Our Bedroom

Very comfortable bed!

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Some places of entertainment for young or whoever feels young in Athens

Panormou street.

Zografou.

Close to the university campus you will usually meet students in all day bars and cafes.

Exarhia

For coffee or a drink and some nice restaurants. For coffee we usually go to Podilato but for food we go to Salero.

Petralona

Thissio. You can have a drink opposite the Acropolis but if you want to try something different you should try Rakomelo in one of the cafes-bars of Iraklidon Str. Not the ones close to the Acropolis. Walk further down and you will find small cafes serving this typical greek drink. Don't miss cine thision, which has been voted as the best cinema in the world. It's one of the oldest open air cinemas in Greece. You can enjoy your drink as you see a film under the Athenian sky and the Acropolis.

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Wine bars. The new fashion in Athens! Article from The Guardian

Athens' new-school wine bars

Greece is not known for its wines, but a new crop of wine bars in Athens offers locals and tourists the chance to sample some excellent homegrown varieties

• This blogpost first appeared on the Culinary Backstreets blog

 

At Heteroclito wine bar in Athens, all of the wines served by the glass are Greek

The economic crisis that has plagued Greece for the past five years has led to changes on the Athenian culinary scene, including the opening of three new types of venues that seem to be reflective of the times. The first two – cupcake places and frozen yogurt shops – are imports from abroad, perhaps indicative of a population in need of something sweet, comforting and affordable. On the other hand, the third trend, wine bars, digs deep into Greece's roots, representing a fascinating phenomenon in a country that is one of the world's oldest wine-producing regions.

In antiquity, Greek wine was exported across the Mediterranean, and the winemaking tradition has remained strong through the millennia. Yet although there are numerous wineries around the country, in the modern era Greek wine has never achieved the place it deserves on the international market. Production levels are low and vintners have long been unsure of how to market abroad. Outside Greece, one might at best find retsina, a sweet wine infused with pine resin that's reminiscent of the wine used at Communion, or mavrodafni, a red varietal with an almost industrial flavour. But with Greeks themselves increasingly consuming wine, these days a new crop of wine bars has opened in Athens that give both locals and visitors the chance to taste some great domestic varieties.

Oinoscent (which we previously mentioned in our Athens Best Bites of 2012) was the first wine bar downtown when it opened a few years ago and is still very popular with young professionals. The atmosphere – which, unlike most bars in Athens, is strictly nonsmoking – is smart yet casual, with aluminium chairs and warm decor. (Don't forget to check out the über-sleek wine cellar downstairs.) Oinoscent's owners, two lovely brothers in their late twenties, are happy to offer informed advice in English about what to choose from the wine list. The snacks are also excellent: in addition to the barley rusks (think big, fat rustic croutons soaking in olive oil) and olives and the truly fantastic cheese platter, there is an excellent mozzarella di bufala with baby tomatoes.

The short, carefully selected wine list at Oinoscent is balanced between domestic and foreign wines, but the real adventure lies on the list's Greek side. We particularly like the Mikri Kivotos, a blend of agiorgitiko grapes from the Nemea region of the Peloponnese and xinomavro grapes from Amyntaio in northern Greece. Often characterised as Greece's merlot, xinomavro is one of the most promising Greek varieties, at once dark (mavro means black), dry and rich in flavor. If you are aiming for white, another interesting option is Magiko Vouno ("Magic Mountain"), made by Lazaridi Winery in Drama in Northern Greece. This is a popular sauvignon blanc in Greece and is an elegant, exuberant wine with fruity notes.

Oinoscent wine bar. Photograph: Manteau Stam

 

Located just off Ermou, Athens' biggest commercial street, Heteroclito (which means "heterogenous") opened its doors in late summer 2012. The place is our favourite in terms of decor: the downstairs area is like a nonsmoking French bistro, while the smoking area upstairs is an ode to 60s and 70s Athens, with mosaic floors and Danish furniture. The emphasis here is on Greek wine and Greek grape varieties, something that the owners, Madeleine and Chrysoula, are always keen to point out. Indeed, all of the wines served by the glass are Greek.

 

We loved the malagousia – one of Greece's best-known aromatic varieties, grown in both the Peloponnese and northern Greece – from Arvanitidis Winery outside Thessaloniki. This delicate, aromatic white grape had become virtually extinct by the 1980s, when Gerovassiliou Winery resuscitated it and turned it into a leading Greek wine, especially in the foreign market. Greece's dessert wine tradition is also worthy of note. Some of the country's best dessert wines are produced by a co-operative on the island of Samos. The award-winning Samos Nectar, which has a rich, sweet taste with an almost raisin-like aftertaste, is considered one of the best in its category – and, at €4 per glass, it's also a great deal.

