Exploring Patra
On our recent trip, we drove Jim’s parents to their family in a village/town just outside Nafpaktos. While Nafpaktos is absolutely gorgeous, we decided to stay in Patra this time. Like most Greek cities, it has history and at the same time it has such a young vibe due to having many universities and subsequently students It’s also a pretty city with the bay just there. They have this wonderful plateia (square) and the action is in and around the plateia.
Patra might not be on everyone’s radar, but it’s got so much to offer. Actually it’s Greece’s third-largest city and it felt perfect as a base for our stay.
The steps of Patra, a great spot for views over the city, even on a cloudy day.
One of the absolute highlights for me was seeing Jim’s parents reconnecting with their siblings after over a decade apart. The joy and emotion on their faces as they spent time with family was something I’ll never forget. My father-in-law was beaming seeing his brother and sister, it warmed my heart. We took them to their village and it was so special watching them remanence as they were wandering around their childhood haunts. But one of the most cherished moments came when we all gathered at Jim’s uncle’s house for lunch. Imagine this, parents, uncles, aunties, cousins, nephews, all coming together around the table, laughing, reminiscing and enjoying each other’s company. In true village tradition, for this joyful family reunion and much to my horror, Jim’s uncle decide to roast a baby goat, that was probably playing in his garden a few days earlier… needless to say it did not touch my lips. I was happy to give it a miss and enjoy the pites, garden-fresh tomato salad and lemony roast potatoes. Apart from the goat incident, it was such a precious, wholesome dayt that I’m so grateful to have witnessed.
When we weren’t spending time with family, we tried to see a bit of Patra and the surrounding area.
The beautiful foyer at The Bold Type Hotel
We stayed at the most beautiful Neo-Classical restored hotel, The Bold Type Hotel and it was just stunning. From the entrance with its marble flooring and curved timber staircase, to the rooftop with views of the city. Our room was almost neo-Parisian in its look and feel, the design was sympathetic to the original architecture but with a deep teal colour that gave it a fresh, contemporary vibe. The bathroom? Moody and stylish, with all the mod cons (including a scale, which we really didn’t want to use after all the wedding eating!).
The balcony was the real star, this girl loves a balcony. It overlooked the picturesque terracotta rooftops of Patra and it was the perfect spot to just sit and relax. Breakfast every morning was served in a gorgeous outdoor courtyard next to the pool and let me tell you, it was absolutely delicious. I can definitely see myself coming back to this hotel when I’m in Patra next!
The stunning teal bedroom at The Bold Type Hotel
And, of course if you are around here you need to cross the Rio-Antirio Bridge, it is truly stunning in its design, helping locals and tourist cross the Corinth Gult without having to take boats.
If you're in the area, Patra is definitely worth a stop. It's quaint, charming and has great food.