Sunday Gold (Athens, Greece)

Plaka

I've grown very fond of our sunday strolls around the old town of Athens and thoroughly enjoyed capturing the mood for you all. So I'm a bit sad to say today's has been the last of the Sunday series for now, as I'm leaving Athens for a while. I hope you've enjoyed them as much as we have!  

Christmas Sunday (Athens, Greece)

Merry christmas to our friends who are celebrating today!

Sunday Rakomelo (Athens, Greece)

Enjoying some hot rakomelo on this grey Sunday Afternoon

This grey rainy afternoon we decided to head to our favorite hidden cafe in the neighborhood of Thisseo. This down-to-earth place doesn't have a name or anything else to give away it's here, you just push open the blue door on Amfiktionos 33 to find a rustic cafe in a beautiful neoclassical house. If you're in Athens in winter, do check out their home-made furniture and warm up with a cup of coffee or a glass of warm rakomelo. 

Sunday Brunch (Athens, Greece)

Tasty American-style brunch at Athens' newest addition Mama Roux

Sunday Barbecue (Athens, Greece)

Barbecue with a view at our friends' roof terrace. Yay!

Sunday at Monasteraki Square (Athens, Greece)

getting ready for the Christmas season..

Sunday Souvlaki (Athens, Greece)

veggie souvlaki with tzatziki, fries, tomatoes, red onions & herbs: yum!

Sunday at Panepistimiou Street (Athens, Greece)

Athena overlooking her city

Last Sunday Swim of the Season (Athens, Greece)

Varkiza (suburb in Athens)

I took this Sunday edition's photo yesterday just to hold on to that very last straw of summer. If I look out of the window, it seems like rain and storms from now on. Hello fall! 

My Favorite Neighborhood Coffee Shop (Athens, Greece)

A few days before, sipping my coffee, I was thinking I really need to share my love for our local coffee shop with you. So here is my homage to Makriyianni 3. 

I love it because they serve the best coffee by far in this area, because of its location (close to my home: essential for a neighborhood cafe. Hehe. But seriously, it's close to the Acropolis and its metro station and so perfect for some people watching), because of their delicious home-made lemonade, sandwiches and snacks not found anywhere else in central Athens, because of their friendliness and because despite all of this goodness their prices are still more reasonable than all the touristy places next door. 

So whenever you're in the neighborhood, check it out. Good chance you'll find us there reading our Sunday newspapers. Don't forget to say hi!  

Sunday Blues (Athens, Greece)

A painter next to the new Acropolis Museum

Sunday at Philoppapou (Athens, Greece)

High up on the Philoppapou Hill (here looking at the Acropolis)
is my favorite spot to do a little thinking.. 

The Cicada & The Ant (Athens, Greece)

The Cicada & The Ant (or Ο τζίτζικας κι ο μέρμηγκας in Greek)is a restaurant chain in Athens, with a few in the suburbs and one restaurant smack in the middle of the city centre. If you're hungry, want a bit of good Greek food and don't feel like straying too far from Athens' constitution square, just turn the corner and you'll find this cozy little place tucked inside a small street (12, Mitropoleos). 


You'll instantly feel welcome, being offered a glass of raki, some olives and fresh bread. Most of the food on the menu are Greek classics like meatballs and a Greek salad, all of good quality. It includes some surprises as well, like spicy cheeses out of the oven and my personal favorite: a veggie burger made of two thick slices of Mastelo cheese from Chios filled with grilled vegetables. Delicious! 


Prices are very reasonable, albeit a bit pricier than your regular taverna in town. Atmosphere warm and service impeccable. 

Cool Sunday (Athens, Greece)

Sunday at the Sea (Athens, Greece)

Six D.O.G.S (Athens, Greece)

Summer in the city. It sounds simply lovely, but here in Athens sometimes the heat, the crowds and the noise can all just get to you. This summer particularly, young and old Athenians are looking for some place positive and relaxed to forget and discuss what's going on in their city. Luckily we can find refuge in some amazing hidden bars and cafés.

One of them is Six D.O.G.S in the city centre, just of Monasteraki Square. Six D.O.G.S calls itself a 'day & night cultural entertainment centre' and that description definitely covers all they have to offer. You'll find a café, a bar, a visual arts' project space, and a space for live gigs. My favorite by far though is their garden. First off is the surprise factor to find a place so serene and earthly just off one of the busiest parts of town. Completely hidden from the street you enter through a little tunnel to find yourself in another, peaceful, world. Also, they just serve about anything from coffee, cocktails to sandwiches and other seasonal & local mezes.. All the ingredients one needs to refuel after another day in the city, I should think!

