Photos From Greece
78As promised, here are a few shots of our home and the surounding area. Sadly, the PC is in need of repair, and most of the best photos are on there. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon.
The house is 30 years old, and has 1500 square metres of land. We have 12 olive trees, 8 orange trees, 8 pomegranate trees, an almond tree, a cherry tree, an apricot tree, a pear tree and lots of fig trees.
Just to piss you all off, the grape vines produce 150 litres of wine every year. We then distill the left over grape skins to make tsipourou, also known as raki. I have some recipes for fig wine, so we should just about have enough alcohol for the year.
Happy Days :P
Our village is Kastri, in the Taygetos mountains, and we are verey close tothe main village in the area, Kastorio. This has plenty of shops and tavernas, so we have pretty much everything we need there. Just outside the village is Pellanas, the birthplace of Beautiful Helen of Troy, and potentially the site of the Palace of Menelaos.
Sparta (called Sparti) is about 20km away, and is a bustling working town of about 20 000 people. It is a beautiful little town, and embraces the Mediterranean cafe culture. There are ruins at Ancient Sparta, but they hail from the Roman Period. The Byzantine city of Mystras also looks over the time, and was once one of the most important cities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
We are an hour away from the beach, at Gythio, the ancient port of Sparta. A bit of a journey, but well worth it in the hot Greek summer.
Hope you enjoyed the tour - we will try to retrieve some better photographs from Greece for the next hub!
Sufidreamer's House
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The Surrounding Area
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Out and About
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The Cats
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lol - Sadly not, but you are welcome across here anytime.
The Greeks love a good political debate, so you will be in your element.
Oh Man! Beautiful. Dang -- you one lucky soul! Enjoy it all (especially the raki).
Thanks, Teresa - it was the best choice we ever made. Life is not easy, but it is always fun!
I might have to put a few more photo Hubs up!
nice hub
nice comment
I AM SO JEALOUS!! YOU LUCKY B******! I love your cats! Can't wait to see the rest of the photos when you get them in. I'll bookmark this so I don't forget in case it takes a while. Thanks so much for sharing!
No worries, Frieda.
It will be spring soon, and we aim to get out and about with the camera - should be some nice photos of the spring flowers in a month or so!
Sufi, my man in the Mediterranean part of the world!! What's this lavender color plant in Mystras? Would it be lavender, perchance? AY! Great, just great!
Poor Seraphina, may she be living one of her nine lives, happily, elsewhere!
Oh, I loved the tour and got to live vicariously for a bit. Loved the house, the ship, Mystras, the kitty cats - what a laid back charmer that Suleyman is and etc.
And yes that wine comment...well, good for you...I guess...no seriously, good for you and yours.
What a great way to live!
Thanks, Elena - I think that it is lavender. I was never the best at botany, and Greece has too many species of flower! Definately think that we made the right choice in joining you for the Mediterranean lifestyle! We think that Seraphina had a thyroid problem, and she passed away peacefully whilst sleeping in the sun.
I think my soul was in Sardinia once. Like this hub, thanks. My cat also died from thyroid problems. Cut out an article about how it may be caused by a chemical or the compound in drywall dust. But the same suspect chemical can be found in paints and carpets, etc... Love the pics, could look at more :)
Thanks Bk - Glad that you enjoyed the tour! This little corner of Greece is indeed beautiful - the wine helps!
Suleyman certainly is a charmer, and loves the ladies ;) He is also troubles - if anything gets broken or stolen, he is usually the ringleader.
Thanks Cathy - will try to get some more pictures up, but the light is not good at the moment. In another couple of weeks, we should have the beautiful blue Greek skies.
Not sure about Seraphina - we assumed that it was thyroid or diabetes because she put on a lot of weight. Sadly, finding a vet in this area of Greece can be difficult, so we will never know :(
Me and my kids LOVED the kitties. Too cute! Your house is absolutely wonderful and the land there is amazingly spectacular:) Thanks so much for sharing. I will probably never see anything so beautiful in life!
No worries, MissJamieD - I told the cats that they have some admirers in the US and they are delighted. Please pass on some purrs and kitty-nose rubs to the kids from them!
You never know - life is a strange thing and beauty can be found in many places! I hear that Oregon is gorgeous, if you end up going there!
