Not yet, but we decided where to go.
Before, we were planning to go to Vatika and Kythira Island, However, as we have been to Peloponnese several times in the past months, in the end we said we should go somewhere else.
Ferry tickets being so expensive*, we looked for somewhere we can go by car and eventually we decided on Pelion (Pilio). They say we can enjoy both sea and mountain there.
Then yesterday we went to a wedding and at a banquet table we found sitting next to us a men who went to Pelion last summer and another man whose mother was from Pelion! They both said that there were splendid beaches and gave us some indications.
Looking forward to it!
(*) Several days ago, I heard that the price of ferry tickets should go down by 15% because the tax was lowered. Do you know what happened to this decision? I work for a tourist agency and everyday check the rate of ferry tickets. I don't see any difference of rate since they. Is it happening some time later, or again we were duped?
03 July, 2011
02 July, 2011
ManiMani @ Makrygianni-Acropolis
Visited yesterday ManiMani restaurant near the Acropolis Museum. I think it is well known (or better known) to the foreigners than to the Greeks, because it is well publicized in foreign-language guidebooks.
When we entered the restaurant at 8 o'clock there was only a couple of foreigners was eating. Lighting of half of the restaurant was turned off and it was evident that they were not expecting many guests, even though it was Friday evening. The truth is that the Greeks eat outdoor during the summer and these places which do not have tables outdoor have difficult time. It is no wonder that many restaurants in Athens close the door full 2 months during the summer. The kitchen/hall staff can anyway find summer work (with higher pay, I suppose) in beach side resorts, so it is not a problem even for employees.
Bread with olive oil.
Green salad with chopped dried figs and Katziki Domokou cheese. Katziki Domokou was like something between yogurt and feta in paste form. I ate it with bread, but Hubby did not like it (he does not eat Yogurt generally, if it is not tzatziki).
These are meat filled ravioli deep-fried and served with yogurt. In this photo, it looks to be a big portion, but it isn't. Anyway, these were quite oily and I would not eat more than this much. The meat ravioli reminded us of Chinese dumplings.
Square shaped small pasta (xyropites) with chicken and vegetables and cheese. Hubby liked it, but I did not. It was probably because I don't like this pasta.
With a bottle of beer and a bottle of water, the bill was 37 Euro. Not too expensive, neither cheap. The food was not to my taste and personally I won't go back, while Hubby liked it better. But as a Nouvelle Grecque cuisine restaurant, it is probably not bad. Try once to see if you like it.
Manimani
Falirou 10, Makrygianni-Acropolis Area
Tel. 210-921 8180
http://www.manimani.com.gr/
**********
I passed in front of the new Indian restaurant in Syntagma Area: Indian Kitchen.
It occupies the premises that used to be the buffet restaurant Dion. A curry and a bowl of rice or naan is about 15 Euro.
Indian Kitchen
Apollonos St. 6, Syntagma
Tel. 210 323 7720
When we entered the restaurant at 8 o'clock there was only a couple of foreigners was eating. Lighting of half of the restaurant was turned off and it was evident that they were not expecting many guests, even though it was Friday evening. The truth is that the Greeks eat outdoor during the summer and these places which do not have tables outdoor have difficult time. It is no wonder that many restaurants in Athens close the door full 2 months during the summer. The kitchen/hall staff can anyway find summer work (with higher pay, I suppose) in beach side resorts, so it is not a problem even for employees.
Bread with olive oil.
Green salad with chopped dried figs and Katziki Domokou cheese. Katziki Domokou was like something between yogurt and feta in paste form. I ate it with bread, but Hubby did not like it (he does not eat Yogurt generally, if it is not tzatziki).
These are meat filled ravioli deep-fried and served with yogurt. In this photo, it looks to be a big portion, but it isn't. Anyway, these were quite oily and I would not eat more than this much. The meat ravioli reminded us of Chinese dumplings.
Square shaped small pasta (xyropites) with chicken and vegetables and cheese. Hubby liked it, but I did not. It was probably because I don't like this pasta.
