Tag: Astipalea (page 3 of 3)

Greece holiday pic of the day

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a car and scooter in Astipalea

Angle parking outside the village of Chora on Astipalea

 

 

Greece holiday pic of the day

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bee hives on Astipalea

Bee hives on a hillside in the Livadi area of Astipalea. The island’s locally-produced honey is wonderfully fragrant and flavourful.

 

 

Greece holiday pic of the day

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two buildings on Astipalea island

Two tall buildings on a steep hillside near Chora on Astipalea island

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Things I love about Greece: Waking up to gorgeous views at hotels in the Greek Islands (Part 4)

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Fildisi Hotel Astipalea view

Enjoying the view from our private terrace at Fildisi Boutique Hotel on Astipalea

 

Return visits: Our 2009 Greece holiday took us to four islands, and on two of those we made return visits to hotels we had stayed at once before. That’s something we rarely do, since we generally prefer to experience new hotel surroundings whenever we return to a destination we’ve already seen. But we had particularly liked both of these hotels, so we were anxious to stay there again.

Astipalea was our first stop on this particular island hopping holiday, and we stayed at Fildisi Boutique Hotel near Livadi, a peaceful farming valley below the island’s main town, Chora. It was early in the season and the Fildisi had only a handful of guests; in fact, the owner, Elias, was still getting the swimming pool, terrace and some of the other rooms ready for the summer. When Elias picked us up at the Astipalea airport to drive us to the hotel, he said he was upgrading us to the “VIP Suite.” We had no idea what that meant until we arrived and discovered it was a large studio-size room with an enormous two-level private terrace. The spacious room was great, but the jaw-dropping views from the huge deck stole the show. (To be honest, I don’t think there is a bad view from anywhere on the Fildisi property.)

Amorgos was island destination number two, and we chose Yperia Hotel in Egali, one of two port towns on the island. We were embarrassed when the Yperia’s owner, Antonis, picked us up at the port when we arrived shortly before 7 in the morning on a gargantuan Blue Star Ferry that had left Astiplea at 5.30 with fewer than two dozen passengers. The drive to the Yperia took less than one minute — we could easily have walked there with our suitcases, which we were barely able to squeeze beside us into Antonis’s tiny sedan. (Mind you, there is no sign on the hotel, so we could just as easily have walked right past the place and missed it.) Antonis assigned us a second-floor room right above the hotel reception and breakfast area. It had two balconies that overlooked the hotel swimming pool and gave us views of the Egali ferry pier as well as sunsets over Naxos island. The room also had a window facing the mountainside behind the hotel; it gave us views of Potamos, a picturesque village where had three memorable sunset dinners at the wonderful Kamara Cafe (which, we later learned, is owned and operated by Antonis’s cousin, Christoforos).

Naxos was our third island, and we returned to the Lianos Village hotel which we had enjoyed in 2006.

Mykonos was our final stop, and Hotel Tagoo was our hotel choice there for the second year in a row.

Below are photos of our views at Fildisi Boutique Hotel, Yperia Hotel, Lianos Village and Hotel Tagoo.

 

Fildisi Boutique Hotel view

Every room at the Fildisi has this view of Astipalea’s Chora and Kastro (castle)

 

Fildisi Boutique Hotel

The private terrace for our “VIP Suite” at the Fildisi Hotel was unbelievably bigger than the hotel room itself.


Fildisi Hotel terrace

The top level of the terrace was furnished with this giant canopy shading a teak dining table and chairs, while the lower level had two lounge chairs for sunbathing.

 

Fildisi Boutique Hotel view

The enormous terrace offered an incredible panoramic view of the Livadi farming valley, Chora, the Aegean Sea, and a small beach below the hotel

 

Fildisi hotel Astipalea

Part of the Livadi valley viewed from our terrace at the Fildisi hotel

 

Fildisi Hotel Astipalea

Chora, the coastline and a small beach viewed from our private terrace

 

Fildisi Hotel Astipalea view

I never got tired of the view of Chora and the sea

 

Yperia Hotel Amorgos

At the Yperia Hotel in Amorgos, our second-floor room had two balconies. One of them can be seen here, above the hotel entrance and pool terrace

 

Yperia Hotel Amorgos

We could see Egali bay through the door to our balcony

 

Yperia Hotel Amorgos balcony view

This photo, taken from one of our room’s two balconies, shows part of the sea view that we enjoyed from the second balcony

