Loutraki, Greece: My kind of town
The professor and broadcaster Dr Iain Stewart loves Loutraki for its honey, fresh herbs and Greek coffee dusted with sea spray from seafront cafes.
WHY LOUTRAKI?
A strange draw – earthquakes. A big one struck Loutraki in 1981 and five years later I went to look at the effects for my university studies. I completely fell for the area and have gone back most years since.
WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST WHEN YOU ARE AWAY?
The seafront cafés – there's nothing like Greek coffee dusted with sea spray and infused with animated Greek chatter.
WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU RETURN?
Walk the promenade. The town gets bigger each year but the sea front is reassuringly familiar.
WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO STAY?
Out of town, the Club Poseidon Resort (0030 27440 67938; poseidonresort.gr; doubles from £178 in May) always looks fun but is too pricey for me. In town, the two-star Mon Repos on G Lekka Street (22113; open April-October) provides the opposite extreme – a quiet, comfortable bolt-hole.
WHERE WOULD YOU MEET FRIENDS FOR A DRINK?
On the beach – why wouldn't you?
WHICH ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES FOR LUNCH?
The idyllic beach tavernas of Psatha Bay, at the north-eastern end of the Perachora Peninsula. The fish comes to your plate fresh from the sea, you dangle your feet in the swash and parading ducks add a quirky twist.
AND FOR DINNER?
The Platanos taverna, set amid wooded hills near the village of Pisia, is a fantastic summer haunt. Mind you, part of the appeal is that it rests right on the earthquake fault line.
WHERE WOULD YOU SEND A FIRST-TIME VISITOR?
Ancient Heraion, a lovely Greek temple site tucked away in a natural rocky harbour near Blue Lake (Vouliagmeni) at the end of the Perachora Peninsula. A true hidden gem.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM TO AVOID?
The Corinth Canal. This engineering wonder might be worth a stop, perhaps even an evening boat trip, but it is often jam-packed with tourists and coaches.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR TAXI?
Either, since both are pretty cheap, but you'll need a taxi to get to Vouliagmeni – there's only one bus a day.
HANDBAG OR MONEYBELT?
Handbag (wallet in my case) is fine – I've never had any trouble. Although it gets busier each year, it is still very much a Greek holiday town.
WHAT SHOULD I TAKE HOME?
Well, it could be the obligatory bottle of ouzo that you'll never drink. But personally I'd go for either honey or the herbs, both fresh from the hillsides described above.
AND IF I'VE ONLY TIME FOR ONE SHOP?
That would be the ouzo.
* The DVD of 'Earth – The Power of the Planet', presented by Dr Iain Stewart, is out now (BBC DVD, £24.99)
Dr Iain Stewart, The Telegraph 23-02-2010
Writers name
Dr Iain Stewart
Advertisers Company:
Consort Atlantic
Advertiser's website:
http://www.consort24.com