 

There are two even newer entries to the roster of downtown Athens wine bars. By the Glass took over one of the Syntagma area's most beautiful arcades, opposite the city's Russian Orthodox church, to open a clean (no smoking allowed) bar with an interesting twist. Customers can pick and choose what they want to try and in what quantity, with glasses offered in 25ml, 75ml and 150ml. There are about 90 labels available, of which 19 are offered by the glass, making the venue a great place to taste different varieties. By the Glass attracts a somewhat older and more mature clientele.

 

Also brand-new, Harvest is located at one of our favourite street corners, where the pedestrianised Aiolou meets Evripidou, a traditional downtown trade street famous for its spices and pastirma shops. Run by the young and enthusiastic Evangelia Kontopoulou, Harvest is a place we have grown to love. The decor – funky ceramic tiles on the walls, large communal tables – is gorgeous. Thanks to both the menu and the wine list, Harvest attracts a mixed crowd, from young couples and singles to folks in their sixties. The food selection is reason enough to come here, though the tapas are on the pricy side. In our opinion, the best value-for-money items are the tostas, open grilled sandwiches served with salad on the side, of which our favourite is the one with jamón (Spanish ham) and tomato. We're also fond of the (very Spanish) fabada, a delicious mixture of white baby beans and chorizo in red sauce.

 

We imagine that in a few years from now, Athens will most likely have far fewer cupcake bakeries and frozen yogurt stands. This new crop of wine bars, on the other hand, seems like it's here to stay. We'll drink to that.

 

Note: Opening and closing times are to be taken with a grain of salt, as Athens bars close when people go home.

• Oinoscent: Voulis 45-47, Syntagma, +30 210 322 9374, Mon-Thurs noon-1am, Fri-Sat noon-2am, closed Sunday
• Heteroclito: Fokionos 2, Syntagma, +30 210 323 9406, heteroclito.gr, Mon-Thurs noon-midnight, Fri-Sat 12.30pm-1.30am, Sun 5pm-11pm
• By the Glass: Georgiou Souri 3, Syntagma, +30 210 323 2560, Mon-Thurs 8pm-late, Sat 10pm-late, Sun 11pm-late (closing time depends on business)
• Harvest: Aiolou 64, downtown, +30 213 025 2284, 7pm-2am

This is an article from our Guardian Travel Network. To find out more about it, click here

 

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Personally we have been to WINE POINT which is close to the Acropolis Museum and we had a great time.   

 

The decoration is very cosy and its list contains a variety of very good greek wines in very good prices. The wine we chose was one with my favourite variety called Malagouzia. When we went there was also a very good guitarist who played and sang 80s greek rock music. We would definitely recommend it!

WINE POINT
A.Diakou & Porinou 2, Athens, GR.
21 0922 7050
http://www.winepoint.gr
https://el-gr.facebook.com/Winepoint.Athens.

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DINING ROOM

As soon as you get in our apartment you see the dining table.  I think it's the place with the most positive energy as we have placed on the table volcanic stones from Santorini island.

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Musical Evenings at the Acropolis Museum

For those who will be in Athens these days, here is a promising musical event.

‘Traditional Songs of Ireland’: A musical encounter with songs of Ireland; a country with a great musical tradition. Songs will be sung in both Irish and English, addressing themes of love, migration, country life and happiness. Performance: Labri Giotto (piano, vocal) and George Tsimbouksis (guitar). This musical event is held with the kind support of the Embassy of Ireland in Greece, on the occasion of the Irish 2013 Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

More information:
http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/content/musical-evenings


The Acropolis Museum is 5 metro stops (lines 1 and 2) or 6 metro stops (line 2) from our house (aprx 12 minutes). 


Extra Tip

Every Friday, the Acropolis Museum remains open until 10 p.m. and the restaurant is open until 12 midnight with a special menu based on classical and traditional recipes, giving particular emphasis on local products from regional Greece.

 http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/content/cafe-restaurant

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Our living room

Welcome to our living room!

 

This is me in our living room in September. The weather was still very warm and the windows were open. September is a very nice season to visit Greece, as it is out of season, prices are low and the weather is still warm. For tourists coming from the north I would say that September is the best season as the weather is warm enough to go to the sea but it doesn't tire you.

 

 

 

 This is our living room in winter. There is a red carpet down the floor. The heating is central but apart from that there is air conditioner in the room and we are always warm in winter or cool in summer.

 

For those who love music, apart from CDs with greek music you can also play the piano. 

 

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Greek cookies - Moustokouloura

In Greek: μουστοκούλουρα, say: moo-stoh-KOO-loo-rah

An Authentic Greek Recipe

These cookies are a tasty accompaniment for your coffee or tea. They have the distinctive taste of must - which is taken from the pressed grapes before it is made into wine - and a hint of cinnamon. You can make them either soft or crispy, depending on your preference.

Ingredients

250g sugar

170g grape must

150g extra virgin olive oil

200g water

9g ammonium bicarbonate

9g cinnamon

1 kg soft flour

4g baking powder

4g soda powder

 Preparation

Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl to form a pliable dough, without over handling the dough.

