Anastasia

Paphos - January 2013

It's amazing how this holiday season has just flown by. A Christmas holiday in London and a few days in Paphos to welcome the New Year were more than enough for me to relax, recharge the batteries and begin the new term at school tomorrow. After London where Alkis and I spent a lot of time walking, catching buses and trains, sightseeing, shopping and going out, our short holiday in Paphos, on the western coast, was peaceful and very relaxing.  Paphos is one of my most favourite holiday destinations in Cyprus as it combines  the unspoilt beauty of tranquil beaches and the hustle and bustle of a small, touristy town. In winter, however, there are few tourists and it's much quieter. Once more, we stayed at Coral Bay Beach Hotel overlooking Coral Bay - one of the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus. 

Coral Bay - Paphos

On our way to Coral Bay (Pegeia Village) at about 150 km from Larnaca, we  had lunch at Captain's Fish Tavern at the village of Pissouri. Both the food and the service are excellent and prices are very reasonable. 

Captain's Fish Tavern - Pissouri

Pissouri Beach

Captain's Fish Tavern - Pissouri

Pissouri Beach

The weather was a bit whimsical: Sunny days and blue skies were soon replaced by storms, strong winds and torrential rain. The whims of the weather, however,  did not spoil our high spirits not for one moment.

Coral Bay: Before the storm

Paphos- Pegeia - Coral Bay: After the storm

On our first night at Coral Bay, we had dinner at the Japanese restaurant Samisen - not far from our hotel. On a cold, rainy night, Miso soup with chicken was the perfect starter. I also loved their maki, sushimi and teppanyaki  salmon served with rice and vegetables. If you like Japanese food and  happen to be in the area, give it a try. You won't regret it.  After such a great dinner, we enjoyed our drinks in the festive and romantic atmosphere of the bar at Coral Bay Beach Hotel.

Miso Soup - Samisen Japanese Restaurant

Maki - Samisen Japanese Restaurant

Teppanyaki Salmon and Fresh Vegetables - Samisen Japanese Restaurant

Banana Tempura for Dessert - Samisen Japanese Restaurant

And a show for fun - Samisen Japanese Restaurant

Coral Beach Hotel - The Bar

(Sorry my flash didn't go off in the last photo)

Today is the last holiday for the Greeks.  On the stroke of January 6th, the "twelve days of Christmas" officially come to an end. This day takes on a special meaning in Greece and Cyprus. All over the world, the Greek orthodox observe the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, in the river Jordan. The Greek word for Epiphany is Theophania meaning the "appearance of God" referring to the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. According to tradition, we eat fish on January 6th, which reminds me that  I definitely need to go back to healthy eating habits after having indulged in copious meals and desserts for two weeks now! Grilled salmon and a salad sound great for lunch today. 

Christmas in London

I've been often told that Christmas in London is magical. But mainly because of my fear of flying, I've never felt brave enough to fly for more than 4 hours. The last time I visited London was for a very sad reason, soon after my graduation from the University of Geneva 30 years ago.  I had severe health problems with my gallbladder then - originally diagnosed as cancer. Fortunately enough, the surgery proved something really incredible for Dr Glazer - the surgeon who had operated on my gallbladder back in June 1982. Thousands of tiny bladder stones looked like a tumor. That was because I had been drinking too much cola for years - about 6-7 litres daily. I still remember my last day at Saint Mary's Hospital. My last meal at the hospital was a juicy steak with chips and vegetables and a pint of cola. Dr Glazer was there when the nurse brought the meal. I was delighted to see the cola and grabbed the glass to drink it all  in one go. Dr Glazer stopped me and said: " Anastasia, drink it very slowly, enjoy it, because it's your last one!" Well, I burst into tears not believing that I'd never drink coke again. 

 

Big Ben

Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament

 

This Christmas, Alkis surprised me with a trip to London and ...how could I say no to such a wonderful gift? I was determined to make an effort to control my fear of flying and forget all about my first visit , which was mostly spent in hospital. This time,  I had a great Christmas holiday in London. Indeed, London is truly magical at Christmas!

