Secret Café - a place for great coffee, parties, and fun times!

Secret Café is a really nice coffee bar located in Pyrgos, Santorini. I've been coming here for almost two years, to enjoy my morning coffee, relax before my working day, and lately to actually work and bring to you all this blogs.

I would like to dedicate this blog to Secret Café, as I believe it is a pity to visit Santorini and not pop in to this place for a morning coffee or an evening drink.

Secret Café's owner is Katerina, a cheerful and incredibly positive person. She always dreamed of opening her own coffee shop, and she made her dream come true in 2013. Ever since, she's been making everyone's day brighter with her smile and good coffee. She really loves what she does, and pours her soul into it, which really shows in her work.

When entering this place, you will be welcome with a heartwarming smile. The interior of the place is cozy, warm, and it perfectly reflects the amazing character of the owner. All over the walls, you can find writings from the people who visited the place over the years, which adds a beautiful touch to the place. You are of course welcome to leave your own mark on the wall, if you feel like it.

The view from Secret Café does not lack beauty as well. Pyrgos Village, where the café is located, is the highest village of Santorini. Because Secret Café is located in the outskirts of the village, it offers the amazing views of the caldera, and the close by islands when the sky is clear. The view is not restricted with the caldera. You can also enjoy the view of Akrotiri, which is equally breathtaking as the cliffside of Santorini.

Apart from the tasty coffees and great atmosphere of the place, it is also a great location for parties. In Secret Café, you can have any type of party you like: birthday parties, name day parties, divorce parties, hen parties, just a party for a good time! You can choose between a public party, a semi-private party, and a completely private party. Beside the affordable prices, you are guaranteed to have the time of your life when hosting your party at Secret Café.

When asking her why someone who owned a coffee shop decided to host parties as well, her answer was "I like parties! I like listening to music, I like dancing and having fun, and if I can offer all those things to other people, it makes me even happier. I also believe that dancing is an important part of life, because it makes you feel free, it helps you express yourself and forget about your daily problems. As dancing is always part of a party, hosting parties at Secret Café is my way of giving people one more excuse to dance!".

Katerina's moto is "Be yourself and leave your dream!" and she really lives by those words.

When you visit Santorini next time, make sure to come to Pyrgos and enjoy a cup of coffee at Secret Café!

Thank you very much for reading, and I wish you a lovely day!

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10 tips for a happy and successful marriage!

I dedicated last week's blog about divorce parties and what Santorini has to offer for a post-divorce rejuvenation trip. Although it is nice to start your new life after the divorce with a positive attitude, it is even better not to get to the point where you will need a divorce.

This Monday, I would like to write some tips on how to keep your marriage strong and everlasting. Let's get back to the positive side of life!

1. Don't rush into getting married

One good trick for keeping your marriage for ever, is to know who you are marrying, and for that you need time. Don't rush into marriage if you've only been together for six months or a year. If you believe you have finally met you other half, he or she won't run away if you don't start planning your wedding from the very beginning of your relationship. Invest a couple of years or more into getting to know your significant other, so that you won't have to face any unpleasant surprises once you are a family.

2. Share compliments

Everyone loves a compliment, especially when it comes from your spouse. Even though you have been together forever, and you have exchanged every possible compliment there is, this does not mean that you should stop! Tell your wife that she looks amazing when you see her in the morning, and tell your husband how handsome he looks in his new suit. A small compliment now and then will keep the love in your marriage and make the day of your loved one.

3. Show appreciation

Appreciate the little things your spouse does for you and around the house. Ok, it is really annoying when your are the only person who does the dishes in the house, but your significant other won't appreciate your ironic comment when he or she finally decides to do the dishes. Instead, thank him or her, give a kiss. Not only your spouse will feel good that such a little action was greatly appreciated, but he or she will also be more willing to do the dishes more often.

