Pelion is a mountain full of ... beaches.
In the first lines, I thank everyone who sent me letters, there are so many questions that it’s simply not enough for everyone to answer separately. Therefore, I will try to the best of my ability to answer everyone in this story.
Everything is in order. Everyone asks through which travel agency we traveled. The firm is small, in the Belarusian regional center, it seems that they work for Greece through Mouzenidis. It is best to go to a company in your city with which you have already dealt and say: "I WANT! " If their clients are dear to them, then they will move and find everything for you. And if they don’t find it, then it’s worthless to them, they work poorly and you can’t trust such parasites even in the most beaten directions. You can, of course, contact the hotel yourself and book a room, then you do not overpay the travel agency for their services, which, in fact, consist in issuing you one piece of paper. As far as I know, this will not affect the receipt of a visa, because. present the booking confirmation to the consulate and they are satisfied.
About airlines: we Belarusians fly from Warsaw, it is so close and convenient for us. But I know that in Moscow next to the building of the Greek embassy (one house 16, the other 18) there is a company, it seems Pantheon. They will find you all possible flights and charters to any place in Greece and at decent prices.
When you arrive in Greece, the border guards have standard questions: why, for how long, do you have money. On the day of your stay, you must have at least 50 euros, and putting them far is not worth it, as they may be asked to show, but rarely. It all depends on the mood of each particular border guard. For example, we once flew in on the day of the Annunciation, in Greece it is a double holiday: a church holiday and the anniversary of the beginning of the liberation struggle against the Turks. I went up to the window, held out my passport and told him “Hronia polla” (“many years” - this is how the Greeks greet each other on all major church holidays), he smiled, answered “you too”, immediately returned the passport and did not ask anything at all. Another time we were asked to show the money, they didn’t count, they just looked at the pack and at the credit cards and calmed down. If you are traveling with a family, then everyone should have their own money, not necessarily equally, at least how much, but so that it doesn’t “Oh, now my husband is gaping somewhere, but he has everything... ” But the decisive role is also for obtaining a visa and for border guards, your passport still plays: have you ever been to Schengen, are there any delays, etc.
What is good about the Magnesia region
1. Located in the center of continental Greece, on the coast of the Pagasian Gulf. One of the most favorite vacation spots for the Greeks themselves, so getting here is very easy (see my story "Magnesia - the summer residence of the Olympic gods").
2. To visit Greece and not get out on a few excursions, so why go at all? Look at the map and imagine that you have gone to Halkidiki. We were there, so I tell what I experienced: you need to drive all night to Athens. I don’t know, maybe the soldiers know how to sleep standing up, but after a night on the bus I barely climbed the Acropolis, everything hurt as if from beatings. Many did not go anywhere at all, they remained in prison, because there was no strength. But Athens is also a lot of museums, you want to see everything, but you feel like a squeezed lemon. We barely waited for the evening and went to bed, all night the impression that cars drive in one ear and leave the other - the hotel is in the city center. On the second day, we loaded onto the bus, as we thought about the way back, we didn’t want anything at all. And from Magnesia to Athens it takes only 4 hours, as they say, no curse, no mint. Meteora 2 hours, Delphi 3 hours, Thessaloniki 2.5 hours. You can go there and back to any place in a day.
3. If you look at the map, the Pagasian Gulf is almost round and is closed by mountains on all sides. This creates a kind of microclimate: there are no large temperature fluctuations, even if a terrible heat begins, it will be several degrees lower here than in Athens or the nearest Larisa. There is no wind, the sea is always calm and the water is warmer than in the open Aegean, which is within easy reach. This is especially convenient for families with children.
4. As already mentioned, the favorite vacation spot of the Greeks themselves. Therefore, the attitude towards tourists is different, more respectful.
5. There are no Russians here yet! This is very pleasing. I do not suffer from Nazism, but Europeans are somehow more educated. Especially when in recent years the "Turkish contingent" came to Greece (I also had to read a lot about this category on this site), the authority of the Russians was undermined. It is enough that one pig will show itself, and then you will not prove to anyone that Russians are not all boors.