 

Christmas Day-Chancery Court Hotel

Christmas Day-Chancery Court Hotel

 

 

Covent Garden - Christmas Tree

 

 

Oxford Street

Flying over London

Christmas Day Gala Dinner

 

 

Pearl Restaurant - Christmas day Gala Dinner

Tower of London

Makarios III and me at Madame Tussaud's

Oxford Street

From left to right:: President Kennedy, Alkis, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi at Madame Tussaud's

 

 

Covent Garden

Covent Garden

 

 

Westminster Abbey

 

Where do I start to tell the story of so much charm?  Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, Covent Garden, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, London Eye, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Waterloo, Trafalgar Square and Piccadily Circus, shopping at Harrod's and Selfridge's, lunch at those good old traditional London pubs, the Chancery Court Hotel at Holborn, the double-deck red buses, Tate Modern, the South Bank, and that amazing fun day at Madame Tussaud's....and that endless rainy London weather! London is truly magical at Christmas and at all times.

White Christmas in Cyprus

With temperatures rising to 27C in mid November, who would  expect snow in Cyprus a month later? Since Thursday, it's been snowing on Troodos, almost uninterruptedly. Right slap in the middle of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus towers Mt Olympus. At just under 2000m it's able to collect enough snowfall from late December to March to have its own resort.

 

Troodos

 

Originally built and operated by the British army after the Second World War, the 60's saw the Cyprus Ski Club take over the resort and have since installed more lifts and expanded the terrain. It's about an hour drive from Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol and a short drive from Troodos village. The snow doesn't tend to last too long once on the ground, with rocks showing through after about four days without snow. However when the snow is good, there are a few trees to board through. The 4- drag lifts are old but seem to keep going all season without a hitch.

 

Troodos

 

The slopes can be busy at the weekends and holidays, but it's normally extremely quiet during the week with just a few people on the slopes. Locals are only just beginning to  take up snowboarding and up till now, ski equipment has been available to rent at the store situated next to the cafe adjacent to the 'sun valley' run.

 

Troodos

 

 

Troodos

 

In my area, on the southern coast, it was freezing early this morning, but I thouroughly enjoyed an early-morning jog along Mackenzie Beach. It was 8 degrees Celcius at 7:30 am today, and couldn't believe that there was one person swimming in the sea!

 

Mackenzie Beach this morning

 

I'll be away on holiday for the next two weeks and I know I'll miss you! May the bright, twinkling lights upon your Christmas tree - natural or artificial -  reflect positivity and happiness in your life throughout the year. Merry Christmas!

O Christmas Tree!

Since my early childhood, Christmas has been magical to me.  Much of the magic was in mum's delicious cooking. I can still smell the clove and cinnamon in mum's kitchen , the delicious dishes she'd prepare for the family using her imagination and creative talent in cooking. But what really excited me most was the Christmas Tree.

Mum's Edible Christmas tree!!!

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, we weren't allowed to cut down Christmas trees because there were few in Cyprus and they should stand in their natural habitat. So we usually had a cypress or pine tree for Christmas as artificial trees were scarce in those days. Nowadays, many natural Christmas trees are cut down and sold at soaring prices! This is why I prefer artificial to natural Christmas trees.

 

My brother and me - Christmas 1961

 

 

Christmas 1992 at home

 

Christmas 2012

Economically, artificial trees can be easier on your wallet. For the cost of a single large natural tree, you can purchase an artificial tree that looks the same but will last for several holiday seasons. I believe that all living creatures should live in their natural habitat, including trees. So if they look the same, cost less, can be used year after year, and can prevent natural trees from being chopped down, we should all  be lining up to purchase an artificial tree this year.

 

What's your choice? Artificial or natural Christmas tree?

Decorating for Christmas

So far December has been a pleasantly hectic month both at home and at the work place. Apart from marking tests and compositions, I spent last weekend decorating the school and getting it ready for our Christmas party on December 21st. It's also the time when my junior students learn to sing Christmas Carols in English. I love my Junior A's sense of achievement  when they can finally sing Jingle Bells in English.

The Christmas tree in the living room and Santa with Rudolph

 

This week end, I've been decorating at home. It's the first time in years that Alkis has taken a few days off work and helped me put up the lamps in our Christmas tree! I really enjoy decorating for Christmas! In fact, I am a Christmas freak!  I always decorate two Christmas trees at home - a big one in the living-room and a small one in my study room, right next to my computer.

 

Christmas tree in my study room at home

The Festive Fireplace

..... and candles

My Christmas living room

 

 

...and the dining room

 

Monday's Greek Recipe - Melomakarona and Kourabiedes - Greek Christmas Cookies

Christmas is round the corner and that time of year again in Greece and Cyprus to feel the divine smell of homemade Christmas sweets like kourabiedes and melomakarona. Despite my very busy schedule at work, I made time and baked some. But I used  different recipes this year - easy to bake - and just as delicious.Well, my melomakarona are a bit bigger than normal but it's the taste that counts after all.