4. Speak & Listen

Speaking, is proven to be one of the best way to pass information to another person, and listening is the best way to receive this information. If something bothers you, speak to your spouse. If your special someone wants to talk to you about something, listen. Don't let negative thoughts and feelings bottle up. Yes, what you want to say or hear, might not be really pleasant, but it is better to discuss any problems you might have when you are calm, not when you'll burst into uncontrollable anger because you couldn't take it anymore.

5. Have humor and be patient

No one is perfect, we all have our annoying habits, and your significant other is not an exception. What if he never puts the new toilet paper roll at the holder, no matter how many times you told him to do so. Print out a funny instruction about how the holder works and put in the bathroom, for example. It will work as a funny hint, and might actually have a better result than angrily reminding him of that. All of our small habits make us into what we really are, and when marrying your other half, you are agreeing to marry all of those small, annoying habits as well. Instead of fighting over them, laugh about them and be patient… after all you have some of those habits as well.

If he or she is having a bad day, and is acting up without a reason, don't try to prove that he/she is wrong and you are right. Instead, offer a massage, a hot cup of chocolate, give a hug. Your special someone probably needs someone to grumble about things, not someone to argue with.

6. Spend time together

The older we grow, the more responsibilities we have. Be that your career, your children, a new hobby, or your daily chores. This does not mean that you shouldn't try and find some time to spend with your spouse. Enjoy a movie together, cuddle on the couch on a rainy day, set a date night once a week. This will help you relax, get away from your everyday problems, and will keep you close to each other.

7. Share your likes

Along with the habits, all of us have our interests in life. You and your significant other probably already have shared interests. This does not mean that you shouldn't take interest in the other things he or she likes to do. No need to become an expert in the field, but your other half will most certainly appreciate that you wish to learn more about his wood carving hobby. Even better, start a new hobby together, and bond even more by learning something new together.

8. Be supportive

We all have to face small or big challenges in our lives, and take hard decisions. Don't you love when you get the support of your lovely husband or wife over a decision in your life? You probably do, and I bet he or she feels the same way when you are supportive yourself. Even if you feel that you already have enough problems to think about yourself, don't be selfish and spend time to discuss your other half's problems. If your significant other turned to you for an advice and support, it means he or she really needs it. Don't take it away.

9. Stay kinky

This could be a delicate issue for some, but it is still an important subject to keep in mind. It has proven, even scientifically, that getting intimate with your special someone improves your mood, your marriage, your day in general, and it helps you feel close to each other. No matter how long you have been together, you shouldn't take the intimacy away from your life. Keep the romance alive!

10. "I love you honey!"

This is probably the most important of all the above. Don't be shy on telling your spouse you love him or her. Show him or her you love, and appreciate his or her love. There isn't a better thing in the world than being loved by someone you love back. It is not bad or harmful to say "I love you". On the contrary, it is the most beautiful thing you can tell your significant other.

Marriage is not easy. It never was, and probably never will be, but it is in our hands to make it the best adventure of your life, and not seem like an obligation. You married your significant other for a reason, so don't forget that reason when times are hard.

Thank you very much for reading, and I hope you are happy and loved! 

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Random Saturday #6: Full Moon...Arooooo!

Hello my dear readers.

Hope all of you have been well this week, and any surprises you had were pleasant!

As you probably already know, last Saturday there was a party at Secret Café, which I of course attended! It was great! What you didn't know, is that on the same night, there was a snow storm in Santorini (!!!) which dressed all of Pyrgos in white! While driving to the party I almost forgot that I was on an island in Greece, and felt that I was in a northern country going on a winter adventure!

  

Never could I imagined, that I would be playing snowball fight in Santorini, or seeing snowmen on everybody's car. For three days, the mountain of Pyrgos, the "Profitis Ilias" where the monastery is, was white. It was magical, and here is a picture to prove it!

maaaaagical!!

 A couple of days later it felt like the last days of spring. It was sunny and warm, and nothing reminded on the annoyingly low temperatures of the weekend.

… we need to be more careful with the climate, as the weather makes no sense any more…

Also, this week we had a full moon, and I believe I almost transformed into a werewolf. No, I didn't become all furry, didn't grow a tail, and didn't run on four legs, even after the Saturday's party. I just got the nasty, angry, easily angered and easily crying werewolf spirit... ah, good times!

