Athens in Spring 1

From this Monday, the Holy Week started. Although those who practice Lenten fasting
to the letters are absolute minority in Greece, not a few do some effort not to eat meat at least. There are church service every evening (and other times, but I am hazy how often are they) and many go to the church to receive communion. TV keep on showing biblical and Christian films to remind us why we celebrate the Easter at all!

Even a show window of clothes shop (this is Prince Oliver in Piraeus) has religious theme.

Christ and Book of Triodion!


Yesterday it was very warm. I went to Athens to smell the air of spring and Easter.

I took 040 bus to go to Athens. Contrary to what it was said before, the works of Ilektriko (Metro No 1) won't finish by the Easter and will continue into the autumn. According to a friend of mine who read on a newspaper, the section Faliro-Kallithea won't open - at the earliest they should add - until May. It is so annoying. Personally it is more annoying than the rise of value added tax.

In Syntagma. This old souvlatzidiko on Odos Apollonos, just in front of Furin Kazan Japanese restaurant, is under renewal work. (I actually ate here once).

I hope they finish before the completion of Ilektriko renewal. (But of course!)

Then I went to Panepistimiou Street to check out the new French bakery Paul. Its opening was announced many months ago and the building looks complete, but every time I pass in front, it is closed, although the light was on inside. Has it opened at all?

The people (a family of three) in the photo looked at a loss. I waited for them to leave to take a photo, but they didn't and kept on muttering something going to and fro in front of the shop. Were they disappointed customers?

Then I walked toward the Panepistimio and then turned to the north. There I found the patisserie Asimakopouloi.

It is one of the oldest pastry shops in Athens (since 1915) and pretty famous, but I have never understood where it was. Now I know. There was quite a lot of people who were buying Tsoureki (Easter sweet bread) and other sweets.

And in front, there was this shop. Do you see what they sell?

This is a candle shop.

They are not normal candles, but lambadas!
No, it isn't a Latin dance. ;)
Lambada is a candle that the Godparent gives to the Godchild at the baptism, and later on they have to give a new one on every Easter while the Godchild grows up (until when, I don't know, but at certain point it stops) together with Easter presents. It is quite a big and long-term responsibility to be a Godparent.
By the way, Hubby said that he had seen Julia Alexandratou lambada on TV. Has anyone seen it? (No, he did not say it today, i.e. 1st April).

(To be continued.... if I want to)

Easter Week Shop Opening Hours

So that I won't forget, this is the shop opening hours during the Easter Week.

During the normal working days from today until Holy Thursday, the shops will be open from 9:00-21:00, except for Saturday (26 March), 9:00-18:00.

On Holy Friday, although it is a National Holiday, shops will be open from 13:00-19:00.

On Holy Saturday, shops will be closed at 16:00.

On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, shops remain closed all day.

(Source)

Peiraiki with Wind and Wave

I got out from the bus around 1:30 PM today to go home and this view was in front of me.



It was not totally sunny or cloudy and there was strong wind blowing. The seawater was unusually muddy.



Two young Greeks who got off at the same stop also stood still to admire the view.

They say that tomorrow the temperature will drop by 10 centigrade or so. The winter is coming.

Dragon fries at New Acropolis Museum

When I went to the New Acropolis Museum on 16 September 2009, I saw something strange happening in front of it.



This is glass flooring in front of the building. Through the glass, we can admire the antiquities just below the museum.



Just over the surface of the glass floor, there were many copulating dragon fries. Can you see them?



They were thinking planting eggs in water. The shining glass was just like the shining surace of lake or river.

Considering the number of dragon fries is dwindling, it was a shame that their eggs were wasted in this way.

Neradzi Fruits

At the start of April, I wrote that Neradzi (bitter orange) flowers are blooming.

Now I saw that they made fruits.



They are still very small and dark green.

These fruits are not sweet as oranges and could not be eaten as such, but could be made into candied fruits (glyko tou koutaliou). In some countries, including Japan and Iran so far as I know, the juice is used like lemon juice, but I don't know anyone do this in Greece.

When these will be orangy in colour, the summer will have already passed.

Glass Brush Flowers

With the temperature rising, there are more and more flowers opening.



This tree has blossoms similar to glass-brushes.


Or, looks a bit like a certain type of catapillers.

Beautiful.

Neradzi Blooming

About a week ago, neradzi flowers started to bloom.



The are so fragrant and you cannot but feeling the coming of spring whenever passed neradzi trees by.



Neradzi (Νεράτζι) is a kind of orange, but different from orange we eat as fruit, neradzi fruit is not enough sweet to be comestible on its own. The Greeks make glyko tou koutaliou (fruits/vegetables cooked in syrup). They also make orange flour water from neratzi flower.

The Iranians use the juice of neradzi in the same manner as we use lemon juice. In Japan we mix it with soy sauce and soup stock to make a sort of dressing. The Greeks evidently don't juice neradji juice as we do.

These are the flowers I found on the Peiraiki coast, where now is full of wild flowers.

And cherry blossom.


This flower for us Japanese is a symbol of spring.

It is now so pleasant to go out to admire these beautiful flowers and blossoms.