On the Sandals in Marina Zea

If you go to Marina Zea (Passalimani) in Piraeus, you often find sandals scattered on the seaside.



At first, I did not understand what they were.

Actually they belong to the people who are staying in cruisers and yachts.

As they don't want to ware shoes or sandals on their ships, they just leave them on the public road.

I find this a rather unsavoury habit, especially for those rich people who can afford to buy or rent huge yachts and cruisers to do.

What do you think?

James Joyce Pub and Restaurant in Monastiraki-Thissio

(This happened a few days before we left for Lesvos).

Hubby is on vacation for the two first weeks of August and we had time to go around Athens as well.

We stopped at an Irish pub-restaurant James Joyce in Monastiraki-Thissio area.



Inside, it is exactly like a pub we used to see in England. (OK, this is an Irish pub, but we don't have any idea how are the pubs in Ireland). It is spacious and cool (air-conditionned). Interestingly our waiter did not know Greek at all. When we visited there were not many other patrons, but it looked some were Greek and some English-speaking foreign.




They have obviously British and Irish beers, 4-5 euros a pint. Hubby had a Carlesburg and I had a diet coke.




And we shared a dish of club sandwich, with egg, bacon, lettuce, cheese etc, served with handmade chips and crisps. 8 euros or something.



And we shared a dessert: honey parfait with blackberries.



It was handmade and excellent. Unfortunate thing is that it costs eye-watering 6 euros (on the menu it was 5 euros, but we were charged 6 euros and our protest was not listened to at all).

Total bill was over 20 euros. OK price for this part of Athens. They serve also more serious meals (Irish-British dishes) and we will back to try some.

James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant
Astiggos 12, Monastiraki - Thiseio
Post Code: 105 55
Tel.: 210 32 35 055
Fax: 210 32 35 070
http://www.jjoyceirishpubathens.com/

Return from Lesvos

We returned from the 5-day vacation on Lesvos (Lesbos or Mitylene) island.

It was fantastic! We loved the island. It does not have UNESCO World Heritage site or any postcard-famous site, but there are so many interesting and beautiful places. We would love to return there again and again.

I will write about the island on Gate to Greece site, and here are some photos.

There are many miraculous saints and icons on the island, and here is one of them: Agios Rafail.



Rafail was a monk who was martyred by the hands of Ottoman Turks. There is a huge religious institution with many free accomodations. We kissed the holy relics (bones) and collected holy water.


This is Anaxos beach, near Petra, on the northern coast of the island.



Beaches are in general very quiet even in the middle of August, as we liked it.

Price of food is not much less than in Athens, but drinks are.



This beer cost 2.50euros, frappé 2 to 2.50 euros, Greek coffee from 1 to 1.70 euros.


We spent 5 days on the island and went around with a rent car, but we don't feel at all we saw it sufficiently. Cannot wait to go back.

White Aubergine

Saw white aubergines at a Laiki market and bought a few.

I have seen them several times over years, but this is the first time I bought them.



It was written that these were "Santrini Aubergines". I don't know if it is the name of this variety or just they came from Santrini; I should have asked.

As you see, the inside is no different from ordinary aubergines.

I cooked gemista with these and they did not taste much different from ordinary ones, but I had an impression that these were less bitter. The colour of skin changed from white to brown which wasn't a particularly appetizing colour.

Does anyone know which is the best way to cook white aubergines?

Varkiza and Vouliagmeni

Having been away for some days and occupied with miscellaneous jobs, I did not have time to blog, but now I am back! :)

Yesterday, my bro-in-law took hubby and I to the beach. We were a group of 8 and went to somewhere below Varkiza for swimming. I remained out of water, as it was too sunny and I was sure to be burnt to death (I have sensitive skin and it has never been under the sun this summer). But Hubby enjoyed his first bath in this summer and it was excellent.

Afterward, we were taken to an Italian restaurant in Varkiza. It was called Vice Versa, if I remember well.

Hubby ate a Four Seasons pizza.



This wasn't bad, but home made pizza comes out better than this as I use better ingredients.

And I had tagliatelle with vegetable.



Tagliatelle were cooked well, but the combination of veggies and seasoning were uninspiring. Italians are genius in doing this kind of thing and it is where the Greeks fail. I ate half the plate and Hubby finished all. I stole two pieces of pizza from his plate.

With mineral water, it came to 25 euros (actually Hubby paid more as he had to pay also for his ever-needy other brother - they are 3 brothers). Not that the food was disgusting, but paying for sort of food that I can cook better is totally silly. But, you know, it wasn't me or Hubby who chose where to eat, sadly.


Hubby and I were already full, but the others were not satisfied and came to Waffle House in Vouliagmeni.



This is Waffle House. The have a lovely arrangement of colourful chairs. And, no, my photograph does not any justice to it. Sorry!



I tested pistachio ice cream.



One scoop costs 2 euros. It is a generous portion and very filling. But if my memory serves me well, I liked better pistachio ice cream of Pagotomania.

A friend of Bro-in-Law (the one who took us there) ordered something interesting and he let me take a photo of it.



This is a waffle with nutella, 4 scoops of ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce on top. He said it was excellent, but even he could not finish most of the waffle. I stole a mouthful, but it was well too sweet for me.

We went back around 8 and went streight to the bed, as we were very tired from the works of previous days.