Hello Travelers!

This past year has been full of big changes for me, with the biggest one being my permanent move to Greece! Exciting, right? I feel incredibly lucky to call such a beautiful country home, filled with endless places to explore.

One of the first things that struck me about Mani was the sheer number of olive trees—you can’t miss them! I stayed at my friend’s stunning stone house (everything is stone here) in Areopoli, which is less than a 10-minute drive to the famous town of Limeni. The food was unforgettable. We dined at Kourmas, a restaurant right on the water. If you ever visit, I highly recommend trying the fresh fish, especially “Rofo.” For brunch, Baya in Areopoli was a hit, and I treated myself to loukoumades (Greek honey donuts) later in the evening. If seafood isn’t your thing, Spaka taverna in Areopoli is a great alternative. We also made a day trip to the charming coastal town of Gytheio!

Before heading back north, we spent two days in the incredible castle town of Monemvasia, where the views were simply breathtaking. From there, we took a day trip to Elafonissos Beach and, of course, couldn’t resist staying two nights in Nafplio. This is where I discovered my new favorite seafood spot, Arapakos. Be sure to ask for the “Xoriatiki” salad, where all the vegetables are finely chopped and topped with a generous amount of crumbled feta.

Our journey continued with a ferry ride over to Spetses for a morning and early afternoon visit. This charming, clean, and quiet island has the clearest blue waters I’ve ever seen. The unique boutiques and shopping experiences were the cherry on top. If you have time, I highly recommend staying a night in Porto Heli!

Visiting the Peloponnese has quickly become a favorite, and I hope to make it an annual tradition. It was a different style of vacation for me—spontaneous and relaxed—but one I could easily get used to!

Happy travels!

-Sophia Exarhopulos