A. MELOMAKARONA - HONEY COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 3 cups pure sunflower oil
• 8 cups flour
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/2 a cup brandy
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tbs cinnamon and clove powder
• 5-6 tbs baking powder
• 1 tbs salt

For the syrup

• 1 cup honey
• 1.5 cup water
• 1.5 cup sugar

DIRECTIONS

• Add all the ingredients in a bowl and mix them well together. The dough must feel oily.
• Form round or oblong shapes and put them in a pan. Do not butter the pan!
• Bake for about 30 minutes.
• When they're cold enough prepare the syrup as follows: Boil the honey, water and sugar till they get foamy. Put the melomakarona in the hot syrup for about 15-20 seconds, drain them and then wrap them in the crushed walnuts mixed with cinnamon.

B. KOURABIEDES - GREEK CHRISTMAS COOKIES

  

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2  tbs brandy
• 1 cup blanched almonds roasted and finely chopped

To Finish

• 1 cup icing sugar
• rose water

Directions

• Beat the butter and the sugar together in the blender and add the egg yolks and the brandy.
• Gradually add the flour and the baking powder.
• Using a spoon mix the almonds.
• Take small amounts of dough snd shape in round , oblong or crescent shapes.
• Place them in a non-stick unbuttered pan and bake in a medium oven for 30-40 minutes.
• When they are cold enough sprinkle them with rosewater and wrap them in icing sugar.

 

This post was originally published in December 2009

HAPPY CHRISTMAS !

 

Kala Xristougenna - Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2011 at the Golden Bay Beach Hotel, Larnaca

Naturally, Santa was there too!

Christmas at the Golden Bay Beach Hotel has always been a unique experience but it seems to me that this Christmas it's been the best ever in more ways than one.  Everything was just perfect: the decor, the music, the joyful festive atmosphere and the food! My mother and I joined Alkis early in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, had a light snack and then went up to our rooms to take a nap and get ready for the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner while Alkis went back to work. After a hectic week at the school which ended merrily with the Christmas party on Friday afternoon,  it was the best way for me to start my Christmas break.

The Christmas Eve menu was an amazing, gastronomic experience as the Executive Chef went out of his way to create .... works of art. Here's what the 6-course festive menu consisted of:

Smoked salmon pancake roulade with prawns and caviar cream for starters.

Chicken Cream Soup with Almond Crumble

Duck Rillettes with Red Onions and Mandarin Refish followed by an Orange Sherbet with Cointreau to refresh the palate.

Roast Turkey Rolls with Liver and Pine Nuts Stuffing and Foie Gras Sauce married with Wild Pork Loin with Pheasant Cream Mousse , Vegetables and Potato Amanti.

Baked Cheese and Chestnut Tart Light Chocolate Parfait with Cinnamon Cream and Rasberry Coulis.

...followed by coffee and sweet bites

Apart from the food, I was particularly impressed by the Home Band who played Christmas melodies throughout this exquisite dinner and later  helped us....burn some of the calories on the dance floor! 

We even got Christmas weather and white Christmas for all those who celebrated high up in the mountains of Troodos. On Larnaca Bay, we got strong winds and  downpours on Christmas Eve, overcast skies and some sunny intervals on Christmas Day.

How was your Christmas? 

On Christmas Eve

Me and My Brother in 1962

Christmas Eve invariably brings back happy memories of my childhood and adolescence.  As a child, I remember Dad getting us a tall pine tree - there were hardly any artificial Christmas trees in those days - and all the family together would help to put it up and decorate it. In the evening, mum prepared a special dinner of various snacks which we all enjoyed by the fireplace while listening to Christmas carols, often singing along. At 10 o'clock, both my brother and I had to go to bed or else Santa wouldn't visit. Terrified at the thought, we both went to bed on time after making sure there was some milk and Mum's delicious Christmas cookies by the tree for Santa.  

Then one rainy Christmas Eve, my five-year-old brother had a great idea: " How about waiting for Santa to come? It's raining and he might get wet.  We can dry his boots and clothes by the ashes of the fireplace while he's enjoying the milk and cookies! " I was only eight  but still believed in Santa... yet I had my doubts. " What if Santa doesn't visit? Mum and Dad said he'd never visit if we are awake!"  "Yes, but Mum and Dad would be very proud of us when we explain that we just wanted Santa to leave us in dry clothes!" , my brother replied. That was the end of a dream. We hid behind the curtains only to find out that Santa was ...Mum and Dad! They didn't even drink the milk or eat the cookies!