Sufi! Your house is pink, :). Wow. Now that, I think is rural--more rural than we are even out here (this is the smallest place I've lived.) How great to live near ruins like that and by the ocean, though. I'm surprised, actually, at how close the landscape seems to areas of the Arizona landscape--it's always said that this Sedona area is Mediteranean--I guess maybe it is true.
Love the shot of the ocean and old boat... And you have many cats that live with you (we have quite a few in our far field, but they are a little feral and only come by to eat occasionally.) We only have one pomegranite tree, :(, and I'm jealous of the figs and grapes and oranges!!
OMG! My maltese is named Seraphina! I just noticed that. Fabulous name! She must have had quite the personality.
Wow!! You're really blessed to live in such beautiful country!
Breath-takingly stunning! My dream is to visit Greece. Your photos did a fantastic job in portraying the awe-inspiring beauty, feel of sacred history and profound serenity in the atmosphere. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Lita - I tried to tell myself that it was just the lighting making it look pink. Sadly, I was in denial. Painting time in a month or so - probably a little more of a terracotta colour.
That bluff behind your place looked very Greek - you probably have a very similar climate, too! For a history buff like myself, there is so much to see. We watched the film 'The 300' in the open air cinema, about 200 metres from Ancient Sparta - that was a unique experience.
Frieda - She was a proper little madam, usually known as Her Majesty!
Thanks Laughing Mom - Moving here was the best decision that we ever made! Not an easy life, but we enjoy every day.
Thanks, Paula - If you get a chance, I would recommend it. If you have the money, this year could be a good time - airlines are dropping their ticket prices, and you should be able to negotiate deals with hotels.
Wow sufi, thanks for the tour. I enjoyed every "picture" of it. Btw, I didn't know you have a mountain! LOL thanks for sharing :D
Thanks, Cris - Glad that you enjoyed the visit. Nice to live on the side of a mountain - it gives us water for the year, firewood and mountain herbs. :D
Specially if the mountain is yours! LOL Alright i was referring to one of the captions where you said and I quote "Our Mountain". lame, i know! :D
Lol - I see where you are coming from!
In a way it is, because it belongs to the village - we pay nothing for our water here, and we are free to gather firewood and herbs!
Don't worry, Cris - you are anything but lame!
Poly orea fili. (Excuse spelling)
Eucharisto, Magic Bus. Ta ellinika sou einai poly kala.
Sufi: Suleyman is a STAR! He immediately reminded me of that line in Jurassic Park: "You'll have to get used to [him], he suffers from a deplorable excess of personality." Although nothing the least bit deplorable about Suleyman, of course. :0)
Have you thought of putting him on Catster.com and making him an international sensation? I recommend it.
Beautiful Sufi, I too have felt that somewhere along my lives there was one lived in Greece. Although not sure exactly where or when, I am certain that I did. Thank you for sharing such wonderful views of your house, your cats and the mountains surrounding you. May your blessings be always delightful and full of wonders
Thanks Mindfield - he certainly has charm, but we have to be careful. He is already filled with delusions of grandeur and is demanding bodyguards and an agent. If we are not careful, he will descend into a downward spiral of fast cars, women and catnip abuse.
Thanks for dropping by, Alana. Greece certainly has that effect - it is an ancient land. Hopefully, you will get a chance to visit one day - you will have a great time. A million blessings to you, too!.
Idyllic. And cats too! Some guys have all the luck! :)
I hear that's exactly what happened to Jeff Goldblum. You're right, Sufi, better safe than sorry.
thats great... cool hub dude
You are living the dream! I too am jealous. And homemade raki too. I tried raki once good stuff. Look forward to more pictures. :)
Just the fact that you are able to self-sustain re: alcohol is impressive. And then there is the view. Fantastic! I love to think that there is someone somewhere living like this. Good for you! I wish you well.
That is true, Mindfield. At least Suleyman has had the operation, so no groupies for him!
Thanks for visiting, getanswers. Glad you enjoyed it.
Raki is indeed very good, Ravenking - a hot one is a great start to a cold day of picking olives! Thanks for dropping by.
Thanks for the lovely comment, MotherHubber - self-sustaining on alcohol (apart from Ouzo - I still have to buy that!). Trying to improve the veg patch at the moment, and become a little more self-sufficient for food.
