Monday, July 14, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Greek Islands
For many years now, I have been traveling to the Greek Islands, with my family. Since my children were actually born. My first one traveled to Greece at 7 month old and my second at 6 months old. Since than we have been in Greece every year for the past 20 years, you can never get enough of it once you try it.
I know, that many of you have traveled to Greece and perhaps to other countries, and most countries have beautiful places. I have traveled also to other countries, and needless to say that no other country has the pull on a person as Greece does on people. Lots of you might say that Greece is becoming very expensive just like any other European country, but you can still find bargain accommodations and if you like to cook like I do, you can prepare your breakfast and lunch at your rented place and have dinner out in a neighborhood tavern for as little as 7 to 10 Euro's per person, including appetizers, a plate with starch veggies and main course, wine or beer, and Greek salad.
I will give away three of my hide aways on the Greek Islands and name you the best spots were you can still get away with a great price. My favorite Island is Skopelos which belong to the Sporadic Islands. My second hideaway is Naxos which belongs to the Cycladic Islands. My third Island is Aegina which belongs to the Argo-Saronic Islands, which is very close to the port of Pireas. These Islands are actually more visited by the Greeks, not to say that they do not have other tourists, but the balk of the people are Greeks or people who live in Greece, they know a bargain when they see one.
I am an adventures person, I just jump in things that others measure before they do something, and the reason that I say this is because I have never in the 20 years of travel to Greece, have I made accommodation reservation before arriving on an Island. I take the ferry or speed boat from main land and when I arrive on the Island many people who are renting houses or room are their waiting for the travelers who arrive by boat, and they are encouraged to see their place. If that does not work than on each main port entry to any Island they have the Greek tourism organization, or otherwise called Ministry of Tourism who has a list of accommodations and they can help you out with it. I always rent a car from Athens and I travel to the Islands with it. In this case you have the power to bargain with the owner on the nightly rate or weekly rate of the rental property.
In my next blog I will tell you were to eat and sunbath when you go to the above Greek Islands.
I know, that many of you have traveled to Greece and perhaps to other countries, and most countries have beautiful places. I have traveled also to other countries, and needless to say that no other country has the pull on a person as Greece does on people. Lots of you might say that Greece is becoming very expensive just like any other European country, but you can still find bargain accommodations and if you like to cook like I do, you can prepare your breakfast and lunch at your rented place and have dinner out in a neighborhood tavern for as little as 7 to 10 Euro's per person, including appetizers, a plate with starch veggies and main course, wine or beer, and Greek salad.
I will give away three of my hide aways on the Greek Islands and name you the best spots were you can still get away with a great price. My favorite Island is Skopelos which belong to the Sporadic Islands. My second hideaway is Naxos which belongs to the Cycladic Islands. My third Island is Aegina which belongs to the Argo-Saronic Islands, which is very close to the port of Pireas. These Islands are actually more visited by the Greeks, not to say that they do not have other tourists, but the balk of the people are Greeks or people who live in Greece, they know a bargain when they see one.
I am an adventures person, I just jump in things that others measure before they do something, and the reason that I say this is because I have never in the 20 years of travel to Greece, have I made accommodation reservation before arriving on an Island. I take the ferry or speed boat from main land and when I arrive on the Island many people who are renting houses or room are their waiting for the travelers who arrive by boat, and they are encouraged to see their place. If that does not work than on each main port entry to any Island they have the Greek tourism organization, or otherwise called Ministry of Tourism who has a list of accommodations and they can help you out with it. I always rent a car from Athens and I travel to the Islands with it. In this case you have the power to bargain with the owner on the nightly rate or weekly rate of the rental property.
In my next blog I will tell you were to eat and sunbath when you go to the above Greek Islands.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Traveling Organic
In my many years as a traveler, weather for fun or business, food was one thing that would attract me back to a place. Well truth to be said, not only food but it was and is on my priority list always. In my 30 years of travel I have visited many countries and continents, but the food that I have eaten in Greece it is truly the best for me. I tried to find a place here in the states that has at list some taste that I could related to the food in Greece. From the Chicago Greek restaurants, to New York and California to New Orleans, but I did not find the same taste. Some people say and I do agree to some degree that is not only the food that you eat, it is also were you eat it, for example if you have dinner under the Acropolis is not the same as having the same dinner in Astoria New York, even though the dish which you eat is prepared the same in both places.
But for me is more than just that, is the ingredients which goes in the dish being prepared. Fresh tomatoes home grown, no preservative, is truly a change in the taste, the same goes to any vegetable and any other item that is grown with out any chemical. This also applies to animals and live stocks. In Greece where ever you live you can find markets on the street every week once or twice were you can go and walk trough the farmers market and buy fresh vegetable and home made feta and home grown chicken for your next meal. In Greece you always try to buy fresh, even in Athens with a population of almost 5 million people, you can buy fresh, most neighborhoods have farmers markets every week at least once, and than you also have the farmers market in the center of Athens which opens daily. With everything you can imagine. Greeks obviously are more vegetarian, but they also eat meat.
In my next post more about Greece.
But for me is more than just that, is the ingredients which goes in the dish being prepared. Fresh tomatoes home grown, no preservative, is truly a change in the taste, the same goes to any vegetable and any other item that is grown with out any chemical. This also applies to animals and live stocks. In Greece where ever you live you can find markets on the street every week once or twice were you can go and walk trough the farmers market and buy fresh vegetable and home made feta and home grown chicken for your next meal. In Greece you always try to buy fresh, even in Athens with a population of almost 5 million people, you can buy fresh, most neighborhoods have farmers markets every week at least once, and than you also have the farmers market in the center of Athens which opens daily. With everything you can imagine. Greeks obviously are more vegetarian, but they also eat meat.
In my next post more about Greece.
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