Once again, I am pleased to share photos from my Greek travels with you. This time, I am picking some from our visit to Loutraki last fall, during the day of our cruise along the Corinth canal.
Loutraki made us very envious that day, seeing that the weather forecast had warned of high winds and chilly weather, but instead, we found ourselves in a scorching summer paradise that made us sorry we never packed our swimsuits!
So, we watched others bathe in the clear waters of the Corinthian Gulf, and the views were so alluring we wanted to cry (haha). But the real sorry sight was that of the Katarraktes Cafe, or rather, what was left of it…
We headed there, eager to sit for a coffee in the shade with the pleasing sound of rushing waters in our ears, but sadly, we found it forlorn and derelict. The beautiful wood we recalled from last time was all burnt, and the big pool where the fountains used to be was now empty and decaying.
The many waterfalls that were once cascading over the mountain side were all gone and our hearts wept. I have no idea what happened to this place, and we didn’t know about the fire.
Such a sorry sight. I am only sharing it to save you the needless walk that we had there, as it is situated at a fair distance out of town. We walked there in the scorching heat after our lunch only to return straight back into town to find another place to sit in the shade.
We had lunch at a family taverna called Plaza on the beach. It was an excellent choice as the food was delicious, the staff courteous and the prices more than fair. There is a hotel with the same name at the same building.
The cafe we went to, however, was a poor choice, so I won’t name it. It was hugely expensive, with not enough value to even justify the high prices. They also allowed smoking, so we had our coffees and desserts in a white toxic haze from the smokers and I tried not to cough, LOL
There are plenty of other cafes for us to choose next time in this cosmopolitan, marvellous town, thank goodness.
Loutraki is a highly recommended destination for a short or long break, with plenty of hotels and eateries, but more importantly it is a town of natural spas, and they’re well worth a visit.
If you have a car you could take a day to visit the idyllic Lake Vouliagmeni (we swam there during an earlier visit, it was so serene) and, a little further away, the Lighthouse at Cape Melagavi with its marvellous views of the Corinthian Bay.
On a lower ground, and within walking distance from the lighthouse, you can visit a tiny bay for a dip in the sea, right next to the ruins of an ancient temple to Goddess Hera! We went there a few years back and I hope to return to it again some other time.
It certainly is worth the drive, about half hour from the centre of Loutraki, maximum 45 minutes or so, if my memory serves me well. Highly recommended to get to the peak where the lighthouse is, especially near sunset. It is a short and easy ascend on foot from where you will park, but do wear flat, comfortable shoes!
Fun things to do in Athens during the holiday season (some, all year round, actually😉
Two years ago, my husband Andy and I enjoyed a weekend in Athens marveling at the Christmas lights, especially at Psyrri. Christmas shopping in Ermou Street was fun, followed by lunch at our favorite Irish pub at Monastiraki.
We also had a full day at the SNFCC Foundation, a true gem of Athens, especially for the holiday season. It’s all packed in one post for your perusal. If you’re visiting the city of Athens for Christmas on any given year, it has all the details you need so you can sample too all the thrilling experiences that I did.
Either way, it will make you dream or reminisce. Enjoy!
Note: If you are in Athens this Christmas, here’s a tip: Other than the usual decorations at Psyrri and the Christmas tree at Syntagma square, I advise you to also check out the Christmas Village (market) at Pedio Areos on Alexandras Avenue (closest Metro station is Victoria). On New Year’s Eve this year, there won’t be just the one free-admission music concert, which typically takes place at Syntagma Square, but two! The second one will take place at Pedio Areos, featuring the popular band, Melisses. I hear they are doing a different free music concert over there every night on the run up to New Year’s Eve. The concert at Syntagma on New Year’s Eve will feature various artists, like Delivorias and Bofiliou. Will you go for that one or the one with Melisses? Either way, you’ll be guaranteed a jolly good time. Enjoy!
The future of online shopping is here!
Have you visited the Amazon Beyond Virtual Store yet? It is, simply put, the future of online shopping!
Amazon’s virtual store has been decked beautifully for the holidays, and it is filled with interactive content for your holiday shopping.
And, there is access to a virtual toy store too, so you can get marvelous gift ideas for the kids.
Go check it out and have fun exploring! 🎄🥳
Note: available only on Amazon US)
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