North-Eastern Aegean Islands (Greece)

We have been to Lesvos twice - June 1997 and September 2001. Stayed in the North West of the island both times in the resort of Anaxos. It is a traditional Greek village where the few villagers who are there all year round go about their business alongside the very low-key tourism. Not much had changed in four years apart from some new, small apartment blocks and a very posh bakery and a new track to the beach from the beginning of the resort which ...
...here serve good traditional food - ones recommended are Niki's (best cabbage salad in the whole of Greece), Mikalis and Stekis on the main road into the village, Aggelos and Golden Sand on the beach road and for great food from the grill try Elly's - no wine from the barrel here though, only bottles, but Peleponnissos is a nice one if you like white! Visit Steve and his family in the Europa bar - he's a local, lives in Skoutaros in the winter (a ... more

We have been to Lesvos twice - June 1997 and September 2001. Stayed in the North West of the island both times in the resort of Anaxos. It is a traditional Greek village where the few villagers who are there all year round go about their business alongside the very low-key tourism. Not much had changed in four years apart from some new, small apartment blocks and a very posh bakery and a new track to the beach from the beginning of the resort which now makes three ways to get there! The tavernas here serve good traditional food - ones recommended are Niki's (best cabbage salad in the whole of Greece), Mikalis and Stekis on the main road into the village, Aggelos and Golden Sand on the beach road and for great food from the grill try Elly's - no wine from the barrel here though, only bottles, but Peleponnissos is a nice one if you like white! Visit Steve and his family in the Europa bar - he's a local, lives in Skoutaros in the winter (a small village inland from Anaxos) and will chat away to you about anything from the weather to world affairs.

We stayed in Harris Studios this time, at the beginning of Anaxos as you come from Petra, and this accommodation is new and very well-appointed, built in a large olive grove, consists of two small blocks and a separate swimming pool and small bar area - all well spaced out and very peaceful. We even had two goats in the olive grove! This is not to be confused with the other apartments of the same name which enjoy a more central location - we visited to be nosy and they too look nice but not as nice as ours!!!

There are a handful of bars - about four I would say - that have karaoke, quizzes etc. but they are well spread out and not in your face - they're there if you want them and if you don't, don't bother. Money exchange is available in most bars, some supermarkets and the Anaxos Aparthotel - a small hotel/apartments in the centre of the village. One newspaper shop and also somewhere to catch up on E-Mails, Internet etc. where there is a daily bulletin posted outside about world news and local weather forecast for the next five days.

Whilst we haven't got first hand knowledge of much of the rest of the island, in general it is large with lots to see - the third largest of all the Greek islands. Several tour operators go there and although the North West seems to be the most popular area it is possible to stay in the West, East and South as well. Also possible by using a well-known budget airline to Athens and a well-known Greek one on to Mytilene to do your own thing and find accommodation on arrival - this suits people who want to stay longer than the usual one or two weeks.

One of the unique things about the island is the petrified forest - apparently one of only two in the world and there are trips galore to see this - the one we did took in Sigri, a boat trip to Skala Eressos and a monastery visit as well - a busy day but worth seeing.

We did notice a larger presence of groups of women this time and heard that the next "convention" is to be in Petra as there was a bit of trouble at the last on in Skala Eressos. Some may find these large groups offensive.

If you like traditional Greece with some mod. cons. go for it - it's well worth a visit. 

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