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Stoupa, Greece

After our 5 hour bus journey, we arrived at the coastal town of Stoupa, where we stayed for 5 days. Sox used to go on holiday here when he was younger and even worked here for a few months, when he was 19. He’s often spoken about Stoupa and his eyes always light up when he does, so I was really excited to experience this special place.

It’s right next door to the place, Kalamata – as in Kalamata olives (my absolute faves.) Honestly, I could eat a whole bowl in one sitting. My best.

I’m telling you this because, Stoupa is surrounded by mountainous terrain and olive trees. There are no white buildings with blue shutters, but more low-rise modern buildings with red roofs.
It’s wild and remote and has the most incredible beaches, with pale beach sand – something that isn’t that common in Greece. Pebble beaches, yes. Sandy beaches, no.IMG_1474 copy.jpgWe walked to a restaurant on the beach, where we met Dimitri. He owns the restaurant and also has accommodation – Dimitri’s Rooms, which are a few meters from the beach. They are incredibly basic, but I can’t explain how lovely it actually was (my photo does it no justice at all, I’m afraid.) It was the energy and the Mediterranean feel to the basic room that made me feel like yet again I was in a movie. The room was large with air conditioning, a small flat screen TV and a queen size bed. A kitchenette was on the side with a second room with 2 single beds (great for a family) and a bathroom with kickass shower pressure.     simple-room-copy

Step out onto the balcony to this view…view-copy

… a perfect spot for morning coffees and thick, creamy Greek yoghurt…greek-yoghurt-2-copybw-bailey-schneider-copymorning-coffee-2-copymorning-coffee-copymaaji-swimwear-copy

We actually had a few lunches on our balcony – a welcome break from the sunshine. We walked to the local supermarket and got our favourite type of basic picnic lunch, which we kept in our fridge.lunch-3-copy

I wasn’t kidding when I said we needed some relief from the sun. We even took the sheet off our bed to create a sun shield.lunch-2-copy

Layer a slice of cold meat, a slice of Swiss cheese, a dollop of cream cheese and salami and roll it up. You’ll thank me later.lunch-copywrapped-cold-meat-and-cheese-copy

Cut open the tomatoes, sprinkle sea salt to bring out the juices and devour… The tomatoes are the very best!eating-tomatoes-2-copyeating-tomatoes-copyAfter lunch, it was back to the beach!

The water is so blue – an ombre of turquoise, cobalt and deep petrol blue. It’s also so clear that it’s like swimming in a pool and you can see your full body even out in the deeper ocean. Oh and the water is warm, but every now and then you get an icy current. There is a stream of fresh water that runs down into the ocean and creates the cold patches, which is strangely refreshing.sox-in-stoupa-3-copy clear-water-at-stoupa-copy

We found our spot on the beach, hired 2 deck chairs and an umbrella, ordered waters and Freddo Cappuccinos (some of the best we had the entire trip) and settled down for the long days of bronzing ourselves.coffee-on-the-beach-copyfreddo-cappuccinos-copyprada-and-freddos-copy

Fresh fruit platters (always refreshing after salty swims)…fruit-platter-copysmooches-in-stoupa-copywater-copy

Beach massage? Yes please!beach-massage-copy

When the sun was too hot, we grabbed a Lilo and swam out. Sometimes we even took our iced coffees with us, until one day mine got salt water in it. I hadn’t realised, took a huge sip and coughed and spluttered salty coffee out. Sox found this hilarious. Me? Not so much.

We might have gone a little crazy in the GoPro photos…DCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRO

Different day, different lilo.DCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRO

This water…DCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPRODCIM109GOPROstoupa-beach-2-copystoupa-2-copysox-and-bailey-stoupa-2-copystoupa-beach-copystoupa-1-copystoupa-3-copy

We had a few days on our own before our nephews, John (Yianni) and his fiancé, Amvrosia and George (Yiorgo) arrived.

