About Us

Marietta Kasti & Shira Halperin

Shira Halperin

A world traveler, best-selling author, entrepreneur, and Leros lover …

In the summer of 2014, my other half, Noam, and I sailed our yacht from Tel Aviv to Greece’s islands for the first time. We had both quit our senior positions in one of the largest worldwide tech companies and finally had more time for sailing.

We planned to visit five or six different islands every summer and, with time, get to know not only many islands, but also Greece’s mainland and other countries.

But our plan failed.

We fell in love with Leros. Every summer, we wanted to come back again and again. We didn’t want to travel anywhere else. We wanted to stay in the beautiful bays, explore the island, and spend more time with the local people and travelers from around the world. We enjoyed the area, the food, the views, and the special vibe.
Eight years later, when our five children grew up and left home, we decided to sail one-way to Leros and settle in. We now live on this amazing Island with its special community—a life we never thought existed.
On one of our first visits to Leros, I went out to buy some take-out food and groceries and found Marietta and Takis’s place.

Along with great homemade food and the friendly welcome typical of Leros, they were happy to help a new visitor like me with essential information about the island, including a few important updates I would never have known as a non-Greek speaker.
And I wasn’t the only one. Marietta and Takis have become a home base for many locals, sailors, and travelers from all over the world—those new to the island and those who have visited for years.
Their place has become a local hub. Takis is always happy to share his extensive knowledge about history, culture, and the area around the island. Marietta has the answer to every question, starting with where to buy things, what’s happening on the island, and the best professionals to help with repairs for homes, boats, and more. Within a minute, she’ll make a phone call, and you’re all set!

So I started to think … what about those travelers who haven’t gotten to know Marietta? What do other visitors do when they want to know what’s happening on the island, need help from a local service provider, or just want to learn more about this fascinating place? I knew the information available was very limited, especially for non-Greek speakers. When I talked to other visitors, they all wished there was a central source of information for anything you need or want to learn about Leros.

So I asked Marietta if we could do something about it …

Marietta Kasti

A business owner, vice president of the Leros Basketball Academy, and proud Lerian …

I was born in Australia. My parents immigrated there when they were young, and we all returned to Leros when I was five years old.
Like many young people, I left the island after finishing high school. I moved to Rhodes to study tourist management at university. After I graduated, I planned to stay in the big city and start my professional career in Athens.

But my plan failed.

I met Takis, my husband, during one of my family visits back to Leros. And I stayed.
I started to work for the municipality of Leros in the Tourism Department. After a few years, Takis and I decided to upgrade his family’s little grocery store and delicatessen and add some traditional homemade food.
Ten years later, we are parents of three energetic boys, and we proudly serve customers in our big restaurant and shop right in the middle of Lakki Bay. We offer a large menu, fabulous view, and space for everyone.
We are excited to meet regular customers who come every day, old customers who come every summer, and new visitors who stop by for a coffee or lunch, and then come again and again and become part of the family. I love to hear their stories, learn about their lives, and help them if they need something.

I love my island and our special and diverse community here. I’m a big believer in giving back more to the community than it gives you. I always try to help and volunteer whenever I can.
I met Shira a few years ago when she came to the shop. With time, we became friends. Seeing her genuine curiosity about the island, and knowing the information she and many visitors like her needed, made me realize we needed to find a way to help not only my customers but all visitors and newcomers enjoy everything Leros has to offer.

I always felt there was much to be discovered about Leros that our visitors were unlikely to find on their own. I wished many more people could gain from the deep knowledge I and others on the island could offer. I knew how little information was available to visitors, and I wanted to help.

So I asked Shira if we could do something about it …

Together...

We embarked on this journey to build “The-Leros-Way” so even more people could find out about the true Leros way—the little things left undiscovered, and the big stuff visitors need but often aren’t sure where to find.

Through “The-Leros-Way,” we hope to inform and enrich those who are curious about Leros, even from afar. And now visitors to Leros and those who live here can get, for the first time, all the ongoing information they need in one place.

This is the journey of an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and proud Lerian, together with a curious, entrepreneurial newcomer and Leros lover.

Together, we researched and documented everything Leros has to offer.

Our Team Members

Join us on our journey and discover the true Leros Way…

Markos Spanos

Markos Spanos, born in America, moved to Leros at 11. He fell in love with the island and is now a passionate amateur photographer for 15 years, showcasing Leros through his images. Additionally, he has a deep fascination with Leros’s war history, exploring remnants of the world wars. Markos combines both passions by hiking in Leros’s beautiful mountains during his free time.

Vasilis Siafakas

Vasilis Siafakas, a passionate lover of history, food, sport shooting, and good company, arrived in Leros last September. He has immersed himself in the island’s hidden gems, often overlooked by tourists but cherished by the locals. From the cuisine to the rich history and captivating people, Leros has captivated Vasilis. With a fresh perspective gained from extensive travels, Vasilis will share his remarkable discoveries, unveiling the essence of what makes Leros truly special. Join him on a journey to explore “the Leros” with Vasilis Siafakas as your guide.

Ageliki Karagelou

Born in Athens with roots from Leros, Angeliki Karangelou has spent since 1991 every summer of her life on the island. She has studied Linguistics and Music. Works as a philologist in a high school of Athens, and loves contributing in Leros cultural events, in every way. Angeliki aims to study more about the history and the linguistic variety of Leros, so that this side of culture of the island gets more famous, not only to the non Lerians, but also to the local people.

Mario Rauch

In early 2021, Mario and his wife Sibylle left Bavaria behind to start a new life in Leros. Exploring the island with an open mind and connecting with the warm-hearted locals solidified their love for this small and beautiful paradise. Despite the challenges of leaving their children and grandchildren in Munich, they courageously pursued their dreams. Now, they reside on their sailing boat at Leros Marina Evros, living the life they’ve always envisioned.