 

Yperia Hotel Amorgos

I enjoyed relaxing on the balcony with an ice cold bottle of Mythos beer or glass of wine after a long day of hiking on Amorgos

 

Yperia Hotel balcony views

The balcony was a great spot to watch fishing boats return with their catch …

 

Yperia hotel balcony view

… and to watch Greek ferry ships come and go from the pier at Egali port. This was the same big Blue Star ferry that brought us to Amorgos from Astipalea

 

Yperia hotel room view

This was our balcony view of the Express Skopelitis ferry arriving at Egali one evening. We rode the Skopelitis to Naxos a few days later; this online album has photos of our journey through the Small Cyclades en route to Naxos.

 

Yperia hotel swimming pool view

Our balcony also had this view toward the mouth of Egali Bay

 

Yperia Hotel Amorgos

A window in our room faced homes and hotels on the hillside behind the Yperia …

 

Yperia Hotel view

… but also gave us views of Potamos village higher up the mountain

 

Yperia Hotel Amorgos balcony view

Best of all were the views from our balcony of sunsets over Naxos

 

Lianos Village hotel Naxos

On Naxos, we could view the sea from inside our hotel room at Lianos Village

 

Lianos Village hotel room balcony

Our balcony was a nice spot to relax with a glass of wine while enjoying extensive views down the southwest coast of Naxos

 

Lianos Village Naxos balcony view

From our balcony we could see Agios Prokopios beach, Agia Anna, beach, Plaka beach, and mountains in the distance behind them

 

Lianos Village Hotel Naxos

Palm fronds and colourful flowering plants beside our balcony

 

Lianos Village balcony view

Balcony view toward Agios Prokopios beach at the bottom of the hillside

 

Lianos Village Naxos balcony view

Another balcony view toward Agios Prokopios beach

 

Lianos Village hotel swimming pool

The Lianos Village swimming pool terrace had terrific views of the  southwest Naxos coast and other nearby islands

 

Lianos Village swimming pool terrace view

Swimming pool terrace view of the Agios Prokopios resort area of Naxos

 

Lianos Village swimming pool terrace views

Another view from the hotel swimming pool terrace

 

Lianos Village Naxos view

Another pool terrace view of the island’s southwest coast

 

Hotel Tagoo balcony view

This was our balcony view during our second stay at Hotel Tagoo on Mykonos

 

Hotel Tagoo balcony view

Another view from our balcony, looking toward the left

 

Hotel Tagoo Mykonos

The Hotel Tagoo pool terrace is a great place to relax in the afternoon sun…

 

Hotel Tagoo pool deck view

… or watch cruise ships and ferries come and go from nearby Tourlos port

 

Hotel Tagoo swimming pool views

Hotel Tagoo pool deck views in the morning, looking toward the left …

 

Hotel Tagoo swimming pool views

… and looking toward the right

 

Hotel Tagoo at sunset

A gorgeous Mykonos sunset reflects in Hotel Tagoo’s reception room windows

 

 

 

Greece is: Spectacular scenery. Beautiful beaches. Charming villages. Stunning sunsets. Historic ruins. Picturesque churches. Amazing Athens. And more…

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Chora village on Astipalea Island

The imposing Kastro (castle) towers above whitewashed mountainside houses in Chora, the main village on Astipalea island

 

A blue domed Church in Firostefani village on Santorini

Look familiar? This blue-domed Church in Firostefani village on Santorini has been pictured on countless postcards, posters, travel brochures and websites.

 

Elia Beach Mykonos

Sunbeds at popular Elia Beach on Mykonos overlook the sparkling Aegean Sea

 

Folegandros island

Spectacular cliff scenery on the north side of Folegandros island

 

The Panagia Church on Folegandros

The Panagia Church on Folegandros sits high above the island`s main village, Chora

 

Seaside fishermen`s houses in Klima Milos

Syrmata (fishermens houses) in the seaside village of Klima on Milos

 

A Cycladic style house on Naxos

A Cycladic-style house overlooking Agios Prokopios beach on Naxos

 

Venetian Fortress at Iraklion harbour

The Venetian fortress next to the old harbour at Iraklion on Crete

 

Sunbeds on a rocky point near Kalithea Bay

No sandy beach? No worries! In the Greek Islands, there’s literally thousands of miles of coastline with secluded coves and inlets…

