30 July 2010

2 1/2 Sea Celebration

Nik turned 2 1/2 on the 29th and we celebrated by going to the Sea on the East side of Greece in what is called the Pilio area. Our first stop was at a little village called Milina one hour away from Volos on the Pagassitikos Kolpos bay. Arthur and I had gone there 3 years ago when I was pregnant with Nik and he enjoyed the water then and he enjoyed it this time also. He pretty much jumps straight in, no fear and walked up to his neck, did some laying down while the waves came in.
We then enjoyed lunch at Arthur's favorite restaurant right by the water we had just swam in, but this is no longer our favorite restaurant it cost us 47euros to eat there and some of it we didn't even eat because it didn't taste good and came out cooked incorrectly. Plus the fact of continually being worried about Nik because on one side we had the sea and on the other side a busy road, so no freedom for him to just run around.
We stayed at a hotel just one block up from the beach that we had just been too and right behind the restaurant. Here is the view from our veranda.
You can see the view from this angle too. Baby Kat was the best to travel with and I loved her for being such a calm joy compared to the busy activity of a two year old named Nik.
Nik and Dad going off for an evening swim while I feed Riene.
Nik and I then went on a run along the boardwalk and found a park to play in and then watched the sun set, like I said continuous action.

The next day we decided to drive and find another beach, we ended up taking a morning break in the tiny village of Platania on the east side of the Pilio range facing the Aegean sea.
It had great warm water and wasn't to windy or wavy but there just wasn't anywhere to stay, so we had to continue on our hunt for a beach with a hotel nearby. But meanwhile Nik enjoyed smearing sand all over himself and chasing girls on the beach.
I fed our little ladybug when we arrived and then jumped in the water with Nik, or should I say was forced into going in since he threw his shoes in and they weren't magically making it back to shore.

We had lunch at a Taverna nearby and I had fresh swordfish and Arthur had Calamari, all very good.
We are driving along the ridge of the Pelion mountain and this is a view towards Milina beach where we had stayed the night before. We ended up finding a hotel near a really awesome beach and the other cool part was this hotel cost only 40euros and there were other children screaming and staying up all night there too! We weren't the only ones! It was a very nice family run place that also had a Taverna downstairs, so just like KokaRoka, and the view was great too the only problem was that they had so many trees around that you couldn't see the view. I realized why when in the morning we woke up with very bright sun shining directly into the windows, I guess this is a downfall of beaches located on the east side.
Baby sleeping at the beach, all dressed up to go swimming and way to windy to make it out of her carrier.
Getting into the water, grabbing a little sand on the way.
Way to early, pretty much the only ones on the beach here in Xinovrisi.
Beautiful sand and great waves and water was clear and warm.
Nik knocking down somebody else's sand castles left from the day before.
Nik and Daddy playing together, and Arthur taking one last dip before the long drive home(4 hours).

2 comments:

Jeanie said...

Beautiful scenery. Glad you got away for a vacation. The kids are both growing so fast.

Anonymous said...

Looks like ya'll had a great time! love the views!