After having enjoyed visiting the Canary Islands for several years in the summer, my husband and I decided to choose Greece in 2015. Through Sunweb we booked a trip for 12 days to the unknown island of Samos. Upon arrival at the hotel 'Naftilos Boutique', we were allocated an apartment with a sea view, just like the other hotel guests. Every morning we enjoyed a simple but delicious breakfast in the open air that was waiting for us in the dining room of the hotel. At noon we sometimes had lunch on the upper terrace by the pool. From there we looked over the green surroundings to the sea, very relaxing. It was good to stay by the pool and on our balcony, we had made the right choice in terms of hotel and location!
Hotel Naftilos Boutique Hotel Naftilos Boutique
In the evenings we often walked via the main road to Pythagorion which was about 15 minutes walking distance from our hotel. When we first arrived at the village from above, we were pleasantly surprised by the authenticity of the village. Via a high white steep staircase, with narrow streets on both sides, we arrived at the boulevard. We were amazed; the harbor was full of small and large boats and we saw people all around us. In the vicinity and along the boulevard there were not only many restaurants, but there were also covered lounge bars. All this exuded a cozy and friendly atmosphere. I instantly fell in love with Pythagorion! In the evenings we liked to walk along the quay and through the surrounding streets to make a choice from one of the many restaurants. After dinner we always looked for a nice lounge bar where we ordered a delicious cocktail.
Pythagorion Pythagorion
Pythagorion has many sights worth seeing up close. We discovered a castle in the center, remains of, among other things, Roman baths and there was an Archaeological museum with excavations. We also visited the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani. The entrance through a cave, in which we came across a little chapel painted blue, gave us a special experience. When we came outside again, we stood on the wide terrace for a while to enjoy the beautiful view of Pythagorion and its surroundings.
Right next to our hotel there was a car rental company where we rented a car for seven consecutive days.
After driving for about an hour, our car's clutch suddenly broke. At that moment we were uphill, far from civilization, in the middle of nowhere. When we got out, my husband came up with the plan to turn the car so that he could drive it down the mountain with ease. When I asked him not to, he was already turning the wheel. "How he scared me!" I looked at the abyss and I thought: "My husband will fall into the depths." Nervously and with tears in my eyes I had to see that everything went exactly as he had planned. Before I got in I asked, "The brakes still work, right?" My husband convinced me that this was okay and slowly let the car drive downhill. ‘Pff, this was not fun, I really had to recover!’ After a while we passed a house where we saw two people sitting outside. Unfortunately, the husband and wife only spoke Greek, but with gestures we were able to explain what was going on. When my husband called the car rental company, the friendly Greek picked up the phone and explained to them where we were. “The company would send help, what a relief!” The couple motioned for us to sit down and gave us their spot in the shade. A little later we were surprised with Greek coffee and sweet treats. Then the friendly lady called her English speaking granddaughter and a nice conversation ensued. After about an hour and a half the rental company managed to reach us and we got another car at our disposal.
Greek coffeeGreek coffee
We loved driving through wooded areas or along steep mountains. Sometimes we drove on mountain roads without meeting anyone. We enjoyed the beautiful green nature and the wonderful peace around us with only the sound of the crickets. Now and then we made a stop at authentic mountain villages with their small church and nice streets. When we walked through a village at the hottest time of the day, you hardly saw any villagers. Although, we also once encountered a group of Greeks playing cards on a square in the shade. In some places, time seemed to have stood still, while other villages were responsive to tourists. When we noticed that a village had a Panorama restaurant, we gladly made the climb up despite the heat. Our performance was always rewarded with a fairytale view over the valley.
In a small quiet village
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