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Beautiful coast and village scenery abounds in Mani, The Luxury of Remoteness — a 4.5-minute video by TAK Films & Frames
Rugged beauty: Thanks to amazing experiences in the Peloponnese during three visits in the past three years, the region has become one of our favourite holiday destinations in Greece. Though we have covered considerable ground, there’s one significant part of the Peloponnese remaining on our bucket list — the Mani.
A rugged and remote peninsula, the Mani appeals to us not only because it’s off the busy tourist routes, but also since its scenic highlights include marvellous coastal landscapes, picturesque fishing ports, charming Byzantine churches and historic ancient sites, and fascinating fortified villages like Vathia, which boasts a striking skyline of imposing stone tower houses.
We’re even more keen to visit the Mani after viewing the video above, which was produced by TAK Film & Frames and posted to its Facebook page just two days ago.
Should watching the 4-and-a-half-minute film pique your own interest or curiosity in the Mani, here are a few articles and online resources you can peruse for further information, inspiration and advice:
♦ Inside the Mani — an online guide to travel in the southern Peloponnese;
♦ Europe’s hidden coasts: The Deep Mani, Greece — an article published by the travel section of The Guardian newspaper;
♦ The Mani Region page of the Feel Greece travel website, along with the related blog post 10 things you must do in Deep Mani;
♦ The Discover Greece web page Mani: Land of tower houses and castles, wild and untamed;
♦ The Mani page on the Hip Greece website for independent travellers;
♦ The article Spring Destination: Wild yet gentle Outer Mani, from the Greece Is travel, gastronomy and culture website; and
♦ The post Exploring Mani in the depth of the Peloponnese, from the travel blog Two Travelling Greeks.
The Mani peninsula is pinpointed by the red marker on this Google map of the Peloponnese region of Greece
A scenic view from Santorini appears on the cover of the June Sunday Times Travel Magazine, which includes a 24-page “Total Guide” to Greece
Travel tips: Spring is the time when international lifestyle magazines and travel publications typically turn their attention to Greece, and that has been the case again this year.
When I browsed newsstands while we were in Greece from late May until mid-June, and here at home after returning from our holidays, I noticed numerous magazines that featured cover stories or major articles focussed on travel to Greece.
The two periodicals that appeared the most interesting and informative were the June edition of The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, which I purchased at Athens International Airport prior to our return flight, and the June/July issue of National Geographic Traveler, which I bought at my favourite local bookstore a few days ago.
A photo from Santorini island appears on the eye-catching turquoise and white cover of the Sunday Times magazine, where the main cover line proclaims: “We’ve found the tiny, timeless idylls you’re dreaming of” — all revealed in a 24-page Total Guide inside.
The guide includes:
♦ tips on island hopping by ferry in the Cyclades, Dodecanese and Argo-Saronic archipelagos;
♦ short profiles of “heavenly” 5-star hotels on Naxos, Crete, Santorini, Sifnos, and Mykonos islands, as well as in Halikidi, the Peloponnese and the Athens Riviera;
♦ an article about the Arcadia region of the eastern Peloponnese;
♦ highlights of three places, away from the “holiday hotspots,” where visitors can “find solitude in a Greece untouched by time: lost in nature, rich in ancient, spiritual sites”;
♦ advice for low-cost weekend getaways to Athens, Thessaloniki and Kefalonia; and
♦ recommendations for exclusive rental villas and luxurious all-inclusive resorts.
In the feature article “New Greek Odyssey,” Christopher Vourlias relates what he learned about “home, heroes and Hellenic heritage” during a trip to his father’s ancestral village in Central Greece.
The theme of the National Geographic Traveler issue is “Trips to Change Your Life,” and includes two features on Greece:
♦ the intriguing article “New Greek Odyssey,” in which writer Christopher Vourlias describes the personally insightful trip he took with his father to the latter’s home village in Agrafa, a mountain region of Central Greece; and
♦ An “insider’s guide to the best of Greece” — short profiles of specific recommended places to visit for food & drink, history & artifacts, islands & beaches, and culture & people.