NO!

It was the first time the moon had an impact on my mood, and honestly I wish for it to be the last. I would go from calm to angry to crying to calm again in ten minutes! Everything was upsetting me, minor things would make go "hulk" (I didn't smash anything… not physically at least), and I would cry over a broken biscuit.

This whole phase lasted from Monday, when I realized that I didn't want to leave my house. I was getting worse and worse with every day that passed. At some point, I even started to annoy myself, so I begun to look for a logical explanation to this whole behavior. I didn't find it, of course, until yesterday Katerina told me that on Thursday there was a full moon, and I was probably influenced by it.

It made sense, I accepted the fact, I was happy that I found an explanation, and I'm finally on the road to recovery. Hooray!

If the full moon is not to blame, then the only other logical explanation is that my Anger, Fear, and Disgust were in charge of my emotion control mixer, while Sadness and Joy were trying to bring back my core memories. You know… like it happened in "Inside out" with Riley.

If you didn't understand the reference above, I will kindly ask you to see the movie within the next 48 hours. Thank you!

After this fun and unforgettable week, I want to share the following thoughts with you. If all of a sudden, your loved one or a friend goes coo coo, and if of course there is no medical condition to explain what it is happening, don't start calling him or her crazy! He or she are probably as confused as you are, he or she does not know what is happening or why suddenly all those emotions cannot be controlled, whatever methods are applied. All he or she needs is a hug, a hot cup of chocolate or tea, a blanket and a 10-season series to calm down the nerves and don't let that person leave the house. Don't try to give alcohol… it does not help at all. Be patient, be understanding, and choose your words carefully.

Personally, I'm glad this week is over, as no one followed the instructions above.  

Thank you very much for reading, and I wish everyone a great weekend. 

PS: In case you find this blog too silly... blame the moon!! :p

Random Saturday #5 || Random Saturday #7

Ideas for a post-divorce rejuvenation trip in Santorini!

Photographer: Christos Trigas - http://www.clickbychristos.com/

Santorini is a beautiful island and a lot of people come here to relax, enjoy the views, enjoy the food, and have fun in general. Although the island is famous for weddings, this does not mean that you shouldn't come here to "shake off" any negativity left from your divorce. Gather up with your close friends, and organize a nice trip to Santorini to start your new life on a positive note.

Why choose Santorini for your divorce healing process, and why host a divorce party on the island as well? The main reason, is that Santorini perfectly combines relaxing holidays with party holidays. Whether you wish to spend your holidays by the pool with a cocktail in your hand and a good book, eating at nice restaurants, going to spas and having massages, or you want to party every night and engage in fun activities, Santorini offers both.

Yes, Santorini is so great indeed!

Wine tastings:

Santorini is really famous for its wines, this is the reason for the big number of wineries on the island. Some wineries are located on the caldera, others on the sea side of the island. When visiting Santorini, arrange with your friends to have a wine tour at one of Santorini's wineries, for some wine tasting and to learn the history of wine making.

My two favorite wineries are the KoutsogiannopoulosWinery in Mesaria and the Venetsanos Winery in Megalochori.

Koutsogiannopoulos Winery has an amazing museum, which takes you to a journey of Santorini's wine making history, combined with wine tasting after the tour. Venetsanos Winery, which is located on the cliffs of the caldera, also has a nice museum to visit. Afterwards, you can stay for the wine tasting, while enjoying the amazing view the winery offers.

Have a tour to both wineries and enjoy the famous wines of Santorini.

Spa & Massage:

Massages and spa treatments are known to relax both body and soul. Santorini has a number of different spa centers, and most of the hotels offer massages to their guests. One of the first things you should do upon arriving on the island, is having a spa day, to relax after the journey and to begin your rejuvenating Santorini visit with positive energy.

Don't forget to visit one of the fish spa that Santorini has. This will surely be an experience to remember! Also, it is especially important to keep your feet in good health with all the dancing and walking that is to take place on the island!