Damn I thought I had left my comments here. Hi Sufidreamer, how are you going. I just have to tell you that your house is just stunning, the pictures here incredibly beautiful. Oh I can't believe you live in this fairytale it is just captivating. Oh I would just adore to live somewhere as magical as this
You don't need a cleaner do you LMAO ?
Thanks Blondepoet - glad you enjoyed the tour. We could always use a spare pair of hands, although we can only pay in wine, if that is OK!
It is a beautiful place, and we hope to spend the next year fixing a few things up.
Wine will do LMAO
So what were the cats supposed to do? Distract us from how fantastically fortunate you are? Kind of turn our thoughts away from the incredible beauty we'd just seen? Well, it didn't work. You're one lucky %^@#! (couldn't think of an appropriate expletive that wasn't needlessly offensive)
Damn Sufi! That's the way people are supposed to live. Not stuck in some atrocious box ten feet away from the next atrocious box in the midst of another 500 atrocious boxes that all look the same.
No wonder your avatar/photo has such a complacent, smug grin!
No worries, Blondepoet - maybe a little Ouzo, too!
Thanks CWB - it certainly is a great life, hence the smug grin. It is not easy, but I am rewarded for my own hard work, rather than somebody else profiting from my labour and ideas.
I gave up fighting the system head on many years ago, because it will always win. Instead, we took a sideways step - if enough people take a leap of faith and step into the unknown, it might just work. Passive resistance!
You are welcome here anytime - I would love to sit with you and TMG, drinking wine and watching the sun set over the mountains. :)
Beautiful pictures here especially the one with clouds on the hill top. I just love trekking and hence these kind of pictures always fascinate me.
Thanks packerpack.
I love trekking too - it is coming into the best time of year. Not too hot, but sunshine and beautiful views across the Evrotas valley!
You have been so quiet Sufidreamer, hope everything is ok, Just stopping by to say a big hello and to admire your out of this world pics love blondepoet.P.S These pics would make divine jigsaws you know :) you live in Paradise
What a beautiful place to live, the view is to die for (as they say, but what would be the point of that). It is so good to see somebody who has the sense to know they can live in a wonderful place. The world is too beautiful to live in a boring spot.
Hi Beautiful blondepoet.
Thank you for the kind thoughts - everything is fine here, but I have a lot of work at the moment. Not complaining - too much work is better than too little! I have lots more photos to upload when I have time, and you will be the first to know. Next time you and AEvans take a chaotic world tour, you must come to see us! ;)
Thanks, Dolores
Moving here was the best choice that we ever made - it is a beautiful part of the world. You are welcome anytime - this is one of the best places in Europe for bird-watching ;)
What a wonderful place! I loved uour cats too. I have a few of my own and some that call my place home. We are also trying to grow our own food, not the best place to do this though. I would love to live with your trees of fruit.
What exactly is Raki?
Thanks for stopping by, LG - glad that you enjoyed the photos. The trees and fruit are great, but the veg patch is a little to time consuming at the moment, but we have a local market for our veggies!
Raki is a fiery spirit distilled from the left-over grapeskins from wine-making. A type of Greek moonshine - it is very strong ;)
Hey, were you affected by the earthquake at all? I assume not but then again I'm no Geologist:)
Thanks for explaining that. You have such a gorgeous place ther and all that land! We are on a ravine. We have an acre, but can't use the part that is the side of a ravine.
Thanks for the concern, JamieD :)
We did not feel a thing here, as it is quite a long way away. It is not looking good, though - at least fifty people dead and counting. Sadly, it looks like that may be the tip of the iceberg :(
No worries, LG - it certainly is a beautiful part of the world. We have about 1000 square metres of usable land, more than enough for the two of us! Shame that you cannot use the ravine, but even a small vegetable plot is better than none!
Fruit trees, small vegetable plot, local taverns, wine, mountains....your head in the clouds, damn! You are blessed, enjoyed this MUCHLY! Best Regards.
I can see why you love it there and makes me even more determined that our next family vacation will be to Greece. Thanks for a peek into your world!
I have one already started. I have a hub of it. I think it is A Gardeners Journey through pictures. I have just started n this years go around.
Thanks for stopping by, C.S - Always good to hear from you. It is a beautiful place, and I cannot see us leaving at any point in the future! Nice to get away from the stress of the corporate world.