And as you would expect, the articles in both magazines are illustrated with tantalizing photos of Greek destinations, monuments, and scenery that will make you feel wistful for a trip to Greece — even if, as was the case with me, you may have just had a holiday there.
Nafplio waterfront view to the Bourtzi sea fortress
Back again: Exactly two years ago, we travelled to Nafplio for the first time and spent a full week exploring areas in and around the town. We liked it so much we decided it was high time to come back for a return visit. And here we are, enjoying Nafplio just as much as we did the first time. It truly is one of our favourite places in all of Greece.
Below are some sights and scenes from our first couple of days in the historic Old Town district of the picturesque seaside town. I will publish more images in separate posts.
A canopy of bougainvillea in a lane in the Old Town district of Nafplio
Cafes and palm trees along the Nafplio waterfront promenade
A rustic building on a street corner in the Nafplio Old Town
The MSC Poesia cruise ship, viewed from the Arvanitia coastal promenade. Daytrippers from the cruise gave the Old Town a lively buzz, but didn’t overcrowd the streets or make the town feel uncomfortably busy in any way.
The Banieres swimming area on the Nafplio waterfront is a popular place for locals to sunbathe or take a dip in the sea
One of the colourful pedestrian streets in the commercial area of the Old Town
The Palamidi Castle (top) and the historic Land Gate, the original main entrance to the Nafplio Old Town
An evening view of the Old Town, from a point roughly two-thirds of the way up the nearly 1,000 steps to the Palamidi Castle
A steep flight of steps leading to the mountaintop Palamidi Castle. I counted 80 stairs on this particular stretch of the climb to the top.
It’s much easier to reach the Acronauplia fortress, one of the three castles at Nafplio, since considerably less stair climbing is involved. This is the stepped path leading from the upper Old Town to one of the Acronauplia entrance portals.
Coast and sea views from the Acronauplia fortress
Acronauplia fortress views of the sea, coast and Arvanitia beach
Part of Arvanitia, a stone and pebble beach that’s popular with locals and tourists alike since it’s only a short walking distance from the Old Town
From a vantage point in the Acronauplia fortress, a view of Syndagma Square (upper right) and the first Greek Parliament building — the building with the domed roof at center left. Nafplio was the capital of Greece from 1823 until 1834, when the Parliament was relocated to Athens.
A quiet morning moment at Syndagma Square, which is lined with cafes, shops, restaurants and the archaeological museum (top)
A street in the pedestrianized commercial area of the Old Town
A long flight of steps on a hillside lane in the Old Town
Part of Kapodistriou Street, where our accommodations were located
A lane near the top of the Old Town’s hillside area
A peek at the exterior of the Catholic church in the Old Town
Philellinon Square and the memorial to the French soldiers who fought for Greece in the country’s war of independence
A restaurant patio along one of the main pedestrian streets in the commercial heart of the Old Town
Steps in a narrow hillside lane in the Old Town
Nafplio waterfront view to the Bourtzi sea fortress
People can take a small excursion boat to visit the castle. The trips are offered daily and cost €4.50 per person; they include a 20 minute stop for a walkabout on the castle islet (the interior of the fortress is closed for maintenance construction) and a short ride along the waterfront so passengers can enjoy sea views of the Old Town.
The Arvanitia coastal promenade and the Banieres swimming area of Nafplio
A tree-shaded section of the Arvanitia coastal promenade that leads from the Nafplio Old Town to Arvanitia beach
View from the promenade toward Arvanitia beach and the Palamidi Castle, partially visible on the mountain peak at upper right
The waterfront promenade is lined with palm trees on one side, and boats on the other
A rustic corner building on a hilltop in the Old Town
Filmmaker/photographer Raphael Pöham created this captivating short video of enchanting scenery on five islands in the Cyclades
Mesmerizing moments: Filmmaker Raphael Pöham took a trip to Greece last year, and produced this stunning video souvenir of scenic holiday highlights from the five Cyclades islands he visited — Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Sifnos and Folegandros.