We hired a peddle boat and peddled out to explore… DCIM110GOPROWhen we got too hot, we jumped into the ocean.DCIM110GOPROThis gives you an idea how clear the water is.DCIM110GOPRO

We discovered a cave and decided to peddle inside… It looks a lot smaller in this photo than it actually was.DCIM109GOPRO

We all decided to jump into the water and swim around. It was such an adventure, but I did check repeatedly: “There aren’t any sharks, right? Right?DCIM109GOPROSunset was pretty spectacular and only happened after 20h30…sunset-loungers-copy

It was even better in the water…bailey-in-stoupa-sunset-copybailey-schneider-at-sunset-copy

Wearing our Maaji swimwearbailey-schneider-maaji-bikini-copybailey-schneider-in-maaji-bikini-copydj-sox-in-maaji-swimwear-copysunset-copysox-in-stoupa-4-copydj-sox-maaji-swimwear-copysox-in-maaji-wow-copysox-in-maaji-swimwear-copybailey-schneider-sunset-copybailey-schneider-stoupa-copy

After a refreshing shower to get rid of the salt and sand, we’d either head out on date night (when it was just the 2 of us) or with the gang. The town at night has a certain charm… Yellow light washes over the cobbled/tarred streets, the stone buildings and you’re spoilt for choice with open-til-late stores, restaurants and ice cream shops.stoupa-night-copystoupa-night-2-copyshop-windows-copydinner-date-copysox-dinner-date-copy

Told you I love my olives. I love a restaurant that isn’t shy of putting loads of olives in a salad. Sox made me take a photo of the olive pip evidence.

olive-thief-copy

Not sorry 😉

Feta stuffed in zucchini, rolled up in bacon. Must try this at home.rolled-zucchini-stuffed-with-feta-and-wrapped-bacon-copysouvlaki-and-lemon-copystoupa-town-copy

George and I…george-and-i-copy

I bought this cute off the shoulder dress from Zando – buy yours here.bailey-schneider-zando-dress-copystone-building-and-bicycles-copybar-copydinner-3-copydinner-4-copydinner-5-copydinner-copychocolate-salami-and-watermelon-copydinner-with-family-copyice-cream-copyouzo-copypizza-copy

I couldn’t believe I found Rooibos vanilla tea in Greece… in a bar! Haha! I’m not a big Rooibos fan but this vanilla blonde really enjoyed the vanilla one, and I’ve even bought some here at home. rooibos-vanilla-in-greece-copysox-and-bailey-in-stoupa-copysox-and-bailey-stoupa-copyspaghetti-copy

This was the most underwhelming meal of the entire trip. It sounded so delicious – stuffed zucchini – but it came in a lemony sauce that I just wasn’t expecting and gave the whole meal a different taste. If it had come in a tomato based, napolitana sauce it would have been so good. I was just impressed with the size of the zucchinis and how they even got them stuffed – I couldn’t find the seam.stuffed-zucchini-copy

Warm evenings were perfect for chilled local wine, complete with condensation on the glass and glasses of water.wine-and-water-copy

On our last day we ordered crepes. The menu said chocolate sauce and it made me instantly think of the synthetic sticky sauce we would pour over ice cream, as a kid – remember that? I avoided it and went with the standard cinnamon, sugar and lemon crepe.

Sox ordered a chocolate sauce and banana crepe. It arrived and I immediately saw the synthetic sauce drizzled over… UNTIL he cut it open and out came half a jar of warm, gooey Nutella. I kicked myself.chocolate-and-banana-pancake-copyHe definitely won in the crepe department. Here was my sad looking crepe – it was delicious though…cinnamon-sugar-pancake-copyOh and while we’re on the subject of food… One morning, we walked to the towns bakery. It’s a family run business and Sox told me that they make the best cheese pies (a Greek standard for breakfast) and Bougatsa (a custard pie.)

When I started taking photos, the bakers were completely intrigued. I don’t think many people have come in to take photos – they just come for the fresh bread, pastries and coffee. Suddenly, they were showing me all their offerings and asking me to take photos of them too. bakers-copybakery-3-copybakery-copy

After the mini photo shoot, Sox and I ordered a Freddo cappuccino each and a freshly baked cheese pie and Bougatsa to share. They had both just come out of the oven so they were still warm.breakfast-2-copybreakfast-3-copybreakfast-copy

The cheese pie has feta in it, so it’s not melted, but it’s warm and crumbly and delicious!cheese-pie-copysunglasses-and-coffee-copy

Our favourite, was the Bougatsa. Bit into warm, flaky pastry dusted in icing sugar with a creamy custard centre – heavenly. Tim Noakes, look away!bougatsa-copyI was very sad to leave Stoupa… We headed back to Athens where I had the last dinner with the whole family. I left Greece on my own. Sox stayed behind for an extra 11 days to sort out things with his Dad’s Will and Estate 🙁

It’s always hard to leave, but we had the BEST Honeymoon/Family visit trip! It was hard to believe that in 3 and a half weeks we had explored London, Switzerland and Greece, had so many “pinch me” moments and made memories to last a lifetime!

