and to understand that every staff member has a contribution to make. This is reflected as it came across as if all members of staff genuinely enjoyed their work, so this reflected in the service provided.
No uniforms, just a casual style yet not affecting the professionalism of the staff. Yes, CocoMat Kolonaki’s prices reflect the high quality of their product, but they understand that high quality does not have to necessarily mean ‘snobbishness’ or ‘pretentiousness’. And you won’t find either at CocoMat. What you WILL find is luxury within a relaxed atmosphere and leave with a feeling of genuine Greek philoxenia: a Greek life philosophy of friendship, hospitality and love.
CocoMat Kolonaki Athens Breakfast
You can research CocoMat Kolonaki’s prices and book here (note: I will receive a little bit of commission, at no extra cost to you). It’s a hotel perfectly placed for exploring Athens, yet so comfortable you will probably not want to leave the premises!
Enjoy your stay or, more accurately, your CocoMat Kolonaki experience.
CP Slippers reached out to me recently, after seeing I review travel products. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I received the lovely email from their Founder and Director, Oscar Arenas, so I investigated further before I committed.
**Note: Despite any complimentary products, all thoughts and opinions remain my own**
| Originally Written in MAR 17 | Updated in APR 20 |
My research uncovered a lovely story of an original peasant family from the 1960s, migrating from the region of Andalusia in Spain to the Southern Spanish city of Elche, near Alicante. Why? Because they moved away from the agricultural work and desired to make foot ware for the “big names in American foot ware”.
On their website, Oscar continues by telling us that his grandfather payed a visit to Japan in 1981 and became intrigued by the fact the Japanese removed their foot ware after having been outside and wore slippers around the house (makes sense to me; I take my shoes off immediately and usually slip on a pair of thick woolly socks).
When Oscar’s grandfather returned to Spain, he started making little slippers out of one piece of leather, stitching one piece together – just for friends and family initially.
CP Slippers was born.
Oscar reminisces;
I still remember the first time my grandfather gave me a pair of CP Slippers; that feeling of my little foot sliding into those slippers and the marvelous feeling of direct contact with the smooth leather, the comfort was comparable to walking around the house barefoot. That first feeling marked me forever. Years later, after training as a craftsman in leather working, CP Slippers was founded to share with the world the passion that I kept so fondly from my childhood.
The company is a small one, employing highly skilled local craftspeople (the focus, for me anyway, on local). I love the fact that CP Slippers has survived the corporate world by staying small, employing highly skilled locals and supporting the local economy.
And so, once your calfskin leather slipper has been cut, shaped and stitched, it’s ready to be sent off to you (they ship worldwide).
CP Slippers – where they ship to
So that’s a little about the origins of this family business. Now let’s test drive the product.
A review of CP Slippers
As mentioned above, in Asian cultures shoes are automatically removed when you come into the house…even at the front door. In fact, this interesting (and a bit frightening!) article on Next Shark gives some fascinating facts as to why everybody should really start removing their shoes. OK, I have slippers and woolly socks that I mooch around the house in, so what makes CP Slippers so special?
Oscar mentioned how he loved the feeling of his ‘little feet in direct contact with smooth leather’ and that it felt as if he was walking around barefoot. I have to say, after trialing out my CP slippers, I’d have to agree; they are certainly very soft.
LifeBeyondBorders testing out CP Slippers
My only negative observation is that I find it a little difficult to actually walk in them as they aren’t shaped like a shoe. I find myself shuffling around the house in them (maybe like they do in Asia?) – but could this be because they’ve not been broken in properly yet, or maybe I need a smaller size (leather, after all, stretches). I ordered my normal shoe size.
Time will tell I guess – but one thing’s for sure; with a range of colours to suite all tastes, and male and female sizes and yes, that soft feel against your foot…overall the experience is one of comfort.
