Help us create our paradise in Kalamata, Greece

Details

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  Description

  Hi from Maria – I’m an Irish woman in my late-50's who recently moved to this beautiful area of the Peloponnese. I spent the previous 15 years living in the UK and moved here permanently in 2021 because I wanted to live in a warmer climate and because I love the Greek people (who are equally warm and easy-going…much like the Irish!). My daughter Heather (25) has recently moved in here with me and will be staying until late 2025 – after which she plans travelling.
  
  My home is in Verga (on the outskirts of Kalamata) and located in a pedestrian village a few mins walk from the road, which makes it really peaceful. This is my dream home and it has the best of both worlds:
  
  * It has magnificent views by day and by night that feed your soul. We’re surrounded by lush greenery and there is birdsong all day long – it’s like a mini-paradise.
  * It’s a 20 minute walk/5-minute drive from the beach and a 10-minute drive from central Kalamata, which is a busy and bustling town full of shops, cafes/restaurants and other people.
  
  I have lived in big cities all my life before now and I love that I can still “people-watch” while having a coffee, buy anything I need locally and yet still feel I’m living in a private and peaceful paradise.
  
  Kalamata is not a main tourist area (except to other Greeks) and the main industry here is agriculture – particularly Kalamata olives and oil. There are things going on all year round and Kalamata has been called a “town with two faces”. This is because:
  
  * In summer (May/June to Sept/Oct) most of the activity happens at the seafront. There are a huge range of bars, cafes & restaurants. The sea is crystal clear and (unlike the well-known tourist spots) you’ll always find room at the beach. Even in summer you can find a private cove somewhere on the coastline if you prefer to be alone.
  
  * In winter people congregate in the old town. This is a (mainly) pedestrianised area with narrow cobblestoned streets full of small museums and artisanal shops. There are also a huge range of restaurants and bars, many with live music.
  Kalamata has a university so there are a lot of young people and weekend nights are late but never too boisterous. The overall vibe is laid-back and friendly and there are music and dance festivals going on throughout the year.
  
  This is an amazing part of Greece. Fortunately, it has not yet become one of the main tourist destinations and the culture is quite authentically Greek. The beaches are crystal clear and the surrounding landscape is unspoilt and perfect for walking, hiking and other outdoor activities. Whether you prefer to immerse yourself in the local culture or spend your time in solitude exploring the natural landscape, you will not be disappointed.
  
  I’m quite easy-going and make friends easily. I regularly have friends over for dinner and enjoy having relaxed conversations with a bottle of wine or a few beers – I’m Irish :-) I always want people to feel comfortable and “at home” and you will be welcome to join in all activities throughout your stay just like any other guest. Alternatively, if you want alone time there are numerous places on the property where you can always have some quiet time by yourself.
  
  NB: We do have a swimming pool (you can see in the pictures) but it needs repair and is currently out of action for the rest of this year, 2025!
  
  I’m very appreciative of WorkAway help, and believe in having a healthy respect for everyone - so you can feel “at home” and spend your free time in the way you enjoy. If you would like to volunteer here please read the full profile to see if there is a fit with your skills and expectations. If so, don’t hesitate to get in touch and I will respond as quickly as possible.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Technology

  

  Sustainability

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Self development

  

  Pets

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Writing

  

  Music

  

  Cooking & food

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture

  

  Animals

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Beach
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Kalamata is the capital of Messinia, one of the biggest regions in the Peloponnese. It’s a great base from which to explore the Peloponnese area. Following are a few ideas:
  
  OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES - Many people visit this area for the natural beauty and there is plenty to enjoy in the immediate locality. There are numerous trekking & hiking trails and natural attractions including Polilimnio Waterfalls and Ridomo Gorge. Nearby water-based activities include kayaking, sailing, snorkelling and scuba diving.
  
