In part two of our trip around the Peloponnese we went to Polilimnio and the Mani. It was time to leave the Mani even though we'd only had time to see a tiny part of it. We headed south to Areopoli and through the mountain pass towards Gytheio with a quick swimming stop at Mavrovouni… Continue reading The Peloponnese – Monemvasia and Elafonissos
Author: Tina Lavelle
The Peloponnese – Polilimnio and the Mani
In part one of our trip around the Peloponnese we went to Ancient Messene, Pylos and Methoni Castle. After two nights it was time to leave 'sandy Pylos', as it was called by Homer. We were going to head east across Messinia, go straight through Kalamata, and then drive south down the second finger, the… Continue reading The Peloponnese – Polilimnio and the Mani
The Peloponnese – Ancient Messene, Pylos and Methoni Castle
We've recently returned from a week's driving tour around the Peloponnese - a holiday within a holiday, if you will. We'd been in Zakynthos for two and a half months by mid-June, and once the boys finished school it seemed like a great time to head off for a bit of exploring. I'd previously been… Continue reading The Peloponnese – Ancient Messene, Pylos and Methoni Castle
School’s out!
School's out for summer! At least it is in Greece, where the kids get a cool 12 weeks off for their summer holidays. On Friday evening we attended Lithakia Primary School's end of year concert, which was held in the school yard as the sun set behind Megalo Vouni (the "big mountain" behind Lithakia). Our… Continue reading School’s out!
Zakynthos Update
Okay, this is going to be more of a newsy blog with an update of all the little bits and pieces that we've been up to lately. We've been here just over five weeks now, and Spring is in full bloom. There was a frenzy of activity in the fields about a week ago with… Continue reading Zakynthos Update
Making ladotiri – the local cheese of Zakynthos
Our good friend, Yorgo, is a self-sufficiency guru. Not in the modern "let's escape consumerism and go back to our roots" kind of way but out of tradition, inclination, and to a large part, necessity. A lot of the people around here have never escaped from their "roots" and take pride in growing a lot… Continue reading Making ladotiri – the local cheese of Zakynthos
Loucha Village
χωριό Λούχα, Village of Loucha Taking advantage of a beautiful spring day, we hopped in the car and drove through the mountain range that dominates the west side of the island, to a little village called Loucha. One the highest villages in Zakynthos, Loucha is nestled in a triangular-shaped green valley. The village was created… Continue reading Loucha Village
26 Days in Vienna with Kids – the Budget
We recently spent most of the month of March in Austria - mainly in Vienna but with a weekend in Salzburg, and a couple of days trips as well. So how much did we spend for a family of four? A total of €1373, or AUD1909. That was an average of €52.80 per day, or… Continue reading 26 Days in Vienna with Kids – the Budget
Springtime in Zakynthos
So we've finally arrived in Koukla after our one month detour to Central and Eastern Europe. We came the old fashioned way, by bus from Athens, and then by ferry from the port of Kyllini to Zakynthos town. We were lucky enough to travel on the brand new, deluxe ferry "Fior di Levante" which made… Continue reading Springtime in Zakynthos
Paddy Leigh Fermor’s Trilogy
I must confess to a bit of an obsession with Paddy Leigh Fermor. You know that hypothetical game - "Which historical figure/famous person would you most like to meet?" Well, my answer would be Paddy. Writer, adventurer, war hero, and traveller, he combined intelligence with charm and curiosity. I only really heard of him about… Continue reading Paddy Leigh Fermor’s Trilogy
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