I don’t want to brag, but my 14-day summer vacation was basically designed for my personal taste. And here’s why. Just lying around and swimming all day? Not my cup of tea. After ten minutes I’m already itching to rearrange my 304GB of music files into extremely specific playlists, just to feel alive again.
So heading to my boyfriend’s seaside village, Paralio Astros in Arcadia, was ideal. We used it as our base camp for little adventures and explorations. Huey and Dewey on the move. No Louie in this story, though; he’s still stuck with the Kingsmen.
Note: All these adventures came with pit stops at a local kafeneio, served with the perfectly appropriate amount of beer.
PARALIO ASTROS CASTLE
First things first: when you find yourself in Paralio Astros, you have to climb up to the Castle. It sits proudly on top of Nissi hill, towering over the port like it owns the place. Built in 1256 AD by Prince William Villehardouin, who named it Castello della Estella because the peninsula looked like a star - hence Astros, “star.”
And the view? Magnificent doesn’t even cover it. Let’s just say I may or may not have ignored the polite “don’t climb here” vibes and found myself scrambling around the walls like a medieval Spider-Man.
MOUSTOS WETLAND
Every time I go to Astros, I have to visit Moustos. And by “have to,” I mean every single day (yes, I did). I’m obsessed. Doesn’t matter if it’s day or night, whether I linger for fifteen minutes or several hours. I simply, cannot resist.
Moustos is a wetland of speechless beauty and serious environmental importance. Dense reeds hide, among others, purple herons, wild ducks, and black-winged stilts, all doing their mysterious wetland business while I stare, enchanted.
And then there’s the little cold spring, perfect for a spontaneous dive. The water is freezing, like, “oh-my-god-I-can’t-feel-my-legs” cold but I like it. And yes, I will put my face in it just to stay forever young. One day, I had the surreal pleasure of sharing the spring side by side with a wild duck, who clearly approved of my company.
KAPSIA CAVE
Ok, time to move on to the serious adventure: the Kapsia Cave. You know me, if something comes with mystery and a touch of morbidness, I’m in.
The cave is breathtaking: fantastic colors, surreal shapes, and a history that runs from pitharian fragments to actual human bones. You wind your way down through labyrinthine corridors until you reach the two main chambers; “the Chamber of Wonders” and “the Chamber of Bones.” Honestly, how could I not love this place? Every stalactite and stalagmite looks like it’s whispering secrets from a time long forgotten.
Now, fun fact: my boyfriend Marios is slightly claustrophobic. At first, he was doing the classic hesitant shuffle, eyeballing every narrow corridor like it was a horror movie. But Mrs. Konstantina, our tour guide, was so warm, funny, and disarming that he practically forgot he had a fear. Thank God, because I was buzzing with excitement, and honestly, if he’d refused, I was already imagining my backup plan: ok, dude, I’m going to drug you, because missing this cave is not an option.
LEPIDA WATERFALLS
I haven’t mentioned it yet, but we go everywhere on our Yamaha Ténéré 700. Yes, the motorcycle life. Now, picture us attempting to reach the Lepida Waterfalls on said bike: lots of off-road driving, me shouting incomprehensible sounds with every bump, and Marios - the guy who lives for off-road adventures - secretly questioning all his life choices… mainly his choice of girlfriend.
But the destination? Totally worth it. “Lepida” translates to blade, a name perfectly suited to the tall waterfall’s powerful cascade, slicing sharply through the neighboring rocks. There are actually two waterfalls: one towering at 70 meters, the other at 45. And yes, I climbed both of them… wearing my Dr. Martens loafers. Not hiking boots. Hell yeah.
MYCENAE
Last but certainly not least: the ultimate adventure, the kind of place that makes you feel like Indiana Jones stepping into a lost world, whip and fedora optional but highly recommended.
Visiting archaeological sites is my thing. I can’t resist standing among ruins and imagining how people so many years ago managed to create something so monumental. There’s awe, wonder, and that thrilling sense of mystery that makes every stone and every gate whisper secrets from the past.
I wandered through the Lion Gate, pretending it was the front door of my house… I wished, of course. Hahaha. Every corner of Mycenae is drenched in stories, craftsmanship, and enigmas that make you feel connected to a world that existed millennia before us. It’s humbling, inspiring, and of course a bit magical!
THE ADVENTURE SHALL CONTINUE
And just like that, my summer adventures in Arcadia have come to an end… for now. But of course, I already know my next stop: the Anavalos Spring Aqueduct. It stands alone in the middle of nowhere, eerie and dramatic, as if someone plucked it straight out of Gotham City. Abandoned or secretive, it promises mystery, shadows, and maybe a little mischief.
Now, it’s time to head back to Athens for some Athenian adventures… because the city never sleeps, and neither do I!
Kisses,
Valisia