  NOTABLE SITES/PLACES TO VISIT – The most notable nearby sites are Mystras, Ancient Messini, Sparta, Koroni and Nafplio. Buses run to these places directly from Kalamata and a number of companies also organise structured day trips. Eg. you can book a day trip to Monemvasia; a small medieval town that I love to visit. It’s a hidden gem that is well worth seeing and Elafonisos island (with breath-taking beaches) is just a 10-minute ferry ride from near there.
  
  BEACHES – Beaches in the region are some of the highest rated in Europe and the sea is crystal clear. Verga beach is a 20 minute walk or 5-minute drive. Other nearby beaches include Almyros, Kitries, Santova & Bouka. Voidokilia Beach is one of the most famous beaches and voted one of the best in Europe by Conde Nast. It’s a bit further out and tricky to get to. There is no commercial development allowed there which ensures it remains completely natural, unspoilt and stunning.
  
  I’m still discovering the Peloponnese and you will be welcome to join outings and see why I have fallen in love with this region of Greece. If you prefer to go alone I can provide bus timetables etc… and I’ll be happy to drive you to the main bus-stop in central Kalamata.

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  Help

  I fell in love with this property for the views and the outside spaces, which are many. The house is quirky and unique – rooms were added onto the original 150-year-old stone house over a 40-year period so the layout is quite unusual. It is a really magnificent property but needs a lot of work and love to make it a comfortable and beautiful home.
  
  In the next couple of years. There are some major renovations work to be done in the foreseeable future and I will need to use professional contractors to complete them. In the meantime however, there are many small and medium-sized projects that are suitable for competent "handy-persons" to undertake. I wholeheartedly welcome any Workawayers who are competent in home renovation and general construction. However, most of the projects I have for now just require some general know-how combined with some patience and a willing attitude. When workawayers arrive, we usually take a look at some of the tasks/projects to-do and select things according to your skills and comfort level. Just to give you an idea of some typical things…
  
  LIGHT CARPENTRY – Indoor and outdoor projects of all sizes from making shelves and fixing furniture to making gates and re-hanging doors. Some outside fencing work is also on the to-do list.
  GARDEN MAINTENANCE – There’s a lot of outside space and lush vegetation. Since moving here, there has been a LOT of progress made to get the garden in order. There are still some projects to complete and the grounds need ongoing attention to keep things clean and tidy.
  FETCHING & CARRYING – There’s a short walk from the parking area to the house, which makes transporting things to and from the house cumbersome. Everyone in the house works together to bring shopping from the car, rubbish to the communal bins and help carry occasional deliveries to the house from the parking area.
  SEWING & UPHOLSTERY – I sew and upholster a range of furnishings. I’m also happy to teach anyone who would like to get stuck into this with me!
  SMALL DECORATING PROJECTS – From small craft projects to painting furniture.
  HOUSEWORK – General cleaning and housework tasks are ongoing.
  
  There are also some projects that involve outdoor concrete work, light plumbing and replacing a small, low roof (1.5m) on an outside bathroom. Any workawayers with skills/experience in these areas would be appreciated but it’s not expected. Above all else, a willing attitude is what works best here. Some of the more significant projects that have been completed with Workawayers to date include:
  • Building a large outdoor deck
  • Renovating a bathroom
  • Building a lean-to laundry area
  • Putting together and installing a new kitchen and utility room
  • Installing new plumbing for kitchen & laundry areas
  • Building and painting gates
  • Cutting down several trees and chopping wood to store for winter

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Greek: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  My native language is English and I’m learning Greek and have some of the basics covered. I enjoy being with good people and love to communicate which is definitely the basis of learning any new language.
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  Accommodation

  I hope you’ll be comfortable and feel at home here. You will be provided with the following:
  
  YOUR OWN ROOM – with a comfortable bed (a good night’s sleep is essential for everyone!). You’ll have full access to rest of the house: kitchen, shared bathroom, living room & laundry. There are also lots of outdoor terraces and seating areas for you to enjoy.
  
