The Arava – the large desert in the south of Israel -was home to the Tali and Aviv Ziv family and their three handsome sons.

They spent more than 20 years living on a large farm, growing and exporting agricultural produce.

They always loved the ocean and felt a strong attraction to it, so they took many trips to Eilat , spending their time engaging in sea sports – diving, surfing, swimming, and sailing on their private yacht to the Greek coast, especially in the Aegean Sea, on the shores east of Athens.

While their young son was in Eilat doing windsurfing, Tali decided that instead of waiting for him on the beach, she would begin swimming practices in the sea.

Not long after she started, she began participating in swimming competitions and and working in the Dolphin Reef in Eilat – swimming with dolphins, giving water treatments, guiding dolphin workshops… the place became her second home.

Three years ago she even crossed the Gulf of Gibraltar swimming with Prof. Eitan Friedman and a number of Israeli swimmers.

From taking even one look at Tali you can really see the sea – the color of her eyes is light blue, her hair is long and silver, her brown skin and her turquoise-colored clothes all indicate that the sea is in her heart.

The big change in family life happened at the end of 2013, when they had a one-time opportunity to sell their share of the farm and replace the desert yellow with the turquoise hues of Lefkada island in Greece.

I asked Tali how to make such a fundamental change at such an advanced stage in life, and she told me that the timing was perfect for them. They exhausted the desert life and felt a strong desire to make a change, and it was clear that it’s going to be next to the big blue.

At first they moved into the yacht and after a few months moved to Michmoret, a beach-side village in central Israel.

They took the time to find the perfect place for them, first thinking of buying a plot on Lesbos Island, and a moment before the purchase a friend told them they shouldn’t buy before they seeing Lefkada.

They arrived in Lefkada for the first time and immediately fell in love.

The rest, as they say, was history. “It’s not real,” said Tali for the first time, upon seeing the turquoise shades of the sea. The came two more time in order to choose the exact location for them and they chose the Bay of Vasiliki – the “pearl of the island” in the south.

The bay was considered among the best in Europe for windsurfing, and, as befits a family of sea people, they immediately understood the potential of the place to host swimming groups, saps, kayaks, triathlon, and the like.

Four years ago they purchased a building of studio apartments, renovated it and reopened it for rent.

The name chosen for the place is derived from the names of the three sons – Bar, Gal and Yam – WILD SEAGULL, freely translated from Hebrew – wild is bar, sea is yam, and GULL sounds almost like Gal (which actually means wave).The family was greeted with open arms on the island. According to Tali, the local residents are nice, courteous, and are in excellent ties with the family.

Their Greek friends help them with any problem – large or small. Every so often, one of the neighbors knocks on the door and enters with a gift, olive oil or a bottle of wine from the last harvest, and the feeling is wonderful.

They live in the top apartment in their own apartment hotel with a stunning sea view. the hotel has 8 guest rooms – 5 rooms facing the sea and 3 beautiful backends rooms. Each room has a new kitchenette, fridge, coffee and tea corner, shower and a brand new toilet, TV, WIFI, and balcony.

On the ground floor there is a lawn and a deck with a bar,where you can sit and enjoy the amazing view. The bar hosts a Happy Hour several times a week in front of the sea. This is a time when all the hotel guests who have gathered from different countries meet and form brilliant encounters.

Right on the horizon is Ithaca, which is mentioned in the poem “The Road to Ithaca,” which describes the journey of the ancient king Odysseus, who fought in the Trojan War, provoked the wrath of the gods, was punished and forced to take a journey back to Ithaca.

They have been there since the beginning of the season, and they combine work and great fun and enjoy every moment.

They start the morning by riding on the moped for a morning swim, each time to another bay, returning to Vasiliki for coffee and cake in the nearby Bakery and start the workday.

After years of quite isolated life in the Arava, Tali and Aviv find that the place they chose fits like a glove to the hand – just lively enough, with parties, bars, taverns and charming and varied people.

The place combines a life of action and activity with a young and lively vibe on the one hand, and on the other a divine peace and quiet. “There’s nothing like relaxing on the hotel’s balcony with a good book and a glass of local wine,” Tali says.

The bay is a gulf of magic – in the morning the sea is flat and shallow and suitable for activities like of SAPing, kayaking and swimming. Later in the day the wind rises, and you can see dozens of sails in all the colors and hear the cheerful roar of the surfers.

What else is there in the bay?

A Promenade along the entire bay, where you can find a pizzeria, a bakery, the best bars and taverns on the entire island, and charming shops. If your’e looking for parties – the beach surfing clubs host them every Tuesday.

The Wild Seagull hotel is located in a good place in the middle – from there which you can go on daily star trips to the ancient villages in the mountains, the nearby winery that produces excellent wine and to the olive oil producers in the area.

Spring in Lefkada

Tali recommends coming to Lefkada in the spring. Then, she says, you come to heaven to earth.

The island is fertile and at the height of its flowering, the stream water flows, there are large waterfalls that fall into magnificent wading pools, plenty of butterflies and rich nature, it is very suitable for travelers, runners, trekkers, cyclists, swimmers and groups of spiritual workshops.

You can take star trips – going out in the morning and returning in the evening – to the high mountains, home of ancient and authentic villages. Water temperatures in these months are between 20/21 degrees celsius and sea color is phosphorescent turquoise just like in pictures. Visitors at the beginning of the season, in April and May, get cheap prices, the island is empty of tourists, the attitude is warm and inviting on all sides, the roads are empty and the beautiful deserted bays give a feeling of being alone in a deserted island.

How to get there?

Driving through Athens on a new highway shortens the arrival time significantly (3.5 hours instead of 6). Or take a direct flight to the island with Kishrei Teufa company, which starts on 29.3 for the Passover period until April 7. From June 2, flights from Ofek Tours will begin and from the beginning of July until the end of September, Kisheri Teufa has many direct flights to the island, allowing you to reach the wild seagull hotel more easily and comfortably than before.

Booking and reservations:

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