Anastasia

Easter With The Family in Greece

Spending Easter with Alkis' family in Greece has always been a wonderful holiday to look forward to and a great family get-together. On Thursday, May 2, we flew to Thessaloniki feeling excited about meeting family and friends who we hadn't seen for a year. Thanasis, Alkis' youngest brother, picked us up at Macedonia Airport and drove us to Serres, Alkis' hometown, which lies at about 83 km from Thessaloniki. In about an hour, we arrived in Serres and checked in at Philippos Xenia Hotel - our favourite hotel in Serres. Soon after check-in, which was amazingly fast and efficient, we realised that we were starving as we only had a snack on the plane. Late lunch at Ouzomagies was very rewarding! I fast during the Holy Week and was pleasantly surprised to see the variety of lenten dishes available at the tavern. There's one thing I regret, though. I was so hungry that I forgot to take photos of all the great food we had there. Later in the evening we had dinner at the hotel's splendid roof garden restaurant with Zoe - Thanasis' daughter - her husband Stratos and their beautiful daughters - six-year-old Maria who's already been to Primary School and can read very well and four-year-old Alkistis, our goddaughter.

The Tower in Thessaloniki

This is what we woke to the following morning.

Serres

Serres

Serres

At Philippos Xenia Hotel, we had a beautiful, spacious room overlooking the back yard. This was only a small part of the evergreen city of Serres. We rented a car and soon after breakfast we explored the surrounding countryside. Serres boasts the most beautiful countryside in Northern Greece, off the beaten track. The park at Eleftherias Square in the city centre matches the beauty of the country. We enjoyed coffee and bougatsa there and just before lunch an ouzomeze   

Serres

Alkis in his hometown Serres

Serres - City Centre

The Archaeological Museum in Serres

Ai Yiannis - Serres

Ai Yiannis - Serres

On Easter Day, May 5, we had the perfect traditional Greek Easter lunch at Gazoros - a small village at about 25 km from the city of Serres.  Thanasis proved to be a master at making the traditional ovelias- lamb on the spit. Alkis was just a ...sous-chef (under-chef) and was only trying to help! The result was simply delicious!

Thanasis, my brother-in-law, cooking ovelias - lamb on the spit

Ovelias and Thanasis

Thanasis - Just Perfect..or not?

Some more ...cooking

what a feast!

The Lamb!

Alkis as a sous-chef was only trying to help!

The two brothers have finally agreed that the Easter Lamb is...just perfect!

Alkis and his nephew, Konstantinos

The Family

On Easter Monday, we left Serres for beautiful Thessaloniki - also known as the nymph of Thermaikos. We stayed at Macedonia Palace Hotel which we didn't really like and  regretted not booking Electra Palace, but we got better prices at Macedonia Palace. We got a double room for €100 a day vs €170 at Electra but it wasn't good value for money, anyway.  However, this did not spoil our holiday.  We'll simply not go back again!

Macedonia Palace

Alkis and I walked along Nikis Avenue to Aristotelous Square and had a great dinner just the two of us at Roumeli Tavern by Athonos Square. Walking back to the hotel was an invigorating experience after all the great food we had there. 

A Stroll in Thessaloniki

Dinner at Roumeli Tavern

Roumeli Taverna - Athonos- Thessaloniki

On Easter Tuesday, we were invited for lunch by our great friends Irini and Stelios at Scholari - situated at about 25km from Thessaloniki . This is where I met Aspa - a wonderful person who I consider to be a wonderful friend now, even though I've only known her for a few hours!

Stelios, Irini, Me, Aspa and Asterios

Stelios, Alkis, Asterios

 We had  such a great time there and enjoyed it  so much.  Irini proved to be a top chef but we also loved the men's cooking,... like the baby goat on the spit. I know Stelios contributed a lot but my congratulations go to Asterios! Believe it or not, we had a huge dinner at Anestis Tavern in Perea, Thessaloniki. We were invited by Antonis - Alkis' cousin - and his wife Irini. And we still had a lot to eat and drink.

Macedonia Palace

Wednesday morning was shopping day. Thessaloniki made me reconsider shopping in Athens! In the evening, we had another great dinner at Roumeli Tavern with Antonis and  Irini.

Alkis in Thessaloniki

A few years ago, I was quite reluctant to spend Easter with Alkis's family in Greece. I thought I'd feel a stranger being from Cyprus. But his wonderful family made me feel I'm part of them. I would like to thank everyone for their wonderful hospitality and for making me feel at home. 

