FORGOTTEN PARADISE: EDEN BEACH & DREAMY CLIFFTOP HOMES

Welcome to the new week loves! I hope you've had a lovely and well rested weekend!

This weekend Mr. Perseus and I went on a mini road trip with some friends and ended up at Eden Beach, Anavyssos along Athens fabulous Riviera (en route to Cape Sounio - most southern point of the Athens peninsula, where the Temple of Poseidon lies).
It had been a good few years since we headed as far along the coast as this since we usually head towards Vougliameni or Varkiza way for beach action, depending on traffic. We did a pit stop at my favourite bakery/patisserie, or what I call the 'gateway to food heaven'  - Georgiadis for pastries, fresh bread & snacks before driving further along the coast. When we arrived at our destination I was welcomed with crystal clear waters and a cool breeze... simply perfect.

Jetskiing, canoeing, pedal boating- it was all there for hire & the rocks for those who wanted to go snorkelling. I swam pretty far out to discover just how clear the sea was and I could see stright to the bottom of the ocean and catch the odd school of fishes swimming excitedly undenearth my feet. 

Oh, I ought to mention at this point that I have a slight obsession with clifftop/hillside homes with ocean-views... See that first pic, on the top to the right? There was this amazing home with dark wood beams, white walls & floor to ceiling windows that led out onto a huge terrace and steps down toward the sea... all very dreamy stuff. I couldn't actually see the house from the front only the side facade, til I swam right out to get a whopping view of the back of the house. Sigh!

 

Delicious apple pie from famous Georgiadis patisserie. They have such amazing breads, gateaux/mini slices of cakes and the BEST Creme Brulee ever! The Mr. & I rarely go bananas over anything but sweet treats, so we often have a field day whenever we pop in there. If you're ever heading that way you have to pull up and taste a little bite of heaven!

Ok, now it's time to show off some Greek-style hillside homes that I adore! I'm saving one of my favourites til last as there's a 'lil story that goes-with!

Image via Vangelis Paterakis home #231 - This guy has shot some of the most stunning homes ever, including the one below!

This amazing clifftop home on the Greek Island of Kea, belongs to childrenswear designer Eva Karagiannis, more pictures via here.

 

 Below: Gorgeous 'Dolce' villa for rent in Mykonos via here. Who's gonna join me one day? Blogger get together?

In the day and sunset below... gorgeous no? I would just lie on those beds all day...

Now onto my dream home... Wild Rose Villa in Kefalonia.

 

Whilst I was on a bit of a mission Googling  & oogling clifftop homes, I came across this one and was seriously blown away... you'l have to hit the link above to see this place in it's full glory... and Pin away folks, you know you wanna! 

Uninterrupted view of Myrtos Beach via Villuxe

So I was giving this place another once over and to my shock I realised just which property this was after seeing the photo below. It was the place I'd been eyeing up everyday when I was in Kefalonia a few years back. Everytime we drove past I had the urge to scream stop, jump out of the car and bang impolitely on the large grey iron plated gates to demand they open the door to me for a proper lustful once over! I wanted to pretend I was someone from Living Etc or House Beautiful so I could see what was behind those high walls and iron gates! All I knew was that it had to be pretty impressive, since the infamous Myrtos beach was to the left (where it's impossible to take a crap photo btw) and views of my favourite place, Assos to the right!

Of course I tried to take photos (really tricky on that short, narrow bend-there's nowhere to stop) and all I got was the front gates! Ha!

 

image via here

Wouldn't mind this view of the clouds with my Greek pastries & coffee in the morning sat in the jacuzzi hanging over the cliff edge.

Isn't this villa to-die for? It's an eye-watering amount of money to rent out weekly, not to mention there are concierge services included, such as yacht charters & in-house chef! But hey, one day folks! For now a girl can dream!