No worries, Jerilee - lets us know when you plan to come over, and we will help you to plan a good vacation :)
Glad to hear that the garden is coming along, LG - I will check your Hub out. My partner tends to do most of the planty stuff, and I just make fences and chop firewood :)
Ahhh! One of my destinations to go to when my hubs make me my millions :) Beautiful, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Trimar.
You are welcome anytime :)
My husband does most of the digging and tilling and I am the one who plays in the dirt and plants the plants and then takes care of them from there on. I love it though. Playing in dirt and watching plants grow is my relaxation or stress reliever.
My partner is the same - she loves gardening. I love making things, and hope to finish the chicken house soon!
I also take care of the plants that can be made into alcohol :P
Sufi, you are funny! I just published a hub--All My Gardens 2009. You can see this years accomplishments.
Thanks m'Lady - will pop over and have a look :)
Those are stupendous pictures! And you say you have better...hurry up and get your computer fixed! I want more! Thanks for sharing your pictures. Your house is beautiful, and I love the cats! Sorry to hear about Seraphina, she was quite a beauty.
Thanks for dropping by, k@ri
It might be a while before I get the computer fixed, sadly. It may have to go to Athens.
We are hoping to get out and about with the camera and take some more, but the weather is awful here. The worst winter in living memory :(
Most wonderful! How totally awesome, must be just magical. Thank you for sharing all this marvoluse information. Sure does make a person want to go there.
Bo
Thanks for dropping by, Bo - you are welcome anytime for a little Greek sun and fine wine :)
Getting to see the beauty that surrounds you and all that you possess...........no wonder you are smiling! Few people in this world have what you have. Thanks for sharing photos of your personal paradise. All I can say is "Wow!"
Thanks Peggy - you hit the nail on the head, there. Materially, we possess very little, but the sun, the wine and the converstaions is free. What more do we need from life?
Glad that you enjoyed the pictures!
Nothing wrong with a pink house in my opinion...
Looks like the cats have been at the wine.... or ouzo
Nothing like Preston then or Dukinfield where I am from.....
Hi Brenda,
The cats are a strange bunch - the little grey and white one loves beer, so you are not so far off!
Much better than Preston, and the Greek seas are a little more inviting than Morecambe Bay! - I have never been to Dukinfield.....
Nice pics, liked the mystras. Cheers
Thanks jayb - Glad that you enjoyed the photos - Mystra is a beautiful place.
Beautiful!
I admire you putting good use to your grapes, too. ;) If more of your species cultivated their own things you would have less food shortage issues to worry over!
In Lightspeed,
lxxy
Thanks, Ixxy - always good to have the input of a visitor from the future!
Glad that you enjoyed the photos, and last year's wine is nearly all gone :(
How beautiful!!!!!!! It looks so peaceful, the pictures are awesome! It looks like a bed and breakfast, so captivating,
dori
Thanks, Fortunerep - it certainly is a peaceful corner of the world. We actually hope to open up a bed and breakfast at some point, but the licensing regulations are very strict, so we need a little more money in the bank.
Glad that you enjoyed the photos!
How amazing!! So next summer house switch?? You can come to Florida and go to the beach everyday :) All of my friends will take good care of you!
Thanks, Colebabie - glad that you enjoyed the pictures.
The swap sounds like a great idea - you would love it here, and Florida has some cool places. I hope that your friends don't mind taking care of a terminally confused and Ouzo pickled old hippy :)
Oh they would love that! There are a few tavernas a couple of miles from my house. Nothing like in Greece though. You would love it here. I'll probably post a hub with some pictures soon. I'm going to have to leave for school in a year... I'm going to miss it here so much!
Sounds great - it would be nice to have a few drinks with good company and watch the Florida sunset. I look forward to the photo Hub. Enjoy the year there - at least you know that you have a beautiful place to go back to!
What a beautiful place, Sufi. Love the mountains! Did not realize it snowed in Greece. Do people ski there? Looks like you are quite blessed in a beautiful place. It is on my list for travels. Thanks for sharing! ; )
Thanks, Invictus - glad that you enjoyed the photos. The Northern Peloponnese has 2 or 3 ski resorts, and is a beautiful part of the world.
You are welcome anytime :)
hmmm... very tempting. : )
It is a good place to write poetry and then party! :)
LOL... Just the place to be!! : )
That's why we moved here - a little more romantic than Oxfordshire!
ROFL!!