As a teenager, I was weird! I sometimes loved Christmas and sometimes hated it! Yet on Christmas Eve, I'd always look forward to the pine tree, mum's cooking and the presents, of course. I was 14 years old when ....Santa brought me a typewriter!!! I used to type all my school work as well as my Diary entries.  A few months later, on my birthday, my parents offered me a typing course. I never missed a lesson! To this day, I can type my posts without looking at the keyboard.

My most embarrassing Christmas Eve was in 1981.  I was still a student in Geneva, Switzerland when I decided to invite a few friends over. I promised them all that I'd cook .... le canard  à l'orange  - a  traditional French dish in which the duck is roasted and served with an orange sauce as well as with glazed chestnuts . Needless to say, I had no idea how to cook this and there was no Internet at the time.  Alkis was just a student at the hotel school , then, but he saved my bacon ! He glazed the chestnuts and the carrots beautifully, roasted the duck in my mini oven stove and made me feel I was the queen of Swiss- French   gastronomy! He also MADE  a Christmas log for dessert! This  Holiday Season , Alkis works on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day but I'm glad to spend these days with him at the hotel . Soon after the Holiday Season, we are going away on a short Winter holiday.

 

Silent Night

In 1818, a roving band of actors was performing in towns throughout the Austrian Alps. On December 23 they arrived at Oberndorf, a village near Salzburg where they were to perform the story of Christ's birth in the small Church of St. Nicholas.
     Unfortunately, the St. Nicholas' church organ wasn't working and would not be repaired before Christmas. (Note: some versions of the story point to mice as the problem; others say rust was the culprit) Because the church organ was out of commission, the actors presented their Christmas drama in a private home. Even so, that Christmas presentation put assistant pastor Josef Mohr in a meditative mood. Instead of walking straight to his house that night, Mohr took a longer way home. The longer path took him up over a hill overlooking the village.
     From that hilltop, Mohr looked down on the peaceful snow-covered village. Reveling in majestic silence of the wintry night, Mohr gazed down at the glowing scene. His thoughts about the Christmas play suddenly made him remember a poem he had written a couple of years before. It was a poem about the night when angels announced the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to shepherds on a hillside.
     Mohr decided those words would make a good carol for his congregation the following evening at their Christmas eve service. However, he didn't have any music to which that poem could be sung. So, the next day Mohr went to see the church organist, Franz Xaver Gruber. Gruber only had a few hours to come up with a melody which could be sung with a guitar. However, by that evening, Gruber had managed to compose a musical setting for the poem. It no longer mattered that their church organ was broken. They now had a Christmas carol they could sing without it.
     On Christmas Eve, the little Oberndorf congregation heard Gruber and Mohr sing their new composition to the accompaniment of Gruber's guitar.
     Weeks later, well-known organ builder Karl Mauracher arrived to fix the St. Nicholas church organ. When he finished, Mauracher stepped back to let Gruber test the instrument. When Gruber sat down, his fingers began playing the simple melody he had written for Mohr's Christmas poem. Deeply impressed, Mauracher took the music and words of "Silent Night" back to his own Alpine village, Kapfing. There, two well-known families of singers -- the Rainers and the Strassers -- heard it. Captivated by "Silent Night," both groups put the new song into their Christmas season repertoire.

Let's sing along with Neil Diamond!

 

Should you wish to watch this video and sing along, please click pause on my electronic ipod!

13 Days to Christmas - Christmas Traditions in Cyprus

Christmas in Cyprus is traditionally a solemn, religious holiday. Throughout  the festivities, there is no doubt that Cyprus  honours our Lord. Beautiful carols called "kalanda" have been handed down from Byzantine times and add to the reverent quality of the celebration. On Christmas Eve children go from door to door with "triangles" and sometimes flutes and  sing: "Christos Gennatai Simeron" (Christ is born today) They usually get some money or candies . Turkeys and the Christmas cake  have invaded Greek Cypriot Christmas traditions since the British rule in the 1950s. For many Cypriots the holiday is preceded by a time of fasting. 

 

Nowadays, most Cypriots celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home with the family. We usually roast turkey stuffed with rice, raisins and chicken giblets and serve it with cranberry sauce, vegetables and potatoes. Then comes the Christmas Cake, Melomakarona , Kourabiedes and coffee with brandy or liqueur if desired. 

How do you celebrate Christmas in your part of the world?