Feeling and tasting Greece with Live-Bio

Our Greece with Live-Bio

We all love holidays. Although the main goal is the same, have a rest from work, the ways people spend their holidays differ. Some are interested in sightseeing – see as much famous places as possible and others just in relaxing – have a glass of wine, sun, nice food and “swimming” water to cool down. Of course there’s something in the middle. For me the best holidays is when I feel and taste the place I go in an active way. Experiencing the place I visit with my whole heart makes me happy. I love sport, different kinds of sport, (more about this on my blog) and it’s an inseparable part of my life, like brushing teeth, so physical activities need to be included in my vacation plan. Additionally I’m an extravert interested in different cultures, love talking and meeting inspiring people, open to new things, including food. I do not have much time for cooking and I’m not really a great cook, although I’m conscious about what I eat, so choose simple, fresh home-made cuisine. To feel and taste better the place I stay, I eat or drink what locals do, so in Turkey or Greece Turkish/Greek coffee, in UK, tee with milk and so on.  Experience the place as much as possible that’s what I value the most. Our choice of holidays in Greece with Live-Bio was all of the above!

As I’m a Project Manager by profession, I organise and coordinate something on a daily basis and when it comes to holidays I try to give away the steer to someone else who knows me, and if not, willing to find out my needs and preferences.  So, I ‘m so happy I met Magdalena and Periklis  who both gave up the corporate world and set up a place of their dreams – Live-Bio. We share the beliefs, I mean “We believe that life is about being creative, about interacting with people who are not business agents, and about living closer to nature and its produce. We agreed that failing is preferable to not trying, that risk is better than placidity, and that mental and emotional balance is the greatest form of wealth”.  Source: Live-Bio website.

Thanks to Live-Bio my “First Time in Greece” project was very successful, a value for money experience, using reasonable resources, both time for preparing and money. We’ve managed to see a lot within only 7 days, having time to relax, taste and learn.

Let me share some more details. Let’s experience it again!

Athens – the starting point

We started (2 couples) our trip to Greece on Wednesday 2^nd September landing at Athens airport late evening (Ryanair Warsaw Modlin – Athens). We decided to stop in Athens for one day to see a bit of this city, but also not to travel so late.  To save time and to be able to see Athens by night, a taxi took us to our apartment both arranged by Magdalena. We spent enjoyable late night at Plaka and started sightseeing quite late next day, that’s why we haven’t seen much except Acropolis and National Archaeological Museum.  And while others were drinking coffee waiting for the evening ferry to Poros (last one leaves at 7:30 pm and takes around 1 h 15 min.) at Piraeus Port, I managed to visit an amazing Church of Piraeus Orthodox worship.

Poros, sailing and Live-Bio area

Around 9:00 pm we arrived in Poros were Magda and Periklis were waiting for us. After delicious dinner and a few bottles of wine at taverna Rota (just opposite the ferry stop) we left the island on a boat taxi (1 Euro per person) heading to Galatas, where Live-Bio car was waiting for us. It takes about 20 minutes on foot from the boat stop to the apartments and I usually chose this means of transport except for when caring something heavy like shopping or luggage – in this case Live-Bio offers the lift. Spacious and clean apartments overlooking the sea, equipped with everything you need, including coffee or organic Greek olive oil to taste welcomed us. The accommodation is placed on the hill offering stunning views, unforgettable sunrises and sunsets, a short walk to the Galatas beaches.

Our first day at Live-Bio was very relaxing. After a quick shopping experience with Magda, who showed us where and what to buy (Cyrillic alphabet makes it challenging) we spent time swimming and sunbathing at the nicest beach at Galatas  – Aliki Beach. Yoga lovers can join Magda there in the evening for a yoga session, what I did a couple of times. One hour of stretching, sunset and swimming after that makes this unforgettable experience.

Next day we continued relaxing on the boat trip organised by Periklis and Magda, sailing around Poros, enjoying the beautiful views and snorkelling. In the evening we visited Apagio restaurant on Poros to taste more Greek food.

1 day Hydra trip

On the third day we went to Hydra, choosing different means of transport to and from the island. To Hydra we decided to take a boat from Metochi (15 min) and Flying Dolphin back to Poros (30 min). Hydra is a very beautiful island, a preserved national monument with no private vehicles, so you need to use your feet or a donkey to explore. Leonard Cohen lived there in the sixties and recently Nicole Kiddman bought a house. We spent time “getting lost” in the narrow streets, enjoying the smart boutiques and galleries, gift shops with art, paintings, hand-made jewellery, swimming and sunset in the evening.

On the forth day, two of us decided to hire a bike to explore Poros’ great beaches, extraordinary views restaurants and the Monastery on the hill.

Nemea wine region and Nafplio

The last day before leaving, Magda took us for a trip to two most famous vineyards in the region of Nemea: Domaine Skouras and Semeli Wines and then to Nafplio – one of the most beautiful towns in the area of Argolis (in eastern Peloponnese) as well as one of the most romantic cities all over Greece.  Nafplio was the first capital of the newly born Greek state between 1823 and 1834.  Both the view from the Palamidi Castle, which stands 216 meters above the sea level and the lunch at Ta Fanaria were worth the journey. It’s a pity the group were not fancy climbing 999 steps carved into the rock to reach the Castle, so we went there by car. In the evening we visited a fantastic Odyssey Bistro  and met an extraordinary lady Katerina, the host of the place. At the bistro you can have a meal,  take part in a cooking class or participate in a theme week Greek cooking. As we had a very limited time we just enjoyed the delicious home-made food, Greek wine and ouzo.

Until next time!

On the last day we said goodbye to  our holiday in Greece with Live-Bio and the area, having the last jump into the water, coffee in La Frianderie and Greek sweets. We left Poros midday to catch the early evening flight from Athens to Modlin.

Definitely, we will come back soon to explore more of Peloponnese, but also to spent some time in a magic place with extraordinary people, the hosts of Live-Bio.