Paliostafida

Paliostafida is a small cove in the tourist resort of Lassi, Kefalonia. To find it you take the lane running alongside the Hotel Lorenzo and walk for about fifteen minutes. You pass various villas and small accommodation. At the top of the lane you teach a building site, a dreadful mess of lorries, bulldozers and dozens of construction workers. Nearby, bizarrely, is a luxury hotel. It’s going to get some serious competition.

Take a right downhill and eventually you arrive in paradise. At the bottom of the slope is a cantina and a small beach. There are permanent beach umbrellas and numerous sun-beds for hire. The cantina is run by the amazing Christina, of the family Gerasimou, named like the Saint in the village. She must have inherited the characteristics. Everyone respects her and many tourists have been returning to see her for years. She is some character. Furthermore, the food and drinks at the cantina are unbelievable for a beach bar, the freshest baguettes and the most delicious fries or sauté sides you can get.

Nothing is too much trouble for Christina and the service is top class. Just look at the images below to get an idea of the tranquility and mood.

Whatever you want, ask for it. She even phoned and booked a reservation for a taverna in Argostoli for me. We even bumped into her at the quite remote Taverna Vinaries one evening, when she was picking up a cheeky fish-takeaway after a hard day at the office! People are so taken by her that she is lavished with gifts from her customers.

This place is magic and a far cry from the Costa Costa beach in Makris Yialos at the other end of Lassi. Whatever is being developed here by the construction companies, you have to hope that it doesn’t ruin this tiny piece of paradise.

If you’re staying in Lassi, you must take the time to discover this place.