With a bottle of beer and a bottle of water, the bill was 37 Euro. Not too expensive, neither cheap. The food was not to my taste and personally I won't go back, while Hubby liked it better. But as a Nouvelle Grecque cuisine restaurant, it is probably not bad. Try once to see if you like it.
Manimani
Falirou 10, Makrygianni-Acropolis Area
Tel. 210-921 8180
http://www.manimani.com.gr/
**********
I passed in front of the new Indian restaurant in Syntagma Area: Indian Kitchen.
It occupies the premises that used to be the buffet restaurant Dion. A curry and a bowl of rice or naan is about 15 Euro.
Indian Kitchen
Apollonos St. 6, Syntagma
Tel. 210 323 7720
26 June, 2011
Tas Kebab @ Gazohori, Gazi
I think I am working a bit too much. On weekdays, 11 hours a day on average, with a few hours of extra work during the weekend if necessary. During weekends, we also go for excursions and trips, so I don't have much time left for blogging. I wonder if I should change the life style.
Two weeks ago, we returned to Gazohori in Gazi.
This is one of our favorite mezedopoleia in central Athens.
Rocket, Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomato Salad.
And Hubby orders always the same thing.
Tzatziki (he might order tyrokafteri which we tried in the past and was good).
Fresh Fried Potatoes.
Aubergine dish with white cheese.
But I slipped in one dish we have never ordered before: tas kebab.
Morsels of veal cooked in spicy tomato sauce. I don't think I have eaten Tas Kebab before. Knowingly, at least. I liked this Oriental dish very much and regretted to have missed it for such a long time.
With a bottle of coke, the bill was less than 30 Euro. Decent food, decent value.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
There is a strong probability that the VAT rate on the served food will be increased from 13% to 23%. It would have a devastating effect on restaurant business. Besides, already weakened restaurateurs will resort to tax evasion trying not to write receipts. It will punished by fine, but the fact is many restauranteurs are already indebted to the state, banks, and social security fund. Adding some fine to the immense debts won't scare the hard-pressed restaurateurs any longer, some think.
Two weeks ago, we returned to Gazohori in Gazi.
This is one of our favorite mezedopoleia in central Athens.
Rocket, Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomato Salad.
And Hubby orders always the same thing.
Tzatziki (he might order tyrokafteri which we tried in the past and was good).
Fresh Fried Potatoes.
Aubergine dish with white cheese.
But I slipped in one dish we have never ordered before: tas kebab.
Morsels of veal cooked in spicy tomato sauce. I don't think I have eaten Tas Kebab before. Knowingly, at least. I liked this Oriental dish very much and regretted to have missed it for such a long time.
With a bottle of coke, the bill was less than 30 Euro. Decent food, decent value.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
There is a strong probability that the VAT rate on the served food will be increased from 13% to 23%. It would have a devastating effect on restaurant business. Besides, already weakened restaurateurs will resort to tax evasion trying not to write receipts. It will punished by fine, but the fact is many restauranteurs are already indebted to the state, banks, and social security fund. Adding some fine to the immense debts won't scare the hard-pressed restaurateurs any longer, some think.
12 June, 2011
W Cataralla View @ Glyfada
From the coast of Glyfada I used to see this big W and had been curious what it was about. So, one day we decided to go to see.
We had a frappe.
And a waffle. Waffle itself was light and nice but it was overloaded with chocolate and oversweet. I guess it is for the Greeks who loves chocolate and supersweet stuff. So it is OK.
View from the cafeteria.
It is a nice cafeteria with nice view. Plenty of seats and plenty of space to park. We would go back from time to time.
*************
Nice looking plant we saw at the cafeteria.
Beautiful.
Getting closer, we leant it was actually called W Cataralla View Sea Side Cafe. Long name without making much sense except for "Sea Side Cafe".
Carps! The Japanese people love carps and my grand father used to kept some in his pond, but in Greece I don't seen them often. They made me feel nostalgic.
This is how it is in the inside. Most of the seats are outdoor. I wondered how this place would be in winter. Anyway, it is very spacious.