I take it that you know Oxfordshire! 'Tis a dull place :)
just called back to say, dont go out of your to visit Dukinfield either it is just not worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, Sufi, thought you were having a go at me! My friends in London do all the time...Looked up Oxfodshire, havn't been there.
Hi Brenda - I think that I will give it a miss! You made the right choice moving to Ireland!
No chance, I*n*v*i*c*t*u*s, I have only known you for a couple of days. It takes at least a week before I make jokes about a new acquaintance :)
I hope that you give as good as you get when your friends have a go! We lived in Oxfordshire before we moved out here, and we were not sad to leave.
I was so sorry to hear of the demise of the mono eyebrow, was about to comment to you when they chopped me off at the knees, But a Spartan will return..........enjoying covertly contacting my fav writers, Hows it in Greece????????????????
loved the cats, the first one was so gorgeous and exotic.
Thanks, badgirl - it has been too quiet in the forums without you - I miss the regular abuse. :(
Greece is fine, thanks - summer is in full flow, and I can sit outside and work, with a cold beer. Such a drag.
We seem to be attracting cats - we are up to five now, and they keep us entertained.
I hope that NZ is treating you well, and that you are not getting into too many bar-room brawls ;)
Hello nice to make your acquaintance.
Hi, nyliram, nice to meet you, too :)
it's a beautiful home and a beautiful hub. the ancient roman ruins would fascinate me. I love old civilizations and history. wow, that's a lot of cats, and they are adorable. :)
the mountains and snow are exotic to me, frankly even the mountains and snow of the northeast U.S. is exotic to me. :p however greece is much more interesting.
Thanks, Idunn, I am really glad that you enjoyed it. I am a little pushed for time, but fully intend to write a photo tour around Ancient Sparta Hub. The snow has nearly melted, now, and the summer is in full swing. Went to the beach yesterday, and it was wonderful!
You are welcome anytime :D
I'll be there for that Hub too and I'm still trying to find time to read many of the travel and other Hubs I've caught interesting titles to as well. :)
I understand about not having enough time. I have tons of things I'm in the middle of, myself.
Thanks, Idunn - hopefully, it should not be too long. Sadly, I am on dial-up, so it takes while to upload photo-hubs!
Enjoy catching up with your hubbing :)
Awesome hub Sufidreamer. I love the pic with the ship. That is so cool. I live in British Columbia, Canada, in the mountains so I see a lot of the same things you do, clouds in the mountains, fruit trees etc. We do not have orange trees here though. We do have grapevines and peach trees though. I freaking love the pic of your cats. They are awesome. So sorry your one cat died. I have one kitten, Arrow and he looks a lot like Suleyman. Arrow has that same marking on his head, hence the name Arrow. Arrow also has an arrow on his back too. He is black and white. In the pic of Suleyman posing as superman, Arrow lays like that sometimes too. Check out my hubs on Arrow. You will see he looks a lot like Suleyman, only in miniature. Again, awesome hub and awesome to read some of your work.
Thanks, dwilliamson - always good to see you. Canada looks very beautiful - a place that I have always fancied visiting. It is nice to live up in the mountains and enjoy the thunderstorms. Glad that you have grapevines - it is nice to have your own wine!
Must try and check out your hub about Arrow - I am hoping to upload some pics for a Greek cat hub over the next couple of days, and you are more than welcome to drop a link in there.
Thanks again for dropping by!
Any time you want, BC - we have a spare room. Might even see about getting tickets for a Panathinaikos match - great atmosphere ;)
More than welcome, BC, although bear in mind that it is cold and wet here in November, too! Not a problem, but pack a jumper - we have no central heating. Will try to sort out a match - my buddy is a Panathinaikos fan, and might well be interested. He has a flat in Athens, so we can crash there.
Keep in touch through VFT, and we will see what we can arrange :D
Hey Sufidreamer I want to come to Greece too oh and if you ever come to Canada make sure you look me up. I'd love to meet you in person too (hee hee). I'd love to travel throughout Europe. That would be the ultimate trip for me.