Activities:

Beside the views, the wine, the spas, Santorini also has a lot of fun activities to do. Rent quad bikes, for example, and have a tour around the island. Go from one end of the island to the other, and enjoy the amazing scenery.

Go horse riding in Akrotiri to add some adventure to your rejuvenation trip. Horses are known to have therapeutic properties for your body and your mind. Agree, you might be a bit sore after the ride, but believe me when I say, that you will recharge your excitement batteries to the full!

Enjoy a day at the beach with water sports! Visit Perissa beach. Go parasailing, go on a water bike ride, go on a jet ski ride on the caldera. If you are not a water sport type, then go to cycling tour! Create new, fun memories and experiences.

Divorce Party:

So, you've been at the wineries, had your spa treatments, when horse riding and to your jet ski ride. It's time to party! Here are some things you might find helpful.

Fira is the party center of the island, as most of the clubs and bars are located there. If you wish to spend a night partying at the clubs, then Fira is the perfect location for you. Fira has mostly mainstream bars, so if you are into that kind of music, you will be at right spot.

If you wish to party by the beach, then go to Perissa or Kamari. There, you can find bars that play mainstream music, rock music, rock n' roll, reggae, Greek music. Music for all the tastes! During summer, there are also a lot of live bands playing in the bars, so you if you wish to listen to some live music, you most certainly be able to find what you wish for.

In case you desire to have a private, all night divorce party, or a semi-private house-party style celebration, then go to Secret Café in Pyrgos. Should you wish to have a quiet divorce party with your really close friends, its cozy upper floor area will make you feel at home. If you want to have a grand celebration, then you can rent the whole place, and party all night long!

Upper floor of Secret Cafe in Pyrgos

Santorini is a truly a calming island, and it will surely help you heal after a divorce. If you are worrying that seeing all those brides around the island will bring bitter memories, then you shouldn't. On the contrary, being at a such a romantic place might actually help you wake up all those feelings and dreams about love, so that you will be ready again to meet with your true other half.

If you wish to organize your own an post-divorce rejuvenation trip to Santorini, feel free to email me for ideas!

As always, thank you very much for reading and I wish you a lovely day!


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Divorce parties - general thoughts.

In this blog I would like to talk about divorce parties. Divorce parties are still considered to be a contradictory subject, even though they are becoming more and more popular as time passes by. It also might sound weird for a wedding planner to speak of such a subject. I love organizing any types of celebrations and parties, and I personally find the idea of a divorce party to be a good way to celebrate the beginning of a new life.

I don't believe there are people out there, who would dream about their divorce and anticipate it. Unfortunately, not everyone of us have the luck of meeting their "one and only" on the first try, moreover to marry him or her. Sometimes people get married too young, too soon, too excited to actually see who they are marrying. Sometimes circumstances lead to a loving couple separating. Whatever the reason for a divorce might be, it is not a pleasant time for those getting it. This is why, when the time a right, a divorce party is a good way to leave the bitterness of the separation behind.

In my opinion, a divorce party is a great way to celebrate the transaction into your new life. It is not mean, it is not shallow, it is not meaningless. The same way we could celebrate our leaving from a job we hated, or that we finally decided to move from a house that didn't quite suit us, celebrating the end of an unhappy marriage is a great way to start your new life on a happy note.

Divorce parties are not meant to get nasty about your ex spouse, say bad things about him or her, burn his or her stuff and be generally mean to a person you used to love and be in love with. It is meant to have a good time with close friends, and even family, if they don't mind attending such a party. It is a reason to have fun, dance, create positive memories to replace the sad ones.

As I see it, a divorce party is not a way to get over your ex spouse, but a way to celebrate that you have finally gotten over him or her and ready to start your new life. I don't believe it is a good idea to make the party a week after you decided to separate, as you probably won't feel really excited at that point. As a rule, break ups are followed by sad thoughts, a reminiscing of the love you used to have. Taking all those negative emotions and mixing them up with alcohol consumption, will most probably have disastrous results. As mentioned above, the divorce party is meant to celebrate your new life, not cry over the life you used to have. Better wait until you are over the break up to throw such a party.