Have a brilliant, super sparkly week guys! 

x.o.x.o

Happy Feet: Mariettas Fantasy Sandal Collection 2012

Hot, sunny weather has been storming the shores of Greece for quite some time now, so it's only appropriate that I find some decent footwear that is not only comfortable but stylish. Note, I am a sucker for colour & detail or something dead simple, understated but stylish too - very contradictory (but yes I am that kinda girl, it's either all or nothing with me). I managed to discover the perfect amalgamation of all these things in Marietta's Fantasys new collection.

 Let me introduce you to Greek beauty Marietta Chrousala, TV personality and model (who, believe me looks even more gorgeous in the flesh) whose collection was born out of reaction in not finding the ultimate pretty, comfortable sandal. Marietta ended up doing a bit of cratista by making her own leather sandal with the help of her uber crafty mum and together they created their very first pair of decorative sandals. When strangers stopped her in the street on numerous occasions to ask where they could buy a pair, she knew it was the moment to branch out & design a collection. It took about a year to complete the design process to actual launch of the collection via the online boutique and now she's considering plans to expand into the accessories area... you heard it here first loves!

 Each pair have a slight heel and comfy non slip soles

Calling all cupcake lovers!

 My faves - the black and nude patent leather thong with skull or crown motif - I think I want both, one for day and one for night! 

 Lots of hand-beaded colourful leather sandals

Stylist to the Stars Alex Katsaiti with Marietta in cute black playsuit, image via Alex K

The majority of Marietta's collection leather sandal remind me of all things summery & happy; it's super girly, pretty, playful and colourful, with two gorgeous patent numbers, which I couldn't help but swoon over (see photos above). There are around 30 odd styles in the new collection, with new styles coming soon for high summer, all of which are handmade by Marietta and her mother and produced in Greece with slip resistant soles. Perfect for not wiping out on Athens dodgy pavements I say!
Lastly I adore the new pink & black zebra foldable flip flop - which you can sneak into your (teeny) bag if you're suffering from a spot of tired feet! For more information, please visit Marietta's Fantasy.

Thanks to Zoe, Aliki & Marietta for having me! It was so good seeing you beautiful ladies!

Road Tripping: Best of North Greece

Hey guys, hope you've all had an amazing weekend. I've finally had some catch up time to sort some bits outs, including sharing some photos of our road trip North of Greece a while back. It was a spontaneous and very random road trip as we didn't book hotels (seriously not a good thing to do in peak holiday time in Greece!) but it was a seriously fun adventure! I'm usually a planner and organizer and 4 years ago, doing a road trip without planning would have freaked me out to the nines, but having spent 2 years in Greece now, I've chilled out & become more laid back about things in life.

Some of these snaps were taken whilst we were whizzing by in the car, hence the lamp post above! I'm not so sure I would have stopped for this little stampede though!

Sunset, Elani (1st Peninsula), Halkidiki

Halkidiki near Kalithea

Ancient ruins of Dion - this was such an amazing archaeological site at the foot of Mt. Olympus, with lots of amazing uncoverings of the ancient ruins of Dion. This is the place where Alexander the Great made majestic sacrifices to Olympian God, Zeus before embarking on his great campaign in Asia. This was such a hilarious trip, as Mr. Perseus, gave me his very own history lesson, I'm totally geeked up on Alexander the Great now!

The excavation of Aphrodite's temple/sanctuary.

After visiting Dion, we ran into a different kind of a stampede, one involving lots of Vespa's, from antiques to modern one alike - I even saw a Barbie-fied one, but the camera didn't come out in time! The above shot is of a small waterfall at Elikonas River, aka one of the most ancient rivers in Pieria and also Vafiras or Ourlias River. According to mythology, this is the river where the women washed their hands of blood after having murdered Orpheus (The King of the Ciconians, is counted among the Argonauts. Orpheus practiced minstrelsy and by his songs moved stones and trees, holding also a spell over the wild beasts. He descended to the Underworld in order to fetch his dead wife, but had to return without her). The river disappeared underground and only to later resurface at Dion.

Cafe Leibhora at Mt. Olympus.

The Greek theatre, Dion with Mt. Olympus in the background