Travel: A day in Athens, Greece

One of my absolute favourite destinations is Greece. I’ve always been fascinated by the beautiful white washed buildings, the houses on cliffs, the blue-domed cathedrals. It all looked so magical.

I remember when I was younger and dined out at a local Greek restaurant. They had photos of those stunning Cliffside towns all over the walls and I just knew- one day I would go to Greece.

My big day came when a girlfriend and I decided to plan a trip to Europe. I had always thought of Greece as a honeymoon destination but I just couldn’t deal with the thought of being so close and missing out on making my Grecian dreams a reality. Luckily, my friend felt the same and we made plans to spend one night in Athens and five amazing days in Santorini. Originally, we had thought to split our days between Santorini and Mykonos but we ended up simplifying when we realized how much time we would lose in transit. Besides- now we both have a reason to go back and indulge in some more island-hopping.

We flew on Easy Jet, which we found to be an economical means of travelling within Europe. We arrived in Athens in the middle of the night and luckily found a few people who were willing to share a cab into the city centre. It was two in the morning and when they got out, our cabbie drove through some seriously scary pitch-black alleys. My recommendation? Try not to fly in to any country for the first time at two in the morning. To say we were terrified for the last ten minutes of our ride would be an understatement.

Eventually our cabbie got us to our accommodations unharmed. We arrived at the Athens Backpackers Hostel and were greeted by friendly staff. They didn’t have the original room we requested so upgraded us to a semi-private apartment style room which slept four. It was essentially a suite and way better than anything we had expected from a hostel. The room was spacious, clean and very bright (it looked even better in the morning). I’d definitely stay here again when in Athens as we paid about 20 Euro a person for that night’s accommodation.

In the morning, we joined the hostel’s free walking tour to get a feel for the city. Our guide was a Canadian who now lived in Athens and he took us on a walking tour around some temples (temple of Zeus and Zappio) and led us through the Plaka.

Athen’s Plaka is a historic district with shops, farmer’s stalls and small cafes set up amid ancient ruins. It was a memorable experience and next time I travel to Athens I’d plan to spend at least a few hours wandering around this part of town. 

It was here that we stopped for a quick bite to eat at a small diner. The Plaka area is a boutique strip with lots of small family run restaurants and small shops.

All the diners have outdoor patios and large open kitchen windows so you can walk up and place your order, then watch the chef assemble your food.

Still wins as the best meal I've had while travelling

We (and I still remember this vividly) both ordered Lamb Gyros with tzatziki, tomatoes, olives, onions and French fries in the pita. It was AMAZING. By far one of the most memorable meals I’ve EVER had while travelling. We also both bought a can of pop. The entire meal for both of us cost us 7 Euros. It was truly incredible.

I’d highly recommend eating at the small family run shops in the Plaka area of Athens. You won’t regret it. The flavour is unlike anything you’ve ever had. Just trust me.

Ruins in the middle of the Plaka

It was a scorching hot July day so we excused ourselves out of the tour at this point (we had been walking for about 1.5 hours already) and decided to explore the rest of the area ourselves. (If you decide to stay on the tour, you will end up heading to the Acropolis and hiking up to the Parthenon).

Take a look at the people in this photo to get an idea of scale

We instead ventured into Monastiraki- a bohemian area of town with interesting shops filled with antiques and interesting clothing. My friend and I both purchased some brightly coloured cotton dresses that we were excited to wear as we travelled around in Greece.

As the sun sank lower in the sky, we decided to grab some drinks and take a taxi to the Acropolis.

We finished our drinks on a bench under some olive trees (how Grecian!) while we took in the view of the very majestic Parthenon. 

An Olive Tree

One of those monuments I’ve always dreamed of visiting and there it was right in front of me.

Eventually we decided to make our way up the white marble steps to the top of the Acropolis. To say it was hot (even in the late afternoon) was an understatement. 

The view from halfway up the Acropolis

I’d recommend going up in the early morning or around 6pm to beat the heat if you decide to travel, like we did, in the middle of July.

a closer look at the ancient ruins

The Parthenon

There are really no words to describe the beautiful white stone and it’s impressive stature. Its just one of those things you’d have to see to believe…and I hope you get to see it for yourself sometime soon!