  3 MEALS EVERYDAY – This is a vegetarian house and (so far) even the most hesitant carnivores have been surprised and delighted with the food here. Everything here is cooked from scratch with virtually no processed ingredients. Eating tasty, delicious and nutritious food is REALLY important to me and Greece has fantastic fresh produce and ingredients that are FULL of flavour.
  
  • Breakfast is usually DIY with a choice of muesli, oats, yoghurts and fruit, bread and eggs. During season, you can squeeze your own orange juice using fruit from our trees 😊
  • Lunch is also DIY – you can make your own sandwiches, plenty of salads in the fridge etc… and there may be leftovers from the night before. You can prepare a packed lunch if you’re going on a trip or to the beach etc… During the winter I make a lot of soups for lunch which are tasty and satisfying.
  • Dinner is cooked freshly every evening and we enjoy a range of food from curries and stir-frys to pasta and pizzas. Mainly, it’s a communal affair as it’s also a time to chill, chat and have the opportunity to share recipes and cooking techniques. I’ve learned a lot about cooking from the various workawayers staying here :-) I find eating together really gives us the opportunity to get to know each other and build relationships. There’s also lots of areas if you prefer your own space sometimes.
  
  Cleaning up after dinner has also become a communal experience and at the end of each day we ask everyone to clean up together or we take it in turns, to spread the load and make it fair.

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  What else ...

  I smoke but always outside. There is no smoking permitted inside the house.
  
  LONGER STAYS – Stays of 3-4 weeks are ideal for me. I find this is a sweet spot to really make some progress on some tasks/projects AND it gives us time to build and enjoy relationships. I started WorkAway because I needed help but I have continued to use it because I have also benefitted so much from the cultural exchanges and good friendships that have come from it.
  
  HEALTH COVER - The Greek public healthcare system is not something you want to depend on. Please do ensure that you have travel insurance with full medical cover. If you have a European passport you should also get a valid EHIC card before travelling to Greece.
  
  JOIN ME OR DO YOUR OWN THING – I consider myself to be a “people person” and enjoy having relaxed conversations over a glass of wine or a beer. You are welcome to join me but there’s no pressure – you choose how you want to spend your spare time.
  
  GETTING AROUND in Kalamata is easy on foot and there are buses from here to most of the main sites and beaches you may want to visit. My home is on a mountain. It’s a 20 minute walk to the beach and I do my best to go to the sea daily and I’m happy to bring you with me in the car. I don’t provide a “taxi service” but will always do my best to accommodate you when possible to help you get around.
  
  I really love and appreciate the WorkAway platform and believe it’s a rare win/win opportunity ie. For both hosts and volunteers! A good WorkAway experience for everyone depends on good communication and some give and take. Please make sure you read details about the type of help we need so you know what’s involved and if you can do it. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch and I’ll come back to you as quickly as possible.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  I’m self-employed and work online so a good internet connection is vital. There is wi-fi throughout the property. It can be a bit patchy in some areas but it’s always workable. Digital nomads are welcome and I can be flexible about when jobs are done. However, during summer it’s better to work on tasks and projects in the morning because of the heat.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There is parking nearby that will accommodate most regular sized campervans but if you have an extra large Winnebago style camper you will find it a bit more difficult

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  Can possibly accept pets

  I have 2 small rescue dogs (named Sky and Ocean) and 1 cat. They are all friendly and love to be petted 😊 Workawayers travelling with pets are welcome as long as they are friendly and likely to get along with the animals here. We can discuss this in more detail beforehand.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Purdee (2 years)

  This is Purdee, the latest addition to our family :-) She really is the sweetest cat – very gentle and affectionate. Sometimes she even prefers to be petted than fed!!

  

  Sky & Ocean (2 sisters now 5 years old) (5 years)

  Rescue dogs that I thought were mixed breed/mongrels but as it turns out they are a Greek breed called Kokoni and EVERYONE loves them :-) They're relatively small and great with everyone including children. They're always happy and love to be petted

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