Sunset Views

As sunsets go, Marmari packs a mean one. The village is based around the huge beach, an expanse of sand that seems to stretch on for miles. This means blissfully uninterrupted views in the evening when the sun dips it's head behind the islands of Pserimos and Kalymnos.

However, the most spectacular sights on the island are to be seen from the mountainside village of Zia. A short bus journey on a lazy Friday evening and we were looking down on Marmari from a few more hundred metres above sea level.

Zia is a teensy tiny village, not much more than a single street lined with numerous tourist shops and roof top tavernas. But really, that's all it needs. This place is all about the views.

We had a little wander around to see the sights and get our bearings, but the tourist buses were arriving in their droves, and the best sunset spots were being filled up. We eyed up the rooftop terraces, but there was only ever going to be one winner...

Taverna Oromedon boasts the best views of the sunset in Kos. If you've never heard of it, I'm pretty sure you'll have seen these iconic steps.

We managed to get a fantastic table at the front of the restaurant, sticking out over the mountain. This meant great views for us, although often interrupted by a few amateur photographers sitting on our laps!

Chilled rosé and a plate of calamari to snack on, we chatted the night away and watched the shimmering panoramic views change before our eyes.

Appetite woken, we ordered mains. I've actually never eaten moussaka in Greece before, despite my numerous visits in the last few years. I decided to remedy this, and I'm so glad I did!

Mr P wasn't too happy with the lack of lamb kleftico on the menu, however the slow oven roasted lamb that he did have proved quite the match! I love the meltingly soft meat that the Greeks do so well!

Snuggled up in our front row seats with full stomachs, we watched as the main event unfolded before us.

Have you ever seen a sunset like that? The pictures just cannot do it justice, watching the sun slowly slip behind the islands in front, leaving a glittering gold aura around everything.

 

Once the spectacle was over, we dragged ourselves away from our comfy chairs, and headed off for a bit of tourist shopping before jumping on the bus back down the mountain. Late night shopping is high up on the list of my favourite Mediterranean pastimes.

Kalinixta Kos. I'll be back...

Kos Town, Pt 2

Kos Town is an incredibly beautiful place, and especially so when bathed in the glowing evening sunshine. History oozes from the pores of the streets, with ancient monuments lying where they once stood strong, be that at the side of the road, against a bus stop or overlooking the town.

We jumped off the bus and dived headfirst into the maze of busy winding streets packed full of restaurants, cafés and tourist shops. Having devoured the guidebook whilst lazing around the pool in the last few days, I dragged Mr P off in the direction of the harbour, via Eleftheria Square.

Kos Town is an eclectic mix of grand church buildings and elegant, curvaceous mosques. Narrow pathways flowed like streams to great squares covered in wide spanning olive trees providing the much needed shade.

We did however come across a few scarier statues on the way…

Dawdling around the walls of the town, in a quiet shady square, we found the Plane Tree of Hippocrates. Legend has it that this current tree is at least 500 years old, and is said to be a descendant of the tree where Hippocrates taught his students the art of medicine under the shade of the leaves. The scaffolding around the tree is for support for the great reaching, but now hollow, branches.

A bit of "If I were a millionaire..." boat shopping then ensued and plenty of goofing around…

And then I found possibly the most iconic sight of Kos, those big white and blue steps of the most photogenic Ouzeria’s I have ever come across in Greece. Completely excited about the prospect of finding the place that I’d pinned consistently on my pinterest since booking a holiday, I obviously insisted on a million and one photos.

We decided it would be too much of a shame to come all this way and not actually dine here, so we grabbed a table with fantastic views and ordered a carafe of rosé to drink them in with. 

Followed up with veal stifado for him...

And prawns cooked in an ouzo, cream and dill sauce for me! Greek roast potatoes are the best. I don't know how they do it but I can never recreate them exactly no matter how much I try!

The food was incredible and we enjoyed every single bite! Well, when I say every single bite, I did have a little bit of competition...

I may have 'dropped' a little bit...how can you ignore those eyes!

We then trundled along a few more shops and got lost a few more times to walk our dinner off.  The town changes and comes alive with such a different buzz when the sun goes down, but with full bellies and bags clunking with souvenirs we headed back for the short bus journey back to our comfy bed.

Chilled Out Kos, Pt 1

In the midst of a very stressful January, we trawled through holiday websites for days until we decided upon this beauty, Palazzo Del Mare in Marmari, Kos. As I finally finished all of my exams this year, it would be the first summer in at least 7 years with zero revision and zero exams. So a major chill out was on the cards, and this place had chill written all over it.

After a serious few months of countdowns and major shopping, it was time to jump on the big metal bird. Is there anything more beautiful than watching the sun set from above the clouds?

Apart from watching the sun set with some ice cold prosecco, obviously. You've got to start the holiday off as you mean to go on!

We got to the hotel at about 3am Greek time, so were pretty exhausted. We fell straight asleep, well, after some ooohing and aahhing at our room.

We woke up early the next day, bright and breezy ready to check out the hotel in all it's morning sunny glory.

I managed to keep myself from diving straight into the pool, at least long enough to go and get some breakfast.

Ok, yes, that is a glass of champagne with breakfast. Don't judge. It was my first day, and it doesn't count when you're on holiday anyway...

After letting all that food and early morning wine wear off, we set up camp where we ended up spending a good 90% of the next 7 days.

The next few days flew by in pretty much the same chilled out haze. Lots of pool fun and getting through a tonne of books.

Punctuated by plenty of frappés and mojitos, of course.

After a few lazy days, we decided that we really ought to head out on a bit of sightseeing. More on that later...