Sufidreamer, looking forward to more pics of your cat. I think he's awesome and looking forward to you reading about Arrow, he's one awesome cat. He sleeps on my head every night. He's getting bigger so I'm gonna have to get him his own pillow soon and if he gets real big, I'll have to kick the hubby out. Arrow will sleep on my head and purr the whole night long and then he puts both his paws on each side of my head and I wake up to Arrow kissing for my forehead. I've tried kicking him out of the room at night but Arrow won't have any part of it. He has to sleep with "Mommy" and he has to sleep on "Mommy's" head. He's a crazy kitten but I've gotten so much joy out of him.
Also, I love the mountains, that is why I live on the west coast of Canada. They are awesome. Nothing better than waking up in the morning, looking out your living room window and seeing the mountain right across the street and watching a whole herd of mountain sheep. We do not like it when it thunders here though, cause thunder brings lightning and lightning causes forest fires. The area I live in is part of the Okanagan Valley, which is Canada's only desert area, hot and dry. We have had exactly one day here where it has rained this month so far. It is very dry here and there are a few forest fires burning, one to the south, one to the west and a couple north of here. That is pretty scary.
No problems dwilliamson - a tour through Europe sounds fantastic. There are many beautiful places to see and things to do. It may be a while before we hit Canada, as we are still setting up the businesses, but one day, and we will certainly look you up - it would be nice to meet! You are welcome here anytime :)
Will try to get the cat Hub up, although I only haver dial-up, so it takes a while to upload lots of photos! We hardly see our cats at this time of the year, but they come inside in the winter and all curl up together. Arrow sounds like quite a character, and a great companion.
Know what you mean about the lightning - it is fine in the wet winter, but we have the same problem with fires here. A couple of years back, the fire was about an hour away, and the entire village went to fight it up in the mountains - a close call. Hope that you manage to avoid them this year and have a little more rain.
sufidreamer I will definitely look you up if I ever get to Europe. You seem like a real nice guy.
Arrow has been my best bud through a real hard time in my life right now. I've got bulged discs and somedays can't walk because of the pain. Arrow follows me everywhere I go. He even decided he would follow me into the tub the other day but he didn't quite like the feel of the water so he jumped out as fast as he could He was soaked. I got out and wrapped him up in a towel and dried him off. The poor little thing.
I don't let Arrow go outside here on his own. There are coyotes in the mountains and we've heard that cats and kittens have disappeared. I don't want Arrow to be a coyote's breakfast. I put Arrow on a little leash and harness. He hated it at first but now he loves it. He rolls around in the grass and tries to catch bugs. The other day he saw a robin on the fence and he thought he could jump up and get it but then the robin flew away. Silly Arrow, he's got a lot to learn. He's my best bud in the whole wide world and has brought me through some pretty rough times and he's only four months old.
Thanks, and likewise - you are a lovely lady! Welcome anytime.
It is great that you have a companion to help you through the tough times - writing can be a lonely profession, and a little company is very nice. Must be something about black and white cats - we had one in the UK that was a bag of trouble, too.
Understand about keeping them inside - we did with ours when they were kittens. No Coyotes, but polecats, foxes and wildcats can be a problem. Now they are older, they come and go as they please and take their chances. A bit of a risk, but Greek cats are survivors, so we have to trust that they are going to be OK.
So lovely. My favorite is the crumbling stones in Mystras. I just stopped and stared at it for a while...
Thanks for dropping by, Randy - glad that you enjoyed the photos. Mystras certainly is an amazing place - nice to spend a lazy day wandering around the ruins.
Great house..... cool pictures.... would love to visit Greece.
Thanks, Jon - You are welcome anytime to drink Ouzo and enjoy long conversations as the sun sets behind the mountains.
Learn about the wonders of ancient Greece.. sounds like a plan.. what beer do the Greeks drink most?
Most of them drink Heineken or Amstel, but I like the local brews, Mythos and Alfa beer.
Hello Sufidreamer!! Thank you for stopping by. I just finished looking at all these pictures, what a joy :) I truly love Greece, even though I have been there just once. Seeing your pictures only reinforced that. The number of trees you have alone, is amazing. Its a beautiful country, ty for sharing that part with us all. Ocean :)
Sorry, Ocean - I missed this comment, so can only apologize for the late reply. Thanks for the kind words, and let us know if you ever fancy visiting Sparta. We will try our best to help :)
Inspirational! For I too dream of that land. Glad to see yours manifest!
Thanks, Earthscribe - Glad that you enjoyed the photos. You are welcome anytime - it certainly is an inspirational part of the world!