Some divorces end in good terms, and the ex-spouses remain good friends. Just because you couldn't make it as husband and wife, it does not mean you shouldn't stay good friends. If this is your case, and if you both feel comfortable with it, you could even have the divorce party together. This way you will be able to show your common friends that you are in good terms, and that there won't be a reason for them to feel weird when hanging out with either of you.

It is not a good idea to have your children attending the party, regardless of their age. Even if you ended up your marriage in perfectly good terms with your ex spouse, it is still a traumatic experience for your children and they won't understand this celebration. Arrange for them to stay at their grandparents or any other relative, and have fun without them.

To sum up, I believe that divorce parties are a good way to celebrate your new life, and a good excuse to have a fun evening full of positive emotions and memories after a sad period of your life Have a gathering with friends at your house, go to nice club, or even organize a nice trip to a country you like, to make it even more fun. Live your life to the fullest, and don't let bad moments ruin your future.

I would be really interested in learning your opinion on the matter, so feel free to comment or send me an email expressing your thoughts on divorce parties.

In Thursday's post I will share some ideas on how you could "shake-off" your divorce in Santorini and start your new life feeling fresh and happy.

Thank you for reading, and I wish you a lovely day! 

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Random Saturday #5: Don't be afraid to smile!

Hello my dear readers!

I hope everyone had a positively unforgettable new year celebration and that 2017 has been good to you so far.

Today is the name day of Giannis, which is the Greek version of the name Johnny, so I would like to wish a happy name day to all of the Johnnies in your life!

In dedication to this day Secret Café in Pyrgos is organizing a party - "Johnny's Day" ! I can't wait for it! I haven't been to a party in a while and I really need to go to one, so yes.. I feel pretty excited!

I decided to dedicate this Random Saturday to Katerina, the owner of Secret Café in Pyrgos, a really good friend of mine and an amazing person in general. I won't get into detail about her life, because well… its personal information, but I'll just say that whatever unpleasant surprises life brought her, she is still strong and smiling. She never gives up and have achieved amazing things. She is an inspiration to me.

I met Katerina when I was working across the street from the her coffee shop, at the wedding planning office. That period of time wasn't the best for me, not because of the job, but because I was already feeling that my marriage was falling apart and would soon end. I wasn't smiling a lot and didn't really feel like interacting with people. Whoever moody I was, every time I went to get my morning coffee, Katerina would greet me with her big, honest smile, which would make me smile even if I didn't feel like it. She was one of the few people I didn't mind interacting with.

We became friends this summer. To keep myself away from unnecessary stress, I thought of the "morning coffee" ritual (not a creative name, I know). Every morning, before stepping my foot into the office, I would always first go to Secret Café for my morning cup of coffee. With every day that passed, and the more we would chat, we started bonding. It didn't matter if I had a good morning or a bad morning, she would always manage to make me smile and change my attitude to a positive one, even on the day when my car broke on a crossroad…

Getting ready for "Johhny's Day"

It always amazed me, and still does, that she always stays positive and is always smiling, whatever might be going on in her life. In summer, she was working at a hotel and at Secret Café. She was working for almost 16 hours or more every day, and never ever lost her enthusiasm for life. I admire that in her, and she helped me a lot be positive myself.

Through her, I realized how important it is to have such people in your life, and how a simple smile could change your day and make it better. I wish everyone could have a Katerina in their life! I learned how to confront any troubles life can bring with a joke and a positive attitude. She always helps me with advices, listens to my problems and always cheers me up! I never left her coffee shop in a bad mood.

Katerina is the person who is never afraid to smile!

When you visit Santorini, make sure to pass by her coffee shop. Its name is Secret Café and it is located in Pyrgos, right next to the pharmacy. She makes great coffee by the way! ;)

Stay positive, don't lose your smile, and have a great Johnny's Day!!

Random Saturday #4 || Random Saturday #6

Santorini marriage proposal ideas!