Cover it with cling film and leave in the fridge to rest for 30 minutes.

On a slightly floured surface shape the dough into circular cookies (see photo) and place them in a shallow buttered oven dish.

If you want the moustokouloura to be soft, cover them with aluminium foil, making a few holes in the foil with a fork and keep them covered for 10 minutes after they have been baked.

If you want them to be crispy, then leave them uncovered.

In both cases bake them in a pre heated oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.

I found the recipe on http://realgreekrecipes.blogspot.gr/2008/10/greek-must-cookies-moustokouloura.html. You can find more greek recipes there.

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Decoding the Antecythera Mechanism - National Archeological Museum of Athens

One of the highlights of the national museum is the antecythera mechanism. It is considered the first computer in the man's history.

The Antikythera mechanism is displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, accompanied by a reconstruction made and donated to the museum by Derek de Solla Price. Our apartment is 1,6 km away from the national archaeological museum. It usually takes me 20 minutes to go there on foot.

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Our Kitchen

Our kitchen is 12 square metres. It's a big room and there is a cooker with the oven, a fridge and a washing machine. In the middle of the room there is a table of four seats which is extended to 6-8 seats if you want.  There are all kinds of saucepans you can use, and a variety of cutlery. There are also plenty of recipes for traditional greek food if you want to try some.

In the area you can find a big super market 7 min walking and two mini markets 3-4 minutes walking distance. There is also a butcher's, a chemist's and a bakery in 2 minutes walking distance. Next to them there is a petrol station in case you rent a car. In that case you can find plenty of free parking space.

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Greek breakfrast

Greek diet is considered one of the best diets in the world according to UNESCO and having brought up with a mother coming from a village I can assure you that all Greek meals are extremely healthy. One main reason is that the climate helps for the cultivation of highly nutritious agricultural products. Most Greeks who live in cities have some relatives or their own fields in villages therefore they have access to some kind of vegetables, fruit or olives/olive oil which I can assure you is the best in the world. Our relatives often send us oranges and olive oil but we also make marmelades from fruit of my mother's garden.

Greek breakfast is usually very simple but very nutritious. Ours contain milk or greek coffee, bread with honey -a family friend has beehives and we get some excellent honey from Igoumenitsa- Sometimes we eat yoghurt with honey and some dry fruit and some other times we eat cheese.There are times that we prefer greek cookies. My favourite are moustokoyloura. I will find the recipe and I will post it later.



We like bread in the morning or fryganies (rusks.) Home made sandwiches with ham cheese (I prefer graviera) and vegetables are very common. Cheesepie and Spinachpie is another option or if you want something sweet bougatsa (cream pie) is delicious and perfectly combined with greek coffee.



For those who are going to stay in our apartment we can give a list of shops or producers where they can buy local products from. We can also show them where we usually buy food from near our house so that they can get a local taste.

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Bathroom

There is one bathroom in our apartment. It was rennovated in 2004. There is the wash basin, the toilet and a shower.  

The photos have been taken with a mobile phone so the quality is not that good but you can get an idea.

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Thission

One of our favourite strolls is in Thission area. The metro station there is old and it reminds me of my childhood.

Thission is the area around the Temple of Hephaestus. On the one side you can go to Monastiraki  and the Agora of Athens but if you go up the hill you can stroll on a pedestrian route along Apostolou Pavlou. Both walks are very enjoyable. In summers we usually go to the open summer cinema called Thission which is unique in Athens, but in winter we usually walk up to one cafe of the so many in the area.

You can read more about the cinema Cine Thission best in the world by CNN.



There is a nice site wih walks around Athens you might find useful http://www.athensinfoguide.com/walk3.htm

The cafes around the Acropolis are quite expensive but if you choose one further away you will find better prices.

When we go around the area we go down Iraklidon Rd which leads to a nice pedestrian area with cafes and we usually drink rakomelo a warm mixed alcoholic drink. If you don't like alcohol do not try it, as it is quite strong.



After that we head for Agia Marina church. The view is very nice.



Our apartment is 5 stops to Thission by line 1 metro. If you take a taxi it might cost 4-5 euros.

Metro Map


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Ready for coffee?

What we usually like doing after a good meal is a strong espresso. There is a coffee maker for cappuccino and espresso, a coffee maker for american coffee as well as a "briki" for making greek coffee. If you don't know how we can leave instructions on how to make it.

Although the rest of the house is rennovated the kitchen has been kept in the original plan. By looking at the tiles in the kitchen you can get an idea of what the design was in Athens in the late 60s.

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Our Christmas Tree

We wish you happy holidays. Let's hope that 2013 will be full of joy and health.

Our Christmas Tree is in the living room next to the balcony door. The one wall of the living room is yellowish and the curtains are in white and light blue colours.

Next to the Christmas Tree you can see the TV. It's a TV with decoder that means that we can see MP4 channels.

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