You are luckiest person to live in this most beautiful location. Photos are very nice! I hope God bless to lead this kind of peaceful life!
Thanks, ratnaveera - I am glad that you enjoyed the photos. it really is a beautiful part of the world, and we count ourselves blessed to live here, never taking it for granted. Hope that you manage to find the peaceful life :)
IM VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR WORK... BUT IM AFRAID TO SAY I THINK YOU MISSED YOUR TRUE CALLING.YOU SHOULD HAVE OPEN A BED&BREAKFAST ,LOL YOUR HOME IS BEAUTIFUL ...AND WHAT A GREAT VIEW YOU HAVE.PPL WOULD LOVE TO COME AND EXPERIENCE GREEK LIFE THREW YOUR EYES AS A FORIEGNER LIVING IN GREECE.
Hi Venita - Thanks for taking the time to visit and for the kind words.
You are welcome to visit anytime for a coffee if they are not working you too hard in AB. We are really enjoying our time here and I just wish that my Greek was a little better - I have too much work, sadly :(
The Bed and Breakfast is still an idea, but the bureaucracy involved sucks!
Take care and we will see you soon :D
Thanks for sharing the photos, this looks a lovely location to live, Greece is such a beautiful country.
Thanks, 2uesday - glad that you enjoyed the photos. It really is a great part of the world and everyday offers something new :)
You're a brilliant writer, you're funny, your house is fabulous, I think I hate you. Can I come visit?
-Laura
Thanks Laura - thanks for the kind words. Flattery definitely gets you everywhere. You are welcome anytime, and anybody who laughs at my jokes is guaranteed the red carpet :)
Take care :)
Hmmm, Greece looks like a great place to retire to. How expensive is it where you live? Any issues with getting permanent residence there? Are there any restrictions etc on foreigners in terms of property ownership?
Hi shibashake - thanks for visiting!
I am not 100% sure on the process for non-EU nationals, so you should check with the embassy.
1) If you have ancestry that allows you to apply for citizenship of an EU country, that makes the process much easier. You will have no problem.
2) Marry a Greek - we will have to find you a rippling Greek hero. Failing that, marrying any EU citizen will do.
Otherwise - "Non-EU citizens, unrelated to Greek/EU citizens and of no Greek origin themselves, who would like to retire or otherwise live in Greece on funds from outside Greece are welcome to apply for a special entry visa (Type ‘D’) at the Greek Consulate in their homeland, then get a residence permit upon arrival in Greece if they can show a minimum of 2,000 euros/month. It is not a work permit and good for one year.
From: http://livingingreece.gr/2007/04/16/americans-or-o
That is a good site - I do know a couple of Americans living here, but I think that they acquired EU passports.
Property is no problem in this area - there are no ownership restrictions, and you can find a nice little house for less than 50 000 Euros. One house in the village recently sold for 30 000 Euros, so there are some real bargains here. Rents are cheap, too - even inside Sparta, you will find an apartment for 150 - 200 Euros per month.
The cost of living here is low - the cities and the coast are expensive, but rural Greece is dirt cheap for bills and food. Health insurance is about 150 Euros per month. Of course, you can grow your own food if you buy a house with a patch of land.
If you are interested, feel free to PM and I will try to find some information - the site above is a pretty good start :)
Hi Sufi,
Thanks for all that great information. I definitely owe you a few Ouzos.
Btw. also enjoyed your website. Where were you when I was in college?! ;)
Hi Shiba - sorry for missing this comment - I have been a little busy :/
Glad that the info helped - I would love drink Ouzo with you and watch the sun sink down behind the mountains.
Thanks for the kind words - I was probably stuck working in a Supermarket when you were at college! Glad to be free of the corporate grind :)
Do you mind me asking how much a house like that in your part of Greece would cost to buy? I know a lot about the property markets of Bulgaria and Turkey, having researched them a lot for university assignments, but nothing at all about Greece. If this question is too personal then no worries! Ry.
Absolutely no problem, Ryan - you can still find some bargains, as long as you think sideways. Near the coast and the tourist hotspots is a little pricey. If you look inland, you can do well - a house in the local village just sold for 30 000 Euros - about another 20 000 to refurbish.
