Greece
Drink in Sifnos
Its all about the ouzo. Early on, in this trip, someone insisted that we must drink ouzo. We smiled politely and said, of course we will, and promptly dismissed the idea of high-octane fire water. Then we had an adventure where one thing led to another that led to ouzo. One afternoon, after a big…
Read MoreEating in Sifnos
The food is good! Of course there is fish and shrimp (but no clams or mussels), but there is also a surprising amount of meat. Stews of lamb, goat, and rabbit called ‘mastelo’ after the name of the earthen pot are quite common and delicious. Here’s more background on mastelo and some recipes. Sifnos is…
Read MoreDo Stuff in Sifnos
Go play in the sea! That’s what you came for! There are sandy beaches and rocky beaches and paths to get to them, so pick your fun. There are also 365 monasteries in Sifnos, so plan to say awhile if visiting monasteries is your thing. Sifnos is criss-crossed by an exceptional trail system. Sinos Trails…
Read MoreSleeping in Sifnos
From funky to deluxe all options are available on Sifnos. We were a celebrating group of family and friends and we went deluxe. The exclusive Verina Astra is located on one of the high spots on the island, within close walking distance to the villages of Artemonas and Apollonia. Down a dusty white road, the…
Read MoreCook in Pireaus
It’s all about the stuffed sardines & fried calamari. Stuffed sardines: basically two, open, filleted anchovies or sardines with a savory bread crumb layer. The secret is the charred fish skin. Fried calamari: Tempura type batter with abundant chili pepper. Served on top of a layer of diced watermelon & tomato salad with lots of…
Read MoreDo Stuff in Pireaus
It’s a funny place. Basically, the tourists are either waiting to get on a ferry or cruise or they’ve just come off a ferry. So, it’s a waiting-in-limbo sort of town. The town is absolutely ugly. It reminded us of Taipei in the late 1970’s. Not a pretty picture with molding concrete buildings, overflowing trash…
Read MoreDrinking in Pireaus
Wine & Beer Of Course. But also good cocktails. Pireaus is not a pretty town but it has some very chic and fab cocktail bars going on. We opted for Lola’s Bar because who can resist a bar named Lola? Cocktails were well-made and generous. We ate some food, but it was to soak up…
Read MoreSleeping in Pireaus
Pireaus is a one-night stand sort of place. More shabby than chic, the city caters to people either coming or going from the various ferries and cruises. We wound up at the Pireaus Dream Hotel. Not exactly my dream hotel, but it adequately served its purpose. Clean, comfortable, air conditioned with a spectacularly friendly and…
Read MoreEating in Pireaus
When we are near the sea, we only want to eat fish. When you are in the busy port of Pireaus, staying overnight to catch a ferry the next day, you want to eat good seafood. Our most helpful and joyful hotel receptionist suggested we take a taxi to the Mikrolimano section of Pireaus. Good…
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