I'm used to the #peteren life, so I somehow explain why I always choose to spend my holidays in places that I walk around with my bare feet and stop where I feel something happening right then and there, something after my soul. Some would say that I like rudimentary places, I call them wild and sprinkled with tradition and a little luxury, where appropriate. The island of Lefkada has it all and in addition it gave me a day #atsea at sea. That's why I will always recommend holidays in Greece either by car so as not to stay in a single resort, or by boat at sea. In both options you have the chance to see and discover places that completely break you from large crowds of people and current times, and their beauty is unreal. We chose the option by car, we beat Lefkada far and wide, we slept in different places with reservations made at the moment, and one day I spent at sea and saw beaches that I won't be able to forget soon.
He was crying from exhaustion because we didn't listen and wanted to make the journey without stopping
Bucharest – Lefkada, two negative Covid 19 tests, QR Code done at the Greek border because I had forgotten and 14 hours on the road. I drove alone, a whole night and another half day, 1.100 km. It was with tears of fatigue because we didn't listen to make the trip with a stop. A night in Thessaloniki would have helped, but, in general, I consider myself a warrior, even though I sometimes suffer for it. But I recommend a break.
I arrived in Lefkada, not before passing through the tunnel built under the sea and having the feeling that the car engine dies on the folding bridge that connects the land of the country to the island. It was also the first meeting with thousands of boats, hundreds of sailboats and dozens of catamarans anchored in the port of Lefkada.
We started the release vacation without any well-defined plan, we didn't have fixed accommodations or places on the list to visit, but we prepared with many bottles of disinfectant, many, all of them. We booked the first two nights in Nikiana, 10 kilometers from Lefkada, the town. A beautiful, new, stylish apartment for 500 lei per night. I chose a medium tour, neither cheap nor expensive, but there are options for everyone 🙂
The port towns of Lefkada are full of life: Nidri, Vathi, Syvota with taverns and terraces. They were not full of tourists like in other years, you can feel a slight crisis there too. But such resorts are not necessarily to my taste. The sprawling stalls and the buzz made me think of Constinești in its full glory. Be careful though: the cleanliness, the villas set on the shore according to a plan that no one deviates from and the landscape did not make me think of anything on our coast at all . The next day the exploration began. We drove up a winding road through the mountain and went down to the shore, in front of us appeared the sea, a blue that I have never seen anywhere before, clear water, in places white sand or stones, fig trees or pine trees, everything is in contrast, but so harmoniously intertwined in a landscape that you can look at for hours.
We visited wild or lightly populated beaches, at the foot of crushed rocks or olive trees, diversity. On the Gealos beach, in the west of the island, adjacent to Egremni and Porto Katsiki, I also saw the first man who was gathering from the beach one piece after another, it was the moon and the sun was shining. On the beach we found a few sunbeds (5 euros), we chose a kind of completely wooden canopy - 25 euros, but on many beaches the sunbed is free with only one condition: to order something from the bar. It was also the only stop on a particularly beautiful beach.
Agios Nikitas is a poetic village: the alley leading to Milos beach is lined with white-painted, clay or stone houses, with shutters on the windows and flowers in all colors
It was six nights in three different places: two nights in Nikiana (apartment), another two nights in Agios Nikitas (an absolutely wonderful cottage - it's a family business, it runs the few villas, mother and son, and it's that place where n -I felt like disinfecting or cleaning, I was looking in amazement at how clean, neat and beautiful every corner is in the house with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and balcony – 220 euros, two nights.) Agios Nikitas is a village poetry: the alley leading to Milos beach is lined with white-painted, clay or stone houses, with shutters on the windows and flowers in all colors. Family taverns built on the foundations of old houses attract you to their terraces to eat the bread of the house with olive oil, octopus, calamari or the famous gyros. A hearty meal at lunch costs a maximum of 30 euros for two people, and at dinner somewhere around 50 euros, depending on the wine chosen.
I ate the best sheep liver in a family tavern in Fterno or the best goat at a tavern opened in June in the village of Karya. I saw the most beautiful sunset on the absolutely gorgeous terrace of a restaurant (Amante) near the village of Exanthia, a place known for its fabulous sunsets (also worth seeing is the Rachi or Fly Me restaurant). The last three restaurants are built in the mountains , facing the sea and arranged so that from any place on the terrace you can see a sunset torn from those photos with many filters on Instagram, only here the colors are earthy although it is hard to believe. They are all recently opened, at Amante the food is not great, even the administrators complained that they need help in the team, but the fight for a place on the terrace is great. Having a saxophonist play to you in the glow of the sunset while you grab the sweaty stem of a wine glass with your tanned hand and the whole sea turns red as it receives its old sun in its sleep… it's a sensation. And at Fly Me I saw a different kind of terrace: basically a sloping plateau, with mats for sitting and small tables for plates and drinks. Like it!
We anchored close to the wild beaches, we threw ourselves into the sea, at sea we fought the billows
The last two nights were spent closer to the island vibe in Vasiliki at a hotel by the sea. I visited Mikros Gealos or Poros, two villages where there are some superb villas for rent with an opening to the sea, but also beaches with crystal clear water. From Syvota, close to Vasiliki, we hired a boat and thus spent a whole day at sea. A little over 100 euros including fuel, it was well worth it. We anchored in wild beaches, we threw ourselves into the sea, in the open we fought with the waves or because of the strong wind, well, more Alex, I didn't know how not to bite my tongue with fear, but I got the most beautiful bronze and for several hours we repeated to ourselves: "This is freedom."
Syvota is also the village where you can eat fresh fish at dozens of terraces in the port. True, we would have expected that in this part of Greece everything would be based on what comes from the sea water as food, but we found more meat.
A different experience is in Lefkada, the town. Colorful old houses, narrow cobblestone alleys shaded by flowers. Touristy, but with its own charm.
Respect for food, architecture, beaches, values, heritage, people and tourism.
I stayed six days in the island of Lefkada and if I had to describe it in one word it would be: cherish. Respect for food, architecture, beaches, values, heritage, people and tourism. I found only beautiful: from impeccable accommodations (tended old houses and colors in the landscape, cleanliness, good taste, managers jumping and happy for guests) to legendary taverns, family businesses and more, that make food to lick literally on your fingers. Moreover, everything is correct: from the attitude, to the condition and prices. They realized that together they build their good. For six days on the Greek island I didn't feel cheated, but I felt that I enjoyed my presence, I didn't feel any business with the smell of cannon, let's go or this year we break. No, this means a tourism built for a lifetime and others that will follow as a legacy.
The rest is joy. Thank you, Lefkada! Forgive me, Greece , for giving you that "everyone goes there, Romanian" label, now I understand why and I promise to come back soon.
PS: A tip for those who have never been to Greece by car
For those who come to Greece by car, fuel is a little more expensive in the tourist areas: about 20 cents for diesel and 60 cents for gasoline. It's understandable, I can't do well in all chapters, with oil worse.
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