Cats from Eftalou {Lesbos}

 

There's a special little restaurant I need to tell you about...

If you want peace and quiet, as well as good authentic Greek food with lots of fresh herbs, you should come and eat at I Eftalou Tavern, tucked away in one of the less visited corners of Lesbos.

The food is some of the best on the island: feta saganaki, gigantes, tatziki, dolmades, fried zucchinni flowers... 😋

But you have to be willing to share all these delicious Greek specialties with the many, many feline residents of the I Eftalou Tavern. 🐈

Cats abound on the island of Lesbos.

They are everywhere you look, and Eftalou is no different.

Yet the cats are more numerous at the I Eftalou Tavern than elsewhere on Lesbos.

This is mainly because there are very few restaurants and hotels in Eftalou.

Since the cats are almost all strays, they know that the I Eftalou Tavern (as well as the yoga hall behind) is a sure spot to get food and shelter. 

Contrary to most other restaurants on Lesbos, I Eftalou Tavern even provides basic medical care to unwell cats.

When the owners of the I Eftalou Tavern noticed that the white and ginger kitty had a problem with his eye, they immediately took him to the veterinary clinic for treatment. (You can read here how other restaurants treat the local stray cat population.) 

Would you also like to have lunch or dine in the company of all these wonderful cats? 

Its al fresco dining area is a spacious flowery place overlooking the sea, with lots of tables in the shade if case you want to eat there around midday.

In the evening, the I Eftalou Tavern is perfect to watch the sunset over the sea. 

The tavern is located next to the main road which goes from Molyvos to the Eftalou hot springs. 

When the asphalt road ends, you can continue towards the cute fishing village of Skala Sykaminia (which you can read about here).

The tavern is easily accessible by bus, and there is plenty of parking for your car, bike, or scooter.



Have you ever visited Eftalou and/or the island of Lesbos? Did you eat at I Eftalou Tavern?

Text and photos by Vanessa Morgan

Cats from Sitges {Spain}

Sitges is a small, picture-perfect resort town located a mere 35 kilometers south of Barcelona in Spain. 

It's easily one of the most charming seaside escapes thanks to its whitewashed Mediterranean houses, its magnificent St. Bartomeu church, its maze of cobblestone alleyways, and its breezy seaside promenade lined with palm trees and al fresco restaurants.

Japanese film director Takashi Miike fell in love with this coastal town while visiting the internationally renowned Sitges Film Festival and decided to film his movie JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable (2017) in Sitges.

But the most iconic sight of Sitges is... its cats. 🐈

There used to be a time - not even too long ago - when Sitges was teeming with cats. 

They were everywhere: at the cemetery, in restaurants, near the port... Even cinemas had their own felines.

But the amount of stray cats has dwindled over the years.

This a good thing because some of them were in really bad shape.

Nowadays, the cats are protected.

Several organizations and volunteers feed the strays daily (If you look well, you will see food bowls and cat houses sprinkled throughout the town.).

Some cats are being taken from the streets and given a chance at life, while others are being sterilized through a Trap-Neuter-Return system to prevent the stray cat population from growing even more.

A good place to spend time with the cats is on and near the breakwater next to the Club Náutica.

Some of the cats will gladly cuddle, while others will run away and hide underneath the stones of the breakwater.

In any case, it's a must-see Sitges location - even without the cats. 

Situated in front of the landmark Church of St. Bartomeu and the Siren of Sitges, the area is a hub of activity, with vendors selling jewelry and handbags, as well as being a gateway into the old town and the waterfront boulevard.

Photos by Vanessa Morgan & Gilles Vranckx