Cracking read Josh! Felt like I was there with you guys embracing the smell of the “fragrant” bins 😂 and yes can totally relate with the hazy 4am felafel stands in Australia! You definitely capture the similar experience we had in Greece.
Cheers Duncan! Yeah… those bins were proper funky-town. The mountain towns are so worth the visit, I just struggle to see how they can attract tourism dollar in peak season with the heat. Maybe it’s Spring/Autumn hiking.
Love it Josh. I confess I'm a super harsh critic of anything written in Greece but I love the rhythm and wit mixed with reverance and reality in this piece. As well as a fine piece about Kardamyli in August it's a great piece of writing & if you care for my opinion. (I think it's nice to give feedback when most of us aren't professional writers - I think - but are full time readers 😉)
I also found Exochori so quiet that we were 'sneaking' and whispering. We felt absolutely that people were watching us! Maybe from inside what appeared to be abandoned buildings 😂 but how intriguing about the new cafe.
Ευχαριστώ Rowena, being such a worldly, well-travelled and informed local, and knowing you've enjoyed time on the Mani (hiked too!) – your opinion means a lot. 🫶🏻
It really is so quiet up in the mountain towns! Eerily silent. I went for another drive up the windy roads yesterday afternoon. The views from up high are breathtaking.
You are SO well informed! I tried to book the tour of Patrick's house but it was completely full months ago. It's only open for an hour, once a week from memory. He's next on my reading list after (soon finishing) Kitchen Confidential - A. Bourdain.
Good lord — did you just say “gyros post-clubbing at 4am?!” I think I just had a 30-year flashback!! 😵💫 Also I’m getting Lonely-Planet-in-first-person vibes with this awesome article. Love it!! 👏🏼
That’s a generous compliment Camila, thank you! I was reading some of the late, and talented A.A. Gill’s travel writing recently. I was inspired how I felt included, right there ‘on the journey’ with him.
Thanks Imke! I know you loved exploring (and writing about) this part of Greece just as much as I have. I think it’s a peak August/Sunday thing that means the more famous spots pack out. Yesterday we did the morning run to Delfinia beach just around the corner… so beautiful! I’ll share a pic sometime. 🏖️
Thanks so much! It's a bit out of the way, but worth the extra adventure. I'm doing my best to plant seeds for your return to Greece... sometime soon. 😉
Cracking read Josh! Felt like I was there with you guys embracing the smell of the “fragrant” bins 😂 and yes can totally relate with the hazy 4am felafel stands in Australia! You definitely capture the similar experience we had in Greece.
Cheers Duncan! Yeah… those bins were proper funky-town. The mountain towns are so worth the visit, I just struggle to see how they can attract tourism dollar in peak season with the heat. Maybe it’s Spring/Autumn hiking.
See you at 4am in the queue! 😂
Love it Josh. I confess I'm a super harsh critic of anything written in Greece but I love the rhythm and wit mixed with reverance and reality in this piece. As well as a fine piece about Kardamyli in August it's a great piece of writing & if you care for my opinion. (I think it's nice to give feedback when most of us aren't professional writers - I think - but are full time readers 😉)
I also found Exochori so quiet that we were 'sneaking' and whispering. We felt absolutely that people were watching us! Maybe from inside what appeared to be abandoned buildings 😂 but how intriguing about the new cafe.
Ευχαριστώ Rowena, being such a worldly, well-travelled and informed local, and knowing you've enjoyed time on the Mani (hiked too!) – your opinion means a lot. 🫶🏻
It really is so quiet up in the mountain towns! Eerily silent. I went for another drive up the windy roads yesterday afternoon. The views from up high are breathtaking.
Steady on, I wouldn’t call me worldly or well-informed, I just get around! Though clearly not as much as the Laiki traders do!
It’s really something else up there. Have you read Patrick Leigh Formentor’s Mani? I’m part way through.
You are SO well informed! I tried to book the tour of Patrick's house but it was completely full months ago. It's only open for an hour, once a week from memory. He's next on my reading list after (soon finishing) Kitchen Confidential - A. Bourdain.
OMG only an hour in summer also. I'm sure that's not what he would have wanted when he bequeathed it. Sigh.
Love Bourdain. ⭐
Good lord — did you just say “gyros post-clubbing at 4am?!” I think I just had a 30-year flashback!! 😵💫 Also I’m getting Lonely-Planet-in-first-person vibes with this awesome article. Love it!! 👏🏼
Thank you for the read!🫶🏻 Surely I saw you there... post-podium?
I was a loyal (too) regular at Olympic Gyros on Oxford St, Sydney. Should've had gold membership!
Goodness Oxford St lol. I lived in Sydney 1998-2001 ridiculously fun times. So many memories I can't remember!!
took me back to my own greek world a couple of years back https://thereallloydwilliams.substack.com/p/anchored-down-with-olives-and-lemons?r=86m7vj
Must be great to have the journal to reflect and remember your travels. That pool looks amazing!
Very nice post! Your writing makes me feel like I'm there with you!
That’s a generous compliment Camila, thank you! I was reading some of the late, and talented A.A. Gill’s travel writing recently. I was inspired how I felt included, right there ‘on the journey’ with him.
Very nice read, and discovered some new places! When we were there, foneas beach was not crowded by the way (but we were there in the morning).
Thanks Imke! I know you loved exploring (and writing about) this part of Greece just as much as I have. I think it’s a peak August/Sunday thing that means the more famous spots pack out. Yesterday we did the morning run to Delfinia beach just around the corner… so beautiful! I’ll share a pic sometime. 🏖️
Very nice observations.
Thanks Hayley. Kardamyli’s a very write-worthy part of Greece.
We are planning to be in Greece this spring.
Beautiful reminder of my holiday in Greece. I will go to some places you mentioned the next time
Thanks so much! It's a bit out of the way, but worth the extra adventure. I'm doing my best to plant seeds for your return to Greece... sometime soon. 😉
We are usually in the Ermionida for holidays- so your story was especially interesting for me. I hope you find a way to return soon
Lucky you. We spent a few weeks on Spetses last month. We didn't make it over to the mainland. Still so much to see...
Here's a link to the Spetses post if you'd like a read:
https://www.glomad.com/p/11-spetses-the-perfect-summer-slowdown
What a dreamy time of it! Don't you love the laissez-faire approach to the sun in Europe compared to Australia?!