If you want a good tip, have a look at Pylos, the south-western tip of the Peloponnese. Property is cheap as chips there and you can still find some bargains on the coast ;)
I have a little info on Mark Knowles' blog, http://internationalpropertyinvestment.com
- feel free to PM if you need any more info :D
Thanks man, appreciate it. I still have a lot of thinking to do, but somewhere near Sunny Beach (Bulgaria) will probably be where I end up. The only downer is that to own a true freehold in Bulgaria I would have to buy an apartment, otherwise my property would have to be held by a ltd company of which I would be a majority shareholder. Apartments are of course synonomous with tourists, and that isn't really my scene..... but I do love Bulgaria as a country! I nearly bought in Turkey last time I was in the position, you can get a hell of a lot of house in beautiful surroundings for your money there, but (and I cant lie) I did feel uneasy about buying in an islamic country (purely because political directions can change). I did like the idea of living in Altinkum, particularly because you can get a ferry to Rhodes, Kos and some other Greek Island for less than £10 return, as well as it being close to some incredible natural and man made wonders. Anyway, sorry for the essay and thanks for the reply!
PS. Are you banned from the forum by any chance?
Hey Ryan,
Sounds idyllic - I must admit, I know very little of Bulgaria - I have Romanian and Albanian friends but know only a couple of Bulgarians. It does seem to be a beautiful country and you could certainly pick up some bargains there - a bummer about the freehold. You could always find a pretty Bulgarian girl to marry, although your girlfriend might not be so taken by the idea :D
Turkey is a strange one - there are certainly some bargains and, if it manages to join the EU, you will make a lot of money from property investments. You are right to be concerned, though - the Islamists are making a lot of noise, at the moment, and the human rights record is not the best.
True about the ferries - a lot of Greeks on the islands hop on a boat and go across to Turkey for a night out, drinking cheap Ouzo :D
No ban from the forums - I guess that posting pictures of an inflatable Ingrid is OK. That was a damn good thread - a good bit of banter, although it is not as much fun without the daft Irish pirate :)
Sufi, I agree, Mythos is AWESOME!
Hi Sooi - I had a Mythos or three today. Lovely and cold when the weather is hot :D
Great Hub Dreamer.... The ship wreck on Skala Beach brought back memories of the Sea of Cortez in Mexico and the simpler life there. Hope things are still well in Greece with you and yours. JM
I'll be damned!!!!! What are the odds that I find someone like you on the net that I think lives very close to my house. We have to meet!!!! I will be there in Sept. E-mail me back right away!!!! It is my dream to someday live full time in Greece, my mother is 92 and was born there lives in the states down the road from me.
I know I sound kind of pushy but it owuld be great to see how your doing, how long have you lived there?????
Tons of questions!!!! I hope you can get back to me soon.
Penny Stratos
Thanks, James - great to hear from you. We are fine in Greece, although I am housesitting down by the coast for a few weeks - nice to be able to go for an evening swim. Hope that the book is coming along well :)
Hey Penny - Lovely to meet you. It is a small world!
I did not receive your e-mail - if you want to contact me through my Hubpages PM (Contact Sufidreamer under my photo), I should get that one. Looking forward to having a chat about the area :)
Hi Sufidreamer,
I once visited Katakalon when I worked on board a cruiseliner and I treated myself to two gold rings from a local jewellery shop which was situated close to the port(The owner offered me a job with accomodation there too!I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like now had I decided to stay!).I cherish the rings as they hold many special memories of the places I visited and the people I met.I have a dolphin ring,which wraps around my little finger and the other one is a greek lifeline band.
I really enjoyed classical studies at school,so it was a treat to visit Greece and take many photos which are now treasured.
You are lucky that you've found a beautiful and peaceful place to live.Well Done and I look forward to reading more of your well written content:)
P.S.I love cats too,unfortunately for my black cat Jet,I ran him over as I reversed up my drive!(I have to think positively about it now; as he was very old and blind...I put him out of his misery,awful I know:(
Hi, Wearing Well
Thanks for visiting and leaving a co9mment :)
Glad that you had a great time in Greece - it is a great place to build lasting memories. Who knows what might have happened had you stayed, but such choices are what makes life interesting.
What a shame about your cat, but it sounds like it was inevitable. If they live to see old age, that is a bonus!
Take care :)
Ralph Deeds Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago
Beautiful house. Nice pics. I've never been to Greece. Let me know if you're interested in a one month house swap for ours in a Detroit suburb!