When we visit Greece, we always like to add a trip to somewhere we’ve never been. This time, we decided to check out the Pelion peninsula – just southeast of the city of Volos.
We picked the small village of Afissos, due to the Airbnb we found and the proximity to the beach. It turned out to be a highlight of our time in Greece. The Airbnb was excellent – ample indoor and outdoor space for all of us, a well-equipped kitchen and just a few minutes away from a small pebble beach with crystal clear water. The view over the bay was gorgeous and the sunsets spectacular. There were also a number of restaurants along the coast that allowed us to enjoy fresh fish and seafood.
We would wake up in the morning and, after breakfast on the outdoor patio, we would head down to the beach and pick out our beach chairs for the day. Our routine involved ordering fresh squeezed orange juice and frappé, then cooling off in the water and warming up in the sun looking for sea glass on the beach. The kids (and A. too!) loved using the mask and snorkels we bought to explore the underwater life. The water was teaming with little fish, starfish, sea urchins and sea anemones.
In the heat of the afternoon, we would head back to the Airbnb and eat a late lunch, then relax with cards or naps. A. and her γιαγιά even baked some delicious cookies for us all to enjoy.
A few evenings, we enjoyed fresh fish at the local restaurants and the setting sun over the bay. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in this part of Greece and would happily recommend it.
The only challenge was getting to and from the village. The only road was – in theory – two way, but so many people parked along the side of the road that it made the road more of a one way. Imagine what it was like driving along the road and confronting another car coming in the opposite direction. Or even worse, a truck! Fortunately, there were a few places you could pull over and, failing that, we saw several people have to reverse their way back down the street.
Next stop: Athens!