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An unforgettable experience
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Would you like to stay on your own peninsula in Samos, Greece? If yes, you will love to read further.
Far away from the main touristic scene of Samos city and other villages not far from the airport, you find this little hidden gem. When we rented a car at the airport, the lady asked where we were staying. We didn’t know the name of the place, so we showed her on the map, where we had understood the house to be. She glanced up at us with a confused look on her face; “why are you going to this place? It’s no people living there!”
Your own peninsula at Samos
And she was right. It is no people here. The place is literally just you and nature. You can spot another house on the other side of the bay, down by the small, concrete dock, but rarely any people. At night, only the starry sky and the full moon will illuminate your two small cabins, and the surrounding ocean.
Moonlight and the last rays
To arrive at your own peninsula in Samos, you need to drive for one and a half hour from the airport. It’s quite a curvy stretch of road, and Samos island has a hilly terrain. The island holds one of the highest mountains in the Aegean, Mount Kerkis at 1433 meter. Your everyday view from the house will be the majestic Mount Kerkis and the beautiful, turquoise water below.
Mount Kerkis from our small dock
When you arrive at the house, you forget everything about the curvy roads and the hilly terrain. This hidden gem is such a beauty, the pictures almost doesn’t do it justice. Something is lost – because still photos don’t show how Mother Nature’s different aspects work sublimely together. The wind, effervescent waves, the smell, the sensations, the sunlight’s reflections on the concrete, blossom, the buzzing bees. It’s awe.
Every morning; this is what you wake up to
This is an ideal destination for those who love nature. Wake up to the sound of the waves, the smell of the sea and the breathtaking view of it all – from bed. Start every morning with fresh coffee and long conversations in the handmade swing with a double seat.
Morning coffee and conversations
From the large rocky courtyard you will have an outstanding view of the islands Ikaria and Fournoican, and you can admire extraordinary sunsets and the sparkling sea. Probably you will also be able to catch sight of the rare Mediterranean monk seal (monachus monachus) from the terrace. This is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, and they nests in the area around the peninsula.
Your courtyard; picture taken from the terrace
For those who like to explore nature by foot, you will find many hiking routes among ancient olive groves, dense pine forests and areas with typical Mediterranean maquis. You will be able to observe rare flower species such as wild orchids, as well as the unique Mediterranean chameleon. For real hikers, it’s recommend to climb the steep slopes of Mount Kerkis.
View from the top of the hill
The beautiful, turquoise water is right outside your window, and you can dive into it from a specially constructed platform on the rocks. Diving and snorkeling in the crystal clear water is an everyday activity, when you stay on your own peninsula.
Crystal clear water, perfect for snorkeling
The immense and wonderful Aegean sea surrounding Samos, is rich in marine species, like the rare Mediterranean monk seal. Swim to the beaches on the other side of the bay, or explore the wonders of the ocean around the peninsula.
The home of the Mediterranean munk seals (babe trying to be one)
The house is isolated, but it’s not far from the villages of Kallithea, about 10 minutes drive, and Kampos Marathokampou, about 30 minutes drive. The latter is where you will find supermarkets, pharmacy and restaurants. But the hosts, a Greek couple from the island, Alex and Vicky, did not recommend any of the restaurants in Kampos Marathokampou. Instead they recommend we drive 5 minutes further, to the small fishing village, Ormos.
The fishing village, Ormos
The small and calm harbor offers a few restaurants, and the Greek couple highly recommended Trata restaurant. This is the only place we went out to eat – not because it was no other option, but because the food was always fresh, authentic and so delicious. Some recommendations; grilled kalamari, zucchini balls and black risotto sepia.
Amazing golden hour from the terrace
A week into our stay, a mother of three small kitties showed up. She decided that the roof of our house was a safe refuge for her little ones. They say either you are a cat person or not, but not in this case, in my opinion. Watching the small kitties grow, play and cling to their mum, is a beautiful memory. Also, the cats were great to have around to keep the bugs from getting inside.
Our little cat family <3
What made this journey possible, is the amazing hosts, Alex and Vicky. I’ve traveled many places and stayed in many Airbnb, and I’ve noticed that it is something special with Airbnb host. Something about the hospitableness. And you could say that you need to have a fair bit of that to be an Airbnb host, but still, I stop and try to grasp the kindness I experience with people I don’t know.
That said, this experience was next level.
Alex and Vicky are fiery souls. You know the kind of souls you meet every once in a while, where you really see and feel the genuineness in everything they do. From the moment we sat foot on Samos, they did everything they could to make it a dream journey. Not in a cater-to-our-every-need kind of way, rather by taking the time to explain and show us what we needed to know to live most comfortably by ourselves, in our own peninsula.
Tomatoes, figs, cucumber, aubergines and peppers from the garden
They had filled up the refrigerator when we arrived at the house, and also provided us with drinking water for the whole duration of our stay. When they came to visit, they always brought fresh vegetables from their garden, and often some pastries that Vicky had made. They invited us to join a religious ceremony one night, at a post-Byzantine country church. This made us discover other small mountain villages, and get a glimpse of the ancient history and culture of Samos island.
We can not thank them enough for this experience.
Fresh figs from the garden
Staying on your own peninsula will for many, including myself, sound, feel and look like a dream. Nevertheless, like any dream that you would like to become true – like the saying goes; you don’t get the gold without a bit of struggle. Which is not to say that living in this beautiful house is a hassle, but your mindset needs to be set in the right motion for it to be a real dream journey.
The perfect place to reflect and find flow
When you’re contemplating this vacation, the question should not be; how safe or convenient will everything be. Rather, do I want to this connection to nature, experience and feel Mother Nature’s strength, and opt out, for a little while, of our modern convenience? My point is that this place calls for a mindset, not just a physical body that desperately longs for tanning on a sun bed, and the ability to snap your fingers to order a Mythos. Nothing wrong with the latter, just pointing out that this place is probably not well-suited for that kind of vacation.
Dry red, a great book and golden hour
That said, you will have it as safe and convenient as everywhere else. Thanks to the great effort of Alex and Vicky, to make this place as comfortable and hospitable as can be. You will have an unforgettable experience. This is a portal to a new way of exploring yourself, in contact with serenity and true nature. It is truly awe-inspiring, and I will argue, the best way to really relax and reset your body, mind and spirit.
Reset your body, mind and spirit
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