Contributor post by Michelle of EviesToolEmporium

Let’s take a vacation with KATERINA ILIAKI from OnceUponJewelsCo

Kythira Greece

1. What is your favorite vacation destination and why? Where exactly in the world is it located?

Kythira is small island in Greece opposite the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula and near to Crete. It is traditionally listed as one of the seven main Ionian Islands, It is the island where my mother is coming from and the place I spent all summers of my childhood.

2. What are several places everyone visiting this destination should see?

It is a magic island and has so many places to go and things to see.

My personal favorite is Avlemonas village, a small fish village on the east side of the island, with scenic coves. A peaceful place with a beautiful seaside and seaside where you can swim like a pool!!

Mylopotamos is an other beautiful village…It has different personality from Avlemonas, with waterfalls and an amazing passage through the woods with 16 mini watermills that lead to an amazing beach.

Potamos village is the central village of the island with a traditional fair market every Sunday where locals sell their products and beautiful small bars and restaurants…

Chora is the capital of the island..Traditional island village with tiny white houses and a spectacular Venetian castle to dominate on the top!!

One of my favorite walking tours is the one for the Moudari Lighthouse,which is located at the northernmost point of the island, at Cape Spathi. It is a very well conditioned lighthouse which you can also visit inside and the view from up there is breathtaking!

3. What special customs, traditions, geography, nature etc. are intriguing about this destination?

To begin with,in Ancient Greek mythology, Kythira was considered to be the island of celestial Aphrodite, the Goddess of love.

Geographically, even it belongs to the Ionian islands, it is located at the southwestern exit from the Aegean Sea. This particularity, makes this island unique.. It has combines many different landscapes.. the green and rich in vegetation part of Ionian and at the same time the wild and without water landscape of Cyclades…A combination that every visitor can either love it or hate it. There is no middle situation in Kithira.

Near to Kithira, you can find a tiny tiny island, the Antikithira island.

Between these to islands, in April 1900 Antikythera mechanism was found by a group of Greek sponge divers. Antikithire MEchanism is an ancient Greek analogue computer and orrery used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes.It is consider to be a huge archeological discovery and the wreck that it is still at this location continues to reveal a lot of secrets to our archeologists.

4. Where are the hot spots to eat and drink?

The best place to eat on this island is Kaleris restaurant. It is a tavern on Agia Pelagia village on the north-eastern part of the island. It is a family business and the son of the owner is a great chef..He worked for years in European restaurants with success and he decided to come back and cook for Kithirians and visitors of this island!

In Avlemonas village there are two traditional fish taverns, both of them have delicious and fresh food!
For drinks, Araxtopolio is what you are looking for! It is also located in Avlemonas, on the old harbor. Stavros is there for you to make the best cocktails.

At Potamos village you will find Astikon. it is a bar-cafe with life music most of the summer.It is very cosy and graphical.

If you are looking for something even more mystic, Amir Ali bar in Karavas is your choice. You will spot it on the side streets of the village as you are going to find the water springs of Amir Ali. Romantic and out of this world.

And of course you should stop at Karavas Bakery in the entrance of the village. This is were the famous Kithirian paximadia are made and distributed all over the world. Pavlos, the owner has renovated his family old mill and can give you a tour to his bakery with pleasure!

5. Have you been to your favorite vacation destination more than once and will you visit again?

I was living there for five years, working on my jewelry shop, spent all my childhood summers and revisiting every time I have the chance!

6. What are your social media sites?

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/OnceUponJewelsCo

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnceUponJewelsCo

Twitter: twitter.com/OnceUponJewels

Instagram: www.instagram.com/onceuponjewels

Pinterest: gr.pinterest.com/OnceUponJewels

and

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/BohemianSummerTales

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BohemianSummerTales

Tags » Potamos

#CIJVacation - Kythira, Greece With OnceUponJewelsCo