 

beach chairs and umbrellas near Kalithea on Rhodes

…and countless more great spots to relax in the sun, fish, play or swim in the sea, like this rocky point near Kalithea Bay on Rhodes

 

Delos Island

Historic archaeological ruins on the hillside and seaside below Mt Kynthos on sacred Delos island

 

Little Venice on Mykonos Town

The “Little Venice” area of Mykonos Town is a perenially popular spot for tourists to enjoy a cocktail while watching a spectacular sunset…

 

A sunset viewed from the Little Venice area of Mykonos Town

…like this one, viewed from the Little Venice seaside

 

The Temple of Apollo on Naxos

The Portara (Temple of Apollo) is one of the symbols of Naxos island…

 

The Portara at the Temple of Apollo on Naxos

…and a popular spot for tourists to visit for sunset viewing

 

Knossos Palace on Crete

A tourist sketches at the Knossos Palace ruins on Crete

 

A view from Santorini at sunset

A view over the volcano island (Nea Kameni) off Santorini at sunset

 

Mikri Vigla beach

Not a soul in sight on the soft sands of Mikri Vigla beach on Naxos…

 

Achivadolimni Beach on Milos

or on the soft sands of Achivadolimni Beach on Milos…

 

Mikri Vigla beach on Naxos island

…or at Mikri Vigla beach on Naxos…

 

sparkling blue water in a bay on Milos island

…while the people in this boat have the sparkling waters of this entire quiet bay all to themselves on Milos

 

Fira village on Santorini

Fira, the bustling main town on the immensely popular island of Santorini

 

Kleftiko on Milos

The white cliffs at Kleftiko on Milos

 

the beach at Ammoudara Crete

Part of the long sandy beach at Ammoudara near Iraklion on Crete…

 

the beach at Ammoudara Crete

…and looking to the right along the same stretch of Ammoudara beach

 

Mykonos Town viewed from the northwest

Looking toward Mykonos Town from the northwest tip of Mykonos island

 

Mykonos Town

Some of the hillside hotels and houses overlooking Mykonos Town

 

Elia beach on Mykonos

Elia beach on Mykonos island

 

Elia beach Mykonos

Beach chairs and umbrellas on Elia Beach at Mykonos

 

Windmills at Chora on Astipalea

Windmills in the village of Chora on Astipalea island

 

The medieval castle in Rhodes Town

The medieval castle in Rhodes Town on Rhodes

 

Filoti village on Naxos

The mountainside village of Filoti on Naxos island

 

sailing at Milos

Going for an early morning sail on calm seas off Milos island

 

Chora on Astipalea

Chora, the mountaintop village on Astipalea island

 

Mountains in the distance off Vathi Bay on Samos

Mountains in the distance off Vathi Bay on Samos

 

Naxos Town on Naxos island

Naxos Town, the bustling main port town on Naxos Island

 

A rock formation in the sea off Milos

A rabbit shaped rock formation in the sea off Milos island

 

Platis Gialos beach on Mykonos

Platis Gialos beach on Mykonos

 

Temple of Apollo at the Asklepieion on Kos

Temple of Apollo at the Asklepieion on Kos

 

Super Paradise beach Mykonos

Looking down on Super Paradise Beach on Mykonos

 

The Chapel of Seven Martyrs below Kastro on Sifnos

Waves crash against the rugged coast below the Chapel of Seven Martyrs on Sifnos

 

Amoudi Bay on Santorini

Amoudi Bay below the village of Oia on Santorini

 

Gorgeous Agriolivadi Bay on Patmos

Beautiful Agriolivadi Bay on Patmos

 

pelicans at Nikos taverna in Mykonos Town

Pelicans, like these two seen waiting for a fish dinner at ever-popular Niko’s Taverna in Mykonos Town, are famous mascots of Mykonos island…

 

Paraportiani Church in Mykonos Town

…while the incomparable Paraportiani Church is another Mykonos landmark

 

Seagulls trail a fishing boat as it returns to port at Egali on Amorgos

 

The village of Kastro on Sifnos

The village of Kastro on Sifnos

 

The Chozoviotissa Monastery on Amorgos

On Amorgos, the spectacular 900-year-old Chozoviotissa Monastery is carved into the face of a cliff, 300 meters above the sea

 

 

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