Hotel Lidohotel A separate story. Horto Piliu village 48 km from Volos. A plot of several hectares is separated from the street by a fence. Located right on the seafront! No buses, hiking, descents, ascents, etc. I can be mistaken in the number of stars, it has its own classification - A category. Lots of detached villas in the local architectural style. No huge buildings and long corridors along which everyone runs and yells. By car, you can drive up to each house and park, but at first it’s scary to drive along narrow paths, but you can. Each has its own entrance with a private courtyard or veranda, where there is a table and chairs. The second (or where there is a third) has its own large balcony, but all with sea views. Even from the most remote villas, half a minute from the room to the beach. The beach is small but not crowded. It belongs to the hotel and there is no stranger. In general, we were initially shocked by the behavior of vacationers. It’s normal for everyone to leave everything (beach bags, cameras, cameras, and they go to dinner for 1.5 hours! And everything lies, and no one will touch it! It’s very convenient!
The territory is very well-groomed, surrounded by bouquenvilles, palms, eucalyptus, pines, flowers. I envy those who will come in August in advance: figs grow all around, it will be possible to eat directly from the tree. In the morning you wake up from the singing of birds, in the afternoon the grasshoppers chirp. Ecology! There is always something to do. At disposal: the hotel's own beach, swimming pools for children and adults, spa, hydromassage, sauna, tennis court, yoga, garden chess, gym, bicycles, horseback riding and sea sports, fishing, walks and cruises to the islands. Children's playground with a slide, swings, a small house, turntables. While your kid is mad at all this, you can lie down on a sun lounger prudently placed here and sunbathe. There is a toilet next to the site, so you didn’t have to run to and from the room, it’s very convenient.
The Greek evening is spent by real Greeks, and not like seasonal workers from Odessa on cruises. (2 years ago we were on a cruise around the Greek islands. Half of the attendants are from Odessa. During the day they carry our suitcases and clean our rooms, and in the evening they suddenly become singers and musicians. It was very funny when 3 tall blue-eyed bolondins came out to dance dressed in what "Something like Greek costumes. And the Greeks themselves, who were sitting at the neighboring tables, after this spectacle could no longer stand it and began to demand microphones to show all of us real Greek songs. But since there were no more than 40 people out of 1.500 passengers on the whole ship, then the first mate came apparently to calm them down. After that, the whole company got up and defiantly left. ) Evening once a week, free of charge. Just came for dinner, and then a surprise.
Kitchen....... !! ! It is great. For all 10 days that we were, we failed to try everything. Breakfast is standard, yoghurts, croissants, sweets, cheese, ham, servilat, fruits, natural juices, not powdered as often happens... Every day something new was added to the standard set. In general, a lot of things. Service without complaints. Dinner is a separate song. Always in stock: several types of meat, fish and seafood, vegetables, etc. The menu does not change daily. A chef stands separately and prepares some zest. There are always local national dishes. In short, I will only say one thing - after that you will have to lose weight!
They don't speak Russian, but there is a menu in Russian. If suddenly something is needed in the hotel, they immediately call the guide-translator and she immediately decides everything. She also accompanied us on excursions. Speaking of them. Since there were few Russian speakers, the two of us and a family from Yekaterinburg, all excursions were for us as individual ones. No comparison with double-decker buses and crowds of people, as is the case in Katerini or Halkidiki. We agreed ourselves where and when we want to go, where to stay, what to see. We do not wait for anyone, we are not late, we are our own masters.
Number We were alone because we lived in a regular room. There are also suites and apartments. The room is spacious and very bright. The air conditioner is powerful, turn it on as much as you want, it is included in the price. I read that some hotels charge extra for air conditioning. So I'm lucky I've never experienced this. At night, all windows were opened and they breathed natural sea air with the smell of flowers. It's nicer and healthier than air conditioning. However, who loves. Double bed and ottoman. You can also sleep on it. If for example a family with a child, then it would be quite possible to accommodate the three of us in this room. Dining table, electric kettle, dishes, refrigerator, TV, telephone, internet, safe, spacious bathroom, hair dryer. Suites differ only in the presence of a stove, the rest too. 2-room apartments for up to 5 people.
Cleaned daily, clean. A person does not go to the toilet and does not wash his hands as much as they put soap and toilet paper on us! The bed was changed every 3 days. Towels as needed. Could every day. Plumbing is ok. Shampoo was not put, but I do not use shampoos of unknown production. Solid wood furniture, all in the same style, wardrobe, large chest of drawers with 3 drawers, bedside tables, table.
About the weather: My husband likes the heat. And I start to suffer at a temperature of +30C. Therefore, for us the most buzz!! ! Up to 35 in the daytime, but apparently because the sea is very close, the heat was not felt, just warm, good. And for trips to the mountains, you can throw on a blouse. At the top of Pelion it is always 15 degrees less than in the city. The sea is warm, calm, the water is clean and transparent. The fish are swimming. If you stand frozen in one place, they swim up to your very feet.
