Stamatis 4th June Hurray!!

[Karen]

Hi everyone!

Just joined this very helpful site and it is great to get first hand updates from you all! Thank you!  We have been going to San Stefanos since 2004 and have always stayed in Stamatis Apartments, as we are again this year.  Apartments basic but clean and comfortable, studios for 2 are very small so wouldn't reccomend them.  Spend little time in the apartment, as we are on the beach most of the day (that is if there is one this year!)  Tom, the owner, has always gone out of his way to be helpful and friendly.  We normally have a bite to eat there when we return from the beach and the food is very good!  Favourite place for evening meal is Nafsika.  Great rustic food and much of it home made by Spiros' Mum.  Spiros can be a bit grumpy at times, but hasn't put us off going.  Have tried a few other places but tend to drift back to Nafsika as it is very quiet when we eat, which is about 10pm.  Anyway, must go and pack bikinis now. Keep up good work and I will report any interesting news on here when we return on 18th June.  Happy hols to all!!

Karen

[YANNIS26]

Hi Karen
Welcome to the forum.
Enjoy your holiday
Yammas
Yannis

[Karen]

Thank you Yannis!!

[Jules]

Great to have you on the forums Karen - news from different people is great to have

[Karen]

Thanks Jules!  Seems a great fun site and very infomative for newbies to San Stefanos!

[Jules]

It is definitely a fun site Karen and we all have our love of San Stefanos as a common factor

[tonyco1]

Welcome Karen, I really get what you say about the Nafsika, great crowd and good food - makes you want to return, say hello to Vangellis (the waiter) for us,
he's a very old friend!
Tony and Linda

[Karen]

Hi Tony and Linda

Will do.  Yes he is great to talk to.  They all have a character of their own don't they.  Chris is still very shy though!  We still see George around, who used to work there and his little nephew, George who has been working in Bar 38  for last couple of years.  Have watched him 'bloom' from a sweet 13 year old!

Karen

[don]

Hi Karen and a warm welcome from us too. We've stopped in the very "small" studios twice and loved them.Well they are only for shower, sleep and change yourself afterall. Say hi to Vangelis for us too and let him know we'll see him later in june.
Have a great holiday ..

[Karen]

Thanks Don.  Will do!  We stayed in the small apartments once at Stamatis but just a bit too small for us.  However the Studios for 3 are just right for us and as you say, you spend very little time in them anyway!  Haven't tried any other accomodation but they all sound good from what I hear.

Karen

[debra]

I agree - the Nafsika is just brilliant - absolutely love Thoeodora's food - her sauces are just SOOOOOO good. There is nothing she cooks that i don't like.  We too really liked Vagelis - when we last stayed there he covered the breakfasts and was just fab! Lovely Jubbly!  Did 'pop' in for a drink 2 years ago and he was waiting at night.  George was just so funny.........a girl magnet I called him - he talked to you with one eye on the road in case a pretty girl walked past.  And Costas - well he was fab too.  Happy memories of Spiros, Costas and George dancing EVERY night - up went the music and on they came......................Sad if Spiros 'grumpy', I always found him ok - he kept his eye on the running of things but always had time for you if you needed it.  He did have a lovely wife when we were there once, Katerina, and it was all over when we returned 2 years later - a shame - no family for Spiros - unless there is someone now?  Oh would love to be at the Nafsika now - think that end of the village has a 'special' feel

[tonyco1]

Hi again Debra, must agree with what you say about that end of the village, all in all, a lovely feel to it - we only stayed at that end in our early days there, we have stayed in around 10 or 12 different apartments/villas in that end and like the quieter end,
to go back to in the evening after a night out!
Don't you just miss the Nafsika Breakfasts out under the canopy on a sunny hot morning,
with Vangelis and George having a bit of fun with you!!

[debra]

It's lovely here in Derbyshire today - but yes, would kill to be there sitting outside eating breakfast at the Nafsika, chatting till 11am and then slowly ambling around - we both have had such good holidays there. We have to go in school holidays because of my job and it is always steaming hot...............arh...... WANT TO GO AGAIN!

[tonyco1]

No matter where you stay - a great holiday is usually guaranteed!!

[Waspman]

Regarding The Nafsika Hotel:

George & Costos left the Nafsika about 1-2 years ago, Costas now runs (and has done for the past year) his own cafe/bar called Gravia on the top of the San Stefanos hill, towards Arillas with his brother Yiannis.  Very nice place with views over the island of Gravia
 
George temporarily took over the management of O'Manthas (opposite The Nafsika) in 2009, but I now believe he is back in Sidari.

After suffering the recent sad loss of his mother, Vangelis has also left The Nafsika.  He is "doing his own thing" of his passions of fishing and painting.  He will be a sad loss, no more  "lovely jubbly".  He still lives directly behind the Nafsika Hotel.

His place has been taken by a waiter called Spiros (Oh no not another one, the owner was enough), he seems OK but is a bit "stairy"