Tour Kardamyli & Seaside Discoveries [Day 6]
Kardamyli greeted us with our first apartment-style hotel, and we were instantly smitten: a full kitchen, a cozy sitting area, and French doors opening onto a ground-floor patio with sea views. And the cats! They appeared on cue, ready for affection and snacks the moment we stepped outside.
Quaint Kardamyli
We wandered the village, shopping and sightseeing, breathing the sea air and marveling at the quaintness of the streets and shops. We claimed a seaside corner table at Tikla Cuzina & Wine Bar (the promise of a wide selection of wines and fresh seafood snagged our attention.) They did not disappoint!
Our attentive waiter sensed our hesitation when our appetizers arrived and graciously set to giving us a hands-on tutorial in the fine art of eating seafood carpaccio.
Yet another day in paradise. As we sauntered back to our hotel along the mesmerizing pebbled streets, the four of us felt a deep sense of gratitude for making this trip happen – together. We weren’t even halfway through, yet it already felt like one of those journeys that settles into your bones, the kind you know you’ll be talking about long after the bags are unpacked.
Tower of Mourtzinos
The next morning brought a leisurely neighborhood walkabout with our guide, Victor, who shared local customs, insights into Greek life, and plenty of wine wisdom. We made our way up the hill to the Tower of Mourtzinos, where Victor sang for us in the family church, showing off its remarkable acoustics – and his lovely voice.
Agia Sophia Church
Scott and I scrambled up the steep ladder inside the tower for a peek out the window at the town below. The tower wasn’t designed for a crowd however, so as our group began to filter in, we quickly made our way down. Gathering Camilla and Allan we headed up the mountainside for a hike to the small church of Agia Sophia and its sweeping views of the entire region.
The views from the church were stunning and the trail was well marked with blue and yellow striped rocks along the way. As we were heading down, we stopped to chat with several more of our group that had found their way up the mountainside to the panoramic views.
After the hike, we cooled off with a swim at Ritsa Beach. The sea was very salty—and wonderfully buoyant. White pebbles lined the shore, and clear blue water stretched out past umbrellas and sunbeds near a beachside restaurant. We ordered local beers, claimed a pair of chaise loungers for the four of us, and took turns floating in the sea.
Before long, much of our tour group appeared, drawn to the same slice of paradise. We chatted while standing waist-deep in the water, rotating whose turn it was to buy the next round of beers. In time, the clouds darkened on the horizon and we packed up to head back to the hotel.
Happy Hour @ the Hotel
The afternoon flowed into a wine-tasting happy hour as our troupes assembled back at the patio of the hotel. Victor had put together a spread of his favorite bottles of wine and was sharing a bit about the grape varieties in Greece flavor alongside Greek snacks. We laughed, asked all the questions and let Victor dive deep into a personal passion of his (vino!)
Rooted in ancient Greece, Hippocrates – the Father of Medicine – said it best: “Let food be thy medicine.” The idea? Real healing starts at the table, using good food to nourish the body, restore balance, and keep you well.
Greeks, especially ancient Greeks, viewed wine as divine, medicinal, and a tool for philosophy and moderation, praising its ability to bring health, love, and sleep. However, they also praised moderation. The poet Eubulus famously described three glasses of wine as the ideal: one for health, one for love, and one for sleep, with anything beyond leading to chaos.
I am totally down for the Greek way of life…
More Fine Dining in Kardamyli
Much later that evening, we strolled down the street to O Psaras, a seaside fish taverna (highlighted in the Rick Steves book for good reason!) We selected our dinner straight from the pull-out fish tray in the refrigerator after being shown a few different fishes and a humongous lobster.
Dining outdoors, we sank into an evening of animated stories and laughter. The rain came down, but we were comfortably settled under a wide umbrella with no wish to leave anytime soon. (We finally had fallen into the Greek way of enjoying a meal; with laughter, deep conversation and lingering into the evening.) Eventually, we finished, completely satiated – then soaked and delighted, we sprinted home through the puddles.