Many people ask what is better to take: half board or all inclusive. I think advice is inappropriate here, because everyone has their own appetite. We took half board and not only had enough, but also got better, so now it’s not just a diet, you have to starve. But there are also people who have one intestine and that rectum, no matter how much they eat, everything is not enough. Let everyone decide for himself, I'll just tell you how we approach this issue. Rest is for this, and rest is for sleeping. Therefore, we have breakfast no earlier than 9.30-10.00 in the morning. Then we go somewhere or go for a walk or to the beach. It’s hot during the day, I’m thirsty all the time, only fruits and ice cream attract me from food. There is a refrigerator in the room, we loaded it with fruits and drinks. Delicious local drinks
Epsa. Based on natural orange and cherry juice, lightly carbonated. There are a lot of different factories for ice cream. We liked the Delta factories, different types from the Nirvana and Aloma series. They took about 1 liter (5-6 euros) in large boxes, but of course they didn’t have time to try everyone. On Saturdays there is a market in Argolasti, it is 3 km from the hotel. A sea of cheap, perfectly fresh fruits. They sat down to supper at 7 o'clock in the evening. If you want to stupidly lock yourself up in a hotel and not go anywhere at all, then all inclusive can be beneficial. And if we go somewhere, then lunch disappears. We are somehow shy about asking for dry rations. It is not a problem to have a bite to eat on the way, there is something tasty on every corner. Lots of puff pastries with cheese, ham, sweet cream (called "bougatsa"), spinach, potatoes and God knows what else. They cost from 1.3 to 2 euros apiece. I’m not even talking about kebabs and souvlaki, this is written and rewritten in every review and story. And if you suddenly wake up a brutal appetite, then taverns and restaurants are everywhere. I read that in Volos there are almost 1200 restaurants, uzeri, tsipuradiko, barbecue and other food outlets for 130 thousand people. You understand, you can’t take a step - edibles are all around. So decide for yourself.
It is better to buy wine in "KAVA" stores - it's alcoholic or just in supermarkets: cheap and cheerful. And incomparably tastier than draft, which is usually served in taverns. When I read reviews about bad Greek wine, at first I was surprised, then I realized that people in Greece never tried real wine. We like sweet and semi-sweet: Mavrodafni Patron (red), Moschato Patron (white), Samos (all colors). Everyone here on the site admires Metaxa. I want to disappoint you a little: the Greeks themselves consider Metaxa a ritual drink, it is always served at funerals, commemorations and anniversaries of death. And for the mood they drink ouzo, tsipuro, retsina, wine and beer. Like this! But tourists do not know this and consume Metaxa in unlimited quantities, which is called live.
More small tips:
- It is better to buy guidebooks Polyglot and Le Petit Fute - in one one is better written, in another another. And pick up a local guide at the Tourist Information Center in Volos.
- Stock up on a little knowledge in the field of the Greek language - it will be cheaper for you. In general, the Greeks (or Hellenes, as they call themselves) are very sensitive to their history and language. If you ask somewhere "how mach? " Of course, they will understand you, they even understand "how much" in many places, but if you ask the same in Greek, then the cost will be called less. Even if you hold in your hands a phrase book or that page of the guide where the most everyday expressions are given and just read, they are still pleased and the attitude changes immediately. And what is there to be surprised, we are also pleased when they respect us and try to speak Russian
- Be sure to try the local sweets. Especially lukumi.
- Duty free in Greece is not cheap, but since this year, the European Union, following the United States, has introduced restrictions on the transport of liquids in hand luggage up to 1 liter. If you are not sure that your luggage will not be beaten, then it is better to overpay a little.
- Stock up on an extra bag, because after wandering around the shops, you can’t resist all sorts of cute little things, and don’t forget Greece is not only valuable fur, but also all sorts of leather products.
- Do not mention anything Turkish. It's taboo!! ! For example, Greek coffee is the same Turkish coffee. Try frappe - you won't regret it, in Russia there is nothing like it, although it is called the same.
- Don't forget the siesta. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays everyone works from morning to lunch, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays also from 5 to 8 pm, and then everyone goes to bed, they have a siesta! During the day, only patisseries and kiosks are open. At this time, only tourists wander around the town and stare at each other.
Greece is the perfect place to travel as a couple, especially for those who like to wander and see.
We rested well. No trouble. From the bottom of our hearts we wish you all the same.
For information and room reservations:
tel : +30.24210 27931
FAX : +30.24210 38008
EMAIL: info@ledapelion. com www. ledahotel. gr