I've already wrote two posts about marriage proposals in the past, in the first expressing my personal thoughts on the topic, and giving some advice on what not to do when proposing in the second. I've also mentioned, that it is a good idea to combine your marriage proposal with a nice holiday at a different country. Why not have your marriage proposal while travelling to Santorini then? 

Santorini has a lot to offer to couples in love, from its wonderful sunsets and amazing scenery to fun activities to do on the island, and there are plenty of ways to make your marriage proposal unique and memorable.

Dinner proposal:

Wedding Venue - Gem Villa http://santorinigem.com/

Popping the question over a nice, romantic dinner is probably the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of a marriage proposal. Combined with the amazing views that Santorini has to offer, your special someone will most certainly appreciate the location that you chose.

Santorini has a number of perfect venues for an unforgettable private or semi-private proposal dinner. The perks of a private dinner, is that since you will be having the place to yourself, you can decorate it to make it look even more beautiful for your special dinner.

Just imagine, having the table set-up under a white canopy decorated with flowers, a chandelier, candles all over the terrace. All that, combined with a magical sunset and the breathtaking views of Santorini's cliffside and the volcano. It is truly magical.

If you wish to make the evening even more memorable, add fireworks! Pop the question after the sun sets, and once your other half says her or his "Yes", launch the fireworks! It will be a perfect way to express your enthusiasm and happiness for this new chapter in your life!

Private Cruise:

Wish to propose in not a so "traditional" way? Go to a private sunset catamaran cruise. Not only you will have a chance to visit the volcano, the hot springs, maybe even the island of Thirasia if you have the time, but you will also add a touch of adventure to your marriage proposal.  

Inform the cruise company in advance of your decision to make a proposal during your trip. The company will be able to make suggestions on the best location and timing of the proposal. The crew, which you will have on the day, will also be able to assist you with the proposal.

There are a number of ways to propose on the catamaran. You could, for example, ask the crew to put the ring in a champagne glass, and serve the champagne to you and your other half during the sunset. You could even propose at the volcano, since you will most probably visit it. Not many people do that, so it will be a pleasant surprise to your future Mrs. or Mr.

Think outside the box:

If both of you are adventurous types, then organize fun activities on the island and ask for her or his hand during one of those activities. After the "Yes!!!!" ,go to a nice restaurant, tavern, or club to celebrate.

What fun activities you could do on the island? A lot!! Thankfully, Santorini has plenty of things to do, besides enjoying the local wine at the pool of your hotel during sunset. Plan three of four days of activities and have the time of your life in Santorini.

On the first day go on a speed boat ride or jet-ski ride. Make the traditional visit of the caldera sea more fun and memorable! If you are into water sports in general, plan to spend a day in Perivolos and visit Crazy Waterspots. I believe you will have a great time ;)

Horse Riding on Eros Beach by www.santorinihorseriding.gr/ .
Photography by www.evolokitina.com

Spend the second day exploring Akrotiri. Go the excavation point to see the ancient city and dive into the history of the island. Don't forget to visit the famous red beach afterwards.

After all that, make sure to stop at the Santo HorseRiding for an unforgettable horse riding trip in Santorini. You will be able to see locations and scenery of the island, which you would otherwise miss, since they are not easily accessible by car. Not only that, but the pictures of you and your beloved girlfriend or boyfriend on horses on the black beach, will make a great addition to your proposal photo album.

Cycling tours in Santorini - www.santoriniadventures.gr/

On the third day, go for a cycling tour around the island! There are many routs available for every taste. Choose the one you like the most, and explore Santorini even more! Visit Santorini Adventures for more information.

Going for a horse riding trip or cycling tour, will give you the chance to make the marriage proposal at the most amazing spot on the island, making the moment for ever remembered by you and your special someone.

If you wish to learn more about what Santorini has to offer for more unforgettable marriage proposals, you are welcome to contact me directly and together we will find what will be the best way to pop the question!

Thank you very much for reading and I wish you a lovely day!  

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