Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Last replied
30 Oct 2024
Reply rate
90.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
-
Email verified
Find your perfect host
Details
Description
ABOUT US
We, Alypios and Ada, have traveled in different places and lived in Greece (Athens and Kea), USA (California), and Italy (Florence). Alypios is a retired professor and Ada is a homemaker. We love to travel, get to know new people, cultures and gastronomy.
THE PROPERTY
If you want crowded beach holidays with entertainment and nightlife round the corner, this is not the place for you.
This is tranquil island getaway. Amidst the island’s mountainous terrain, lay four stone cottages tightly nestled in the crest of Koukouvagia. A property completely off the grid, with fully environmentally sustainable infrastructure, with solar electricity and a cistern to collect rainwater. The small set of structures resemble a prehistoric settlement, preserved in time and untouched by modernity, as they lie camouflaged in the mountain.
Here you can help enjoying a serene, eco-friendly stay and a chance to disconnect from modern life.
THE ISLAND
Kea is a beautiful, typical Cycladic island which has a unique architecture amongst other Cyclades islands. Along with the white washed houses in the main village, most country houses are left with stones showing outside. The island has a small museum with antiquities of 6000 bC (found in the '60s), as well as ruins from old temples in the ancient port of Karthaia and a small ancient theater (performances during the summer). This is a wonderful hike of 1 hour from where you leave the car, following the old path, or a nice day trip with a boat. All around the island there are wonderful beaches, many tavernas and restaurants as well as traditional bakeries and coffee shops.To come to Kea you take the ferry boat from Lavrion port. The trip lasts approx. 1 1/4 hour.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House sitting
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Get to know the life on a Greek island. Enjoy a healthy lifestyle: swimming almost every day and eating the Greek food. Visit the numerous small churches, very typical on the Greek islands, as well as the archaecological museum and archaeological sites, for which Kea is famous for.
Become familiar with eco systems, energy saving systems and living off the grid.
And if lucky, join a typical Greek ‘panigyri’: celebrating a Saint’s name.
Help
Please: Before you respond, read the whole post and make sure you HAVE THE RELEVANT SKILLS.
We're looking for responsible, reliable and mature individuals with initiative to help with projects in our property as well as to sometimes (when we are not there) take care of our three dogs (you must love dogs as we have 3). We would accommodate volunteers with basic understanding/knowledge/experience of energy saving systems and living off the grid, or those who have skills, enthusiasm, spirit and are fast learners! We don’t want cooks, teachers, babysitters or elders’ companions. We need practical people who have experience, knowledge or are fast learners to understand how solar energy systems work. Builders, construction workers, carpenters, agronomists, gardeners. You don’t have to be an expert or a pro. Just have some knowledge and be willing to learn. However, experience in these fields will be a plus. Please make sure you understand what kind of help we are looking for and that you have the respective skills 🙂
You must enjoy being outside and helping physically, see what needs to be done and can help independently. To stay here you don't have to work hard, if you are a responsible person and skilled at what you do.
THE DEAL
Stay in our home for 2-3 weeks (can extend if we all get along well). We want you to be helpful, happy and glad you came. We buy and provide basic/normal food and water for you. Bread, potatoes, rice, meat, juice, milk etc. Alcohol, sodas, sweets etc you have to buy yourself. You cook and prepare your own meals, though we’ll make you a welcome dinner, so we get to know each other a bit.
WE NEED HELP WITH
1. Painting projects: walls, wooden/metal beams, furniture
2. Construction
3. Planting and Pruning trees
4. Checking the mouse-traps and when needed change the bait
5. Tidying up a storage room
6. Cleaning the house
7. Cleaning the car
8. Bathing the dogs
9. Computers
When we are not there:
1. Checking the water on a weekly basis, check batteries on a daily basis (we will give you specific instructions on how to do this).
2. Watering the flowers approx. every two days (summer time)
3. Keep the place clean by weeding, watering, pruning, gardening, blowing the leaves from the yards, house cleaning and vehicle cleaning
There are also some building projects on the old farm houses, such as stone paths and stone fences (will continue after the summer months). We ask for approx. 5 hours help per day for 5 days a week. However, we are fairly flexible. This is a place in nature, perfect for reading, hiking & exploring during free time. Beautiful beaches, great food in tavernas. And there is plenty of free time available for personal activities as long as you remain on call all the time in case we need help.
If you have read this far and you like what you read, HAVE THE RELEVANT SKILLS, and are willing to help well unsupervised (we provide a clear list, so you know what to do, what to leave alone), please contact us.
P.S. 1. As you have probably read in the description of the property, the cottages in Koukouvagia are not connected to central electrical and water services. Instead, we use an autonomous, eco-friendly solar panel system. The water supply, is also rain water collected in a private cistern.
For this reason, all of us, both hosts and guests should follow the below sustainable practices to enjoy a beautiful and carefree holiday.
Please kindly confirm that you have read and agreed to the EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GREY COTTAGE, where you’ll be staying.
1. Charge everything (mobile phones etc.) in the morning 10am - 5pm
2. Turn off the lights when you leave the house
3. No use of electric devices, other than charging computers and cells (no hairdryer, etc.)
4. Be very VERY mindful of water and electricity
P.S. 2. To come to Kea you fly to Athens, then take a taxi from the Athens airport to Lavrion (the port-approx. 30’), then take the ferry to come to the island (approx. 1.15 hour).
We will be waiting for you at the port in Kea (Korissia) to take you to Koukouvagia. Please let us know when you will be arriving in Kea and don’t hesitate to reach out in case you have any questions.
Languages spoken
Greek: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Accommodation
ACCOMMODATION
You will be staying at the GREY COTTAGE. The Grey Cottage is a lovely bright studio with a double bed, a small kitchen and a small bathroom with shower. To get to the cottage you enter a well protected open room, with an outdoor shower and a sink.
You get excellent private accommodation in your own lovely cottage with a double bedroom with a clean, comfy bed, nice bedding, towels and pillows. Bright, airy, cosy, comfy, clean, tidy and well-equipped. You can feel at home here, relax and explore the area.
What else ...
TRANSPORTATION: The property is about 15-20’ walking from the asphalt. Car or motorcycle may be available for buying supplies. We ourselves usually go to the supermarket every three days. However you may need to rent a car or a scooter for longer rides for your entertainment.
No TV.
WiFi available about 20m from where you stay
MINIMUM AGE: 25. In general, we do not want helpers under 25 years old, but we can make exceptions.
SMOKING: This is a completely non-smoking, non-vaping household.
Please tell us about yourself and about your motivation to volunteer for us. Make it short and right on the point.
P.S. We would also welcome a couple, or two friends only if at least one of you has some knowledge of solars systems and is willing and able to learn more.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Photos