            

The Slow Food Movement

This summer, I had a wonderful time exploring various markets and restaurants in different regions of Italy. Throughout my travels, the one thing that was painstakingly clear was that Italians savour the moment. They savour the moment, the process, the experience - the everything.

It offers a stark contrast to the fast paced life in North America...in a good way. Part of the charm of European anything is the fact that people take their time, they enjoy life, they live to the fullest and as a result...there's less stress and people are happier- you can see it on their faces.

I think part of this is definitely the values of the people and it stems from the culture. Spend time with your family and those you love. When you are with them, be truly with them. When you have coffee or gelato, enjoy each bite. Savour it. Take your time. Go slow. Tired? Close down your restaurant and go take a nap for a few hours. Sounds pretty amazing.

The Italians are used to this slow-paced way of life. It is, in fact, the ONLY way of life and what a beautiful way it is to live.

In North America, we are struggling to fit more into our days, to squeeze in more time, to do one more task, to get one more thing accomplished. "Get off your phone", we say, "and enjoy the moment."

I'm fairly certain that phrase would never need to be said in Italy, where people hardly look at their phones because they are too busy enjoying wine and a fresh lobster at lunch before taking a 2 hour long beach break.

This...is life and of course it also translates into the way they eat.

Italy's slow food movement is unlike any others I have ever seen. In that, it's not really a movement at all. It's the way it has always been. It's what they know and let me tell you- it's amazing.

What's a slow food movement? It's the idea that food grows in the ground, takes it's time, needs love and care and ripens slowly. And when food is allowed to do all these things, it tastes divine. It means that the food you eat is grown locally and ethically without the over use of pesticides and growth hormones. It means that the food on your table was grown less than a few kilometers from where you live and it means the final garnish on your plate was probably picked from the plant moments before you ate the first bite. It also means the eggs in your omlette were probably collected that morning from the chickens that your family is raising in a henhouse in your yard. 

All over Italy you see tiny backyard gardens and little farms overflowing with amazing organic, seasonal vegetables and fruit. The streets are lined with orange trees the way Toronto's are lined with maples. Even the grassy lots beside the train tracks and stations are cultivated gardens, growing beautiful peppers, lettuce and red cherry tomatoes.

I absolutely loved exploring the vegetable patches, trying to figure out what type of squash or tomato was growing in the little patches. The markets that lined the street in Sorrento and Positano were truly remarkable and I will probably never forget the bright colours of the freshest vegetables, the sweetest fruit and the giant lemons that decorated rustic tables at every store front.

By now I'm sure you're wondering how we can incorporate some of that slow-living at home. For me, being immersed in the Italian culture really made me realize how important it is to be mindful of your surroundings and how much time you spend a day thinking of something else while you are really doing something totally different. A huge challenge, but probably something we can all benefit from thinking more about.

In terms of food?  Check out your local markets. You'd be surprised how much of that family feeling is still lingering in metropolitan cities. You just have to go to the right place. Find out if there are farmer's markets, small butcher shops, fish markets or mom and pop grocery stores around you. Sometimes the experience of shopping at one of these places alone is all the zen and calm you need in a day. I simply love taking my time and walking slowly around a beautiful grocery store. It's amazing what you can learn and find just by observing. Besides, just imagine: actual speaking to the person who cultivated the fruit and picked it just the day before it arrived at the market. Or talking to the person who knows exactly where the fish he sells were caught and when they came in.

 It is a truly great thing to know where your food is coming from and how it got to you. Aside from that, there is some delicious locally grown produce available around us. The key is to know what is in season and when. This will cut your grocery bills as well as ensure you are eating the best tasting foods available.

Use fresh herbs whenever possible and even grow your own herbs and vegetables. There is nothing more satisfying or delicious than garnishing your plate with basil leaves that were torn just seconds before or chopping tomatoes you just picked from your own garden... especially since it reminds us that more than being busy, more than getting things done, more than any of that, life is really about the little, beautiful things that make us smile, appreciate, reflect and slow down.