GERALDINE and Michael Leventis cannot resists holiday souvenirs.

First there was the old farmhouse in the Lot in France, which they saw when they were on holiday in 1989. Then they had a vacation on the Greek island of Kea in 1994 and fell in love with a derelict mansion. So, naturally, they bought it. Next they travelled to Cape Town three years ago… and, well, you know how these things happen.

Geraldine is the owner of Raoul’s Cafe and Raoul’s Deli in Maida Vale and is opening another cafe in Notting Hill this month. (If you’re passionate about property, why not?) A former self-professed “bored housewife”, it was a former dinner guest, the late Francis Bacon, who pressed her to open her own restaurant in 1985. Now her shops have become legendary for their home-cooked Mediterranean cuisine consumed by visitors such as Kate Moss, Christian Slater, Russell Crowe and Björk.

Chasing a property deal is the ultimate adrenaline rush for Geraldine. All but the most hardened property addicts would have given up after the couple’s experience of buying a house in Greece. “We were on holiday and had no intention of buying,” confesses Geraldine. “But then we came across this wonderful derelict neoclassical house on top of the acropolis of Kea.” “Originally it was built for the first prime minister of Greece,” intercepts Michael, her husband and an artist. “The Temple of Apollo had stood there in 300BC. Our steps are made from its plinth.”

Geraldine takes up the story: “It took five years’ of red tape before we could get permission to restore the house to its original state. We almost gave up.”

Once they got the go-ahead, there was still an uphill struggle. “We had to transport everything using mules because there is no access to the hill,” explains Geraldine. “Cast iron-baths and suchlike all had to be carried up on their backs!”

Work on the three-bedroom house was finished in a year. The property cost them £100,000. And how much did they spend on it? Geraldine bursts out laughing. “More than £400,000,” she replies.

They decorated it in neoclassical style and filled it with French and English late 19th century furniture, which they shipped over.

Now they spend Greek Easter and two weeks in the summer holidays there.

Buying in Cape Town was simple by comparison. “It’s the least problematic place in which to buy,” reveals Michael. “Everything’s well organised and the builders stick to their schedule and budget.” Naturally, they hadn’t intended to buy a home there. “We were staying in a hotel in Constanzia,” explains Geraldine, “and every day these estate agents would appear after breakfast for appointments with the guests.

“Eventually we thought, ‘Well, what’s this about?’

Out of pure nosiness, we started looking at houses.” And 10 days later they had found one. “It was really good value,” she says cheerfully. “It only cost £150,000.”

The house wasn’t attractive – it is a twobedroom Sixties redbrick bungalow – but it had spectacular gardens, a view of Table Mountain and a swimming pool on the terrace. “We plastered over the red brick and the architects did an amazing job. It looks very Hollywood now.” They spent £200,000 on renovations. (“We’ve already been offered to sell it for double our outlay,” smiles Michael.) The main house has two bedrooms and there is a luxurious guest cottage with one big bedroom and a sitting room. It has a contemporary look, with eclectic furniture from London: from various Fornisetti pieces to a Salvador Dali lip sofa and zebra skins.

Do they know why they became addicted to property? “Michael loves projects,” Geraldine smiles. “I like interacting with architects, choosing materials and visualising the finished project,” adds Michael. “Once we have handed over the money, my role is simply to approve everything,” Geraldine laughs. “To sit there and say, ‘I love it!'”