We had a frappe.
And a waffle. Waffle itself was light and nice but it was overloaded with chocolate and oversweet. I guess it is for the Greeks who loves chocolate and supersweet stuff. So it is OK.
View from the cafeteria.
It is a nice cafeteria with nice view. Plenty of seats and plenty of space to park. We would go back from time to time.
Nice looking plant we saw at the cafeteria.
Beautiful.
04 June, 2011
One Day Trip To Evia
One day trip to Evia.
A couple of friends was staying there and invited us to visit them for lunch.
It was less than 2 hour drive from Piraeus; if it were from northern Athens, it would be about 1.5 hour, according to our friends who live in Iraklio.
We arrived at around 11 o'clock. We thought we should have a rest having a coffee. Stopping at a bakery on the road, I saw unfamiliar bread like tyropsomo (cheese bread) and ladopsomo (olive oil bread).
We had a piece of galaktoboureko and 2 flappe. A flappe cost 1 Euro. Even considering it was self-service, 1 Euro is very cheap. At another cafeteria we stopped on our way back, it was 2.50 Euro.
After a break, I called the friends who were hiking to decide where to meet.
This part of Evvia is splendidly green and has abundant water.
Although we had just had a coffee, the friends were hungry and we proceeded directly to lunch. Evidently the place is know for the grilled meat and there were some restaurants grilling meal on roadside.
We drove to a restaurant recommended by the owner of the hotel where our friends were staying.
There was this little oratory just next to the restaurant. Our friend acutely observed that this place is ideal for baptism & baptismal party.
We had pork kondosouvli (grilled blocks of pork). It was nice, but not special. We could have found the equally nice kondosouvli in Attica. Maybe we should have tried chicken or lamb, these meats more likely to be local.
This is called biskotoglyko, reputed to be a local delicacy. It was just moist biscuit with chocolate cream. It is a very easy sweet to make at home, but to offer this as a local delicacy is an exaggeration, we concurred.
The view from the restaurant was the best part of the lunch.
After the lunch, we took a walk.
And met a snake, who was not very happy to see us and escaped very quickly.
Wind rose.
Forest.
Mushroom.
Donkey.
Then we left. We wished we could remain for another day, but even for one day, it was a very good break from the usual urban life.
A couple of friends was staying there and invited us to visit them for lunch.
It was less than 2 hour drive from Piraeus; if it were from northern Athens, it would be about 1.5 hour, according to our friends who live in Iraklio.
We arrived at around 11 o'clock. We thought we should have a rest having a coffee. Stopping at a bakery on the road, I saw unfamiliar bread like tyropsomo (cheese bread) and ladopsomo (olive oil bread).
We had a piece of galaktoboureko and 2 flappe. A flappe cost 1 Euro. Even considering it was self-service, 1 Euro is very cheap. At another cafeteria we stopped on our way back, it was 2.50 Euro.
After a break, I called the friends who were hiking to decide where to meet.
This part of Evvia is splendidly green and has abundant water.
Although we had just had a coffee, the friends were hungry and we proceeded directly to lunch. Evidently the place is know for the grilled meat and there were some restaurants grilling meal on roadside.
We drove to a restaurant recommended by the owner of the hotel where our friends were staying.
There was this little oratory just next to the restaurant. Our friend acutely observed that this place is ideal for baptism & baptismal party.
We had pork kondosouvli (grilled blocks of pork). It was nice, but not special. We could have found the equally nice kondosouvli in Attica. Maybe we should have tried chicken or lamb, these meats more likely to be local.
This is called biskotoglyko, reputed to be a local delicacy. It was just moist biscuit with chocolate cream. It is a very easy sweet to make at home, but to offer this as a local delicacy is an exaggeration, we concurred.
The view from the restaurant was the best part of the lunch.
After the lunch, we took a walk.
And met a snake, who was not very happy to see us and escaped very quickly.
Wind rose.
Forest.
Mushroom.
Donkey.
Then we left. We wished we could remain for another day, but even for one day, it was a very good break from the usual urban life.
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