The film’s views of beautiful beach, landscape and sunset scenery brilliantly illustrate why the Cyclades island chain is so immensely alluring to travellers from around the world.
The film runs for three minutes, and I enjoyed it so much I wish it had been longer — I really wanted to see more! It also made me feel eager to plan a return trip to the Cyclades. We have already been to each of the islands that Raphael spotlighted, and recognized most of the scenes in his film, but the video makes me yearn to visit those places again.
Give Raphael’s video a look and see if it puts you in a similarly dreamy Cyclades state of mind, too!
Scorpios wraps up its 2018 season with a weekend of closing events, including its final Unplugged event on Friday September 28, the last World program on Saturday the 29th, and the club’s season closing Sunday Ritual on September 30
Cavo Paradiso ends its 25th anniversary season with a Full Moon closing party on Tuesday September 25, with music by DJs Argie, Anxid and Heavy G
Beach parties take place daily at Tropicana until the club’s big season closing party on Sunday October 21
Each year you can tell that the Mykonos party season is almost over when Skandinavian Bar holds its closing party. This year it’s on Tuesday October 9.
~ updated on Saturday December 1 2018 ~
Below is a listing of promotional flyers for parties scheduled to take place on Mykonos during August and September 2018.
Events will be added to this page when they are announced, so check back for updates.
Bear in mind that many parties may not be announced until only a day or two before they take place. Some parties are advertised only locally on Mykonos, so when you are on the island, keep on the lookout for posters and club promotional staff who visit popular beaches and Mykonos Town to provide information about special events.
For more information about specific events, pricing and admission policies, or to make table reservations or to purchase advance tickets, contact the bars and clubs directly.
To see party listings for September 2018, click here.
To see events taking place in October and November 2018, click here.
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This is the international DJ lineup for Cavo Paradiso in August
Every day throughout August, Kivotos Hotel at Ornos presents Poolside Rituals, during which DJ / Producer Constantin Nasiri “takes you to an a eclectic ethnic/bohemian musical journey.” The ritual starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m.
Alemagou will be hosting more than 10 events during August 2018. The featured artists and their appearance dates are indicated on the promotional poster shown above.
XLSIOR Festival, the biggest annual party event on Mykonos, takes place this year from August 22 to 29 at beach clubs and various venues in Mykonos Town. A roster of top international DJs will appear for 11 major events.
SantAnna will throw its F*** Me I’m Famous! pool party every Saturday evening in August
Void has special DJ acts and events every night of August, with some artists & parties still to be announced for the month
CLICK HERE to see a list of events that take place on either a daily or regularly weekly schedule until the end of August.
SEE PAGE 2 FOR MORE AUGUST EVENTS
SEE PAGE 3 FOR SEPTEMBER PARTIES AND SEASON CLOSING EVENTS
SEE PAGE 4 FOR OCTOBER PARTIES AND SEASON CLOSING EVENTS
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Looking for party listings for 2019? Click here!
Singer Shaya Hansen, saxophonist Tiago Astori and DJ Mr Mike entertain daily at Kalua, along with DJs Nick Aggelidis and Freespirit
Junior Pappa, My Excuse, Rodge, Mahmut Orhan and Tanja LaCroix are among the special guest acts who will be appearing at Kalua in July.
Alemagou will be holding 9 special events during July 2018. Artists and their appearance dates are shown on the promotional poster above.
The F*** Me I’m Famous! pool parties — the French Cathy and David Guetta brand of “sexy and provocative parties with luxurious production in world class venues with a fantastically glamorous crowd” — are coming to SantAnna every Saturday evening during July.
Void has special DJ entertainment each night during July, with some artists still to be announced for the club’s event lineup this month
This is the international DJ schedule for July at Cavo Paradiso
Whispers is a new “seaside sunset concept” event being held every Saturday at Branco throughout July
Starting Wednesday July 4, Belvedere Hotel will pay homage “to vinyl records inspired by the sounds of Mykonos and the nostalgic era” with a poolside sunset party every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening until August 25. The Poolside Nights will feature “a curated selection of rare soul, funk, jazz, and R&B rooted disco” played by DJs Lou Hayter, Fiona Jane and Izy.