Thank you for reading every post, for joining me on our travels and for all the heart warming comments!

I’ve heard some whisperings: “Oh no! What are we going to read now?”

The great thing with holiday’s is they bring a rush of inspiration and I’m excited to get back into my regular blogging schedule + there’s an exciting competition coming soon!

 

 

 

 

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22 Comments

  • Reply Suzette

    Thanks Bailey for the travel share that was incredible. I enjoyed it so much.

    October 4, 2016 at 12:24 pm
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Thanks Suzette! I really appreciate you reading x

      October 4, 2016 at 12:26 pm
  • Reply Natasha Viljoen

    That bougatsa makes me want to lick the screen!

    Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us, it actually felt like I went on holiday too!

    October 4, 2016 at 12:26 pm
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      YES! Mission accomplished! Thanks Natasha! Sox and I actually said, if out of all the “cheat meals” we could only choose one, which would it be and it would have to be Bougatsa!

      October 4, 2016 at 12:34 pm
  • Reply Mariam

    What an amazing trip! Thank you and Sox so much for sharing your special moments with us!!!

    October 4, 2016 at 12:29 pm
  • Reply Megan Hartwig

    After reading all of your holiday blog posts…I have decided I need a holiday too 😉 xx

    October 4, 2016 at 12:52 pm
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Haha! Thanks Megan – I’m so happy you enjoyed them! x

      October 4, 2016 at 12:52 pm
  • Reply Tanya

    Thank you Bailey! I enjoyed all your travel posts and your photos were fantastic. I’m also looking forward to what you’ve got coming up on your blog 🙂

    October 4, 2016 at 3:46 pm
  • Reply Kirsten

    Thanks for sharing your special honeymoon journey 🙂 Love your blog xx

    October 4, 2016 at 4:46 pm
  • Reply Caroline

    So sad your travel blog has come to an end, as I eagerly awaited every new entry. Thank you once again for sharing so generously. Look forward to following your new posts.

    October 4, 2016 at 6:48 pm
  • Reply Sherene

    Travel envy…time to start planning my trip!! Thanks so much for sharing the amazing adventures. Loved every one of the blogs…

    October 5, 2016 at 5:19 am
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Yay! Thanks Sherene 🙂 x

      October 5, 2016 at 3:28 pm
  • Reply Siobhan Hughes

    Thank you so much for taking us along on your adventures. They were so beautiful to read, and to see the photos.
    xx

    http://sugarspicelifestyle.blogspot.co.za/

    October 5, 2016 at 6:57 am
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Thanks for reading Siobhan – really appreciate it x

      October 5, 2016 at 3:29 pm
  • Reply KateF

    Officially hungry now after reading this!!!

    October 5, 2016 at 7:12 am
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Hahahaha – I know what you mean! 😉

      October 5, 2016 at 3:29 pm
  • Reply Pat Ketley

    Have been dreaming of going to Greece for my 60th in 2 years time!
    This blog seals it and I can’t wait!!! Thank you Bailey for sharing your
    travels with us. Have thoroughly enjoyed reading about it. Greece
    2018 here I come!

    October 5, 2016 at 8:54 am
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Oh my gosh Pat, you’ll LOVE IT! What a GREAT way to celebrate such a special birthday! x

      October 5, 2016 at 3:29 pm
  • Reply Megan Keith

    All your beach pics are making me so excited for summer! All your posts have been a so amazing, I feel like I’ve been living vicariously through them! Megan xx

    October 5, 2016 at 11:51 am
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Ah thank you Megan! Really appreciate it x

      October 5, 2016 at 3:30 pm
  • Reply Ramona Naidoo

    You capture your experiences so well. Love reading them and seeing the awesome pictures.
    I love the fact that your travel blog posts are so real.

    October 6, 2016 at 4:07 am
    • Reply BaileySchneider

      Thanks Ramona, I really appreciate that! Thanks for reading them 🙂

      October 6, 2016 at 10:58 am

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