Six D.O.G.S also often hosts one of my favorite monthly events in town: The Meet Market. If ever you're in Athens, do check out if there's one going on if you want to stock up on original art pieces, jewelry, (new & vintage) clothes from local artists and craftspeople.

Yiasemi (Athens, Greece)

While the north of Europe is experiencing spring in full bloom, in our little south-eastern corner of this continent the weather gods granted us some more chilly, grey and rainy days before the strong summer sun will make its daily appearance once again. On a dreary afternoon like this, all you need is a homely place and good company.

Yiasemi (jasmine in Greek) offers you just that. What better place to meet your friends at than one where you may sit close to the fireplace, munching on delicious home-made savory and sweet pies, drinking a coffee or even some spicy sweet rakomelo*? To make it even better, this little cafe has the most relaxed & friendly service and is located in Plaka, one of Athens' oldest neighborhoods, right under the Acropolis. I'm already anxiously awaiting warmer days to come when I'll be able to sit on Yiasemi's steps, dreaming of days gone by.

*my very favorite cold-weather-drink: warm raki mixed with spices and honey. So good.

Clean Monday (Athens, Greece)

Today it is Clean Monday in Greece. This day represents the start of the Orthodox Christian days of Lent before Easter. In Athens we celebrate this day by lovely picnics and flying kites at one of the green and beautiful hills surrounding the city: Philoppapou. The bakeries are traditionally open this day and sell on this day only Lagana, a delicious large flat bread sprinkled with sesame seeds. The bread is so popular, a huge line formed in front of our neighborhood bakery while the baker was handing out Mastic spirits (mind you, this was early morning) and small pieces of Lagana bread, hot out of the oven to the hungry crowd. Yum!

A Weekend Out (Athens, Greece)

Athens is a city which has lots to offer: history, culture, arts, food. You name it, you'll find it. And if there is one thing Athens is good at, it's entertaining its visitors. Two places I'll share with you today. Both a little outside the city centre, both equally enjoyable but each with its own distinct flavor. I apologize for the slightly dim pictures, I sometimes still struggle with my camera after dark..

The Railway Carriage Theatre 'To Treno sto Rouf' (The Train at Rouf) runs theatre and music shows in some beautifully renovated train wagons. The music wagon of today is the original restaurant wagon of the famous 'Orient Express' dating back to 1924. While enjoying a meal, a small band plays on around you in the intimate surroundings of the wagon. I haven't experienced any concert like this before and I absolutely love the concept, especially for a romantic night out. If you're in town, be sure to check out what shows are on.

Another nice stop for the weekend- but in size exactly the opposite- is the Kitchen Bar in the Kalamaki area. This spacious bar/restaurant offers coffee, drinks and American-style food. I am a big fan of the traditional Greek cafés and small taverns in the centre of Athens. But if you're looking to escape the city bustle just for a bit, the Kitchen Bar offers you a view of the bay and an island-feel from their airy and pleasant restaurant. You'll find a mixed crowd here, which makes for great people watching.

Athens International Airport (Athens, Greece)

Here is the first post by the new addition to the blog: Kim. Enjoy!

What better way to kick off my guest blog here at the Hungry Nomad than to start where most travels start: the airport! I love airports, with their air of adventure, observing all the people wondering what exotic places they might be heading while snapping a pic or two.. Mostly though, my airport experiences are the same with the occasional little treasure. My point of departure nowadays is Athens International Airport, where you may find two such treasures.

One I'd like to share with you is Korres, a Greek store offering natural and organic beauty products which to my opinion all smell delicious and come in beautifully designed packages. I simply can't choose what I like best about Korres: their philosophy on nature and beauty, their great design or perhaps just their delicious guava butter, fig body milk and spicy fragrances.

The other one is the Mastiha Shop selling products with mastiha, the resin of mastic trees growing only on the island of Chios. The resin has a long history of use and is believed to have many good qualities. Mastiha with its lovely distinct flavor and scent is used in tons of different products from ointments and liqueurs to sweets. My personal favorites are the little choco delights with mastiha. Mastiha is a favorite also outside Greece, I have tasted some scrumptious mastic desserts in Istanbul. So when you're in the neighborhood, keep an eye out for mastic treats!

The Mastiha Shop can be found only at the 'all passengers area'.  Korres stores can be found at both the 'all passengers area' and 'extra-Schengen passengers area'.  The Mastiha Shop & Korres also have stores in some major international cities around the globe such as Paris and New York and can also be found at Sephora.