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~ updated on Tuesday July 31 2018 ~
Below is a listing of promotional flyers for parties scheduled to take place on Mykonos during July 2018.
Events will be added to this page when they are announced, so check back for updates. Be sure to refresh your browser so you will see newly-added updates; often events are added to this page several times per day.
Bear in mind that many parties may not be announced until only a day or two before they take place. Some parties are advertised only locally on Mykonos, so when you are on the island, keep on the lookout for posters and club promotional staff who visit popular beaches and Mykonos Town to provide information about special events.
For more information about specific events, pricing and admission policies, or to make table reservations or to purchase advance tickets, contact the bars and clubs directly.
To see a list of regularly scheduled events that take place either every day or once weekly, click here.
To see a listing of Mykonos parties and events for May and June 2018, click here.
For a list of events taking place in August and September 2018, click here.
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Mimi, B2B and FY will appear at Moni on Sunday July 1
Benny Benassi plays Cavo Paradiso on Sunday July 1, with support by Rivaz
The program for The Sunday July 1 sunset program at Scorpios features music by Kaz James, Nic Fanciulli, Jean Claude Ades and Sneaky Sound System
SEE PAGE 2 FOR EVENTS TAKING PLACE FROM JULY 2 TO 7
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Greece gets front-cover prominence on the cover of the Lonely Planet newsstand issue for May 2018
The secret’s out: I had a strong hunch I might find something interesting to read about Greece when I walked into the magazine department at my local bookstore yesterday. When I turned into the travel section, my premonition instantly proved accurate — standing at eye level on the front shelf was the latest edition of Lonely Planet, its cover graced with a photo of a blue-roofed Greek Orthodox church illustrating its “Secret Greece” feature story.
In another pleasant delight, I realized I had seen that very same church in person — on Astypalea, during our island hopping holiday in 2009.
Astypalea is one of seven islands featured in Lonely Planet’s May issue and, in another curious coincidence, the article about it recommends staying in the very accommodations where we spent several nights: Fildisi Boutique Hotel.
The magazine highlights two other islands we have been to — Hydra and Sifnos — and, in yet another surprising stroke of serendipity, spotlights four more that I had been seriously considering for our upcoming vacation: Lesvos, Chios, Ikaria and Kythera. (We have already made plans to spend our time in and within sight of the Peloponnese, but Lonely Planet suddenly has me wondering if I may have made a mistake.)
The main focus of the magazine’s Great Escape cover feature is the Northeast Aegean group of Greek islands; specifically, Lesvos, Chios and Ikaria. Stepping ashore on these particular isles “introduces olive farmers and wild honey, hidden villages and untouched beaches, and perhaps the secret to long life,” the feature story introduction says.
Reading the Lesvos profile quickly made me crave Greek cuisine, though I should have expected that given the article’s headline: “Savour the many flavours of Greece on Lesvos, from olive oil to ouzo and orange wine.”
The second feature story invites readers to “discover a centuries-old tradition of mastic cultivation and the fortress-like villages that grew rich from it” in southern Chios.
The third main article introduces Ikaria, one of the world’s unique Blue Zone locations where residents “enjoy longer lives than anyone else in Europe.”
One-page mini profiles for Astypalea, Kythera, Sifnos and Hydra appear in the magazine’s “Secret Greece” feature as examples that, “even in the well-known Greek island groups,” visitors can find “the odd place that’s little changed over the decades.” Each profile includes short thumbnail descriptions for “Why am I going?”, “Where should I stay?”, “What am I eating?”, and “What am I drinking?”
The island articles are all good reads, and just might entice you to consider the Northeast Aegean for a future trip to Greece, especially if you haven’t considered that region of the country before. (They probably will make you feel peckish for Greek food and beverages, too.)
See if you can find a copy of the magazine at your local newsstand before it sells out.