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.

If you love travel (just like Henry Rollins does), share this note...

Larnaca

via www.kimmi8.com

Foreign travel broadens the mind and gives us the chance to learn about other cultures and civilizations, make new friends and, why not, learn a new language. After all, the world is nothing but a global village and travelling doesn't always cost a fortune.

How to Pack Efficiently by Louis Vuitton

The Art of Packing by Louis Vuitton Shows You How to Pack Efficiently

Melanie Pinola

Packing efficiently may well be considered an art. This interactive guide to packing from Louis Vuitton can teach you a few tips and tricks for maximizing your suitcase space and folding your clothes to reduce wrinkles.

 

You'll find step-by-step guides to packing clothes and accessories for both men and women, and can choose between a trunk, rolling suitcase, or carry-on bag (all LV luggage examples, naturally, but you can adapt the tips to any kind of luggage). The webapp highlights which pieces to pack first (e.g., heavy toiletries) and shows you the best way to fold clothes. For example, click on the shirt to button it up, turn it over, fold in the sleeves, and unfold the collar to make it ready for packing.

While we've featured lots of other tips for packing perfectly for a trip before, this is a fun visual guide that covers a range of items.

via lifehacker.com

Such a great guide!

July

July 1969 was one of the sweetest and most adventurous summer holidays I've ever had. I was 11 years old then and had been looking forward to discovering Europe for months! Dad had planned everything quite in advance. The only booking he had made was our cabin on  the ship - The City of Athens - advertised as a luxury vessel offering elegance and sophistication to all her guests and connecting Lemesos, Cyprus to Pireus, Greece - something like The Titanic! After a long delay at the port of Lemesos, we were welcomed on board The City of Athens - a warship, really, transformed into some kind of an ... ocean liner!!  No sooner had the ship sailed off than a terrible storm broke out and all passengers spent the night in their cabins, feeling seasick. I think I was the only passenger NOT to be seasick. As the storm got worse the following morning, our captain said that we had to stop at the nearest port which was the island of Rhodes. From there Olympic Airways.....safely flew us to Athens. However, just before landing, we were given instructions for.... bracing position and emergency landing! Hence my fear of flying!

We spent three days in Athens , sightseeing - that was the first time I visited the Parthenon and was so thrilled! Then we all went to Pireus where The City of Athens had finally arrived.  Dad had loaded the car on the ship. From Athens , Dad drove us across Europe: Thessaloniki - ex-Yugoslavia- Austria - Germany - Switzerland - France - Italy and back to Greece by ferry from Brindisi. It was a memorable 3-week trip - one I'm not likely ever to forget. I'd always carry all the great photos my parents had taken. Unfortunately, I lost them all in Famagusta during the Turkish Invasion in July 1974 

In the ensuing years, I had the chance to travel across Europe again and re-discover  the charm and treasures of an amazing continent.  

What's the most memorable trip you've ever taken?

Weekend at Protaras and the Fire Show at the Golden Coast Hotel

 

Situated on the east coast of Cyprus, Protaras covers approximately 5km of the golden Famagusta Coastline. Protaras flourished into a charming tourist resort in the 1980s as a more sophisticated alternative to the buzzing and wild atmosphere of its neighbouring town; Agia Napa (located 7 km west of Protaras).

Saint Nicolas Chapel

Before becoming a tourist resort, Protaras was essentially uninhabited; the area was mostly covered by a multitude of windmills, some of which still stand, adding to the character of the Protaras landscape. Artefacts uncovered during recent excavations dating back to the Greco-Roman era (58 BC - 395 AD) suggest the land where Protaras now exists may have been the ancient town of Lefkola, notable in those times for its hustling port.

The Fishing Harbour

Protaras became an idyllic holiday resort largely due to the beautiful sandy beaches in its vicinity. There are several excellent beaches, each developed to appeal to a particular type of holidaymaker. For instance, the main beach “Fig Tree Bay”, regarded as one of the most popular beaches on the island, offers a wide range of water-sports, while to the north of the coastline, the tranquil waters of Skoutari Beach, make for great snorkelling.

The Fishing Harbour

Protaras is particularly apt for package-holidays owing to the impressive array of hotels that have been built in the area since not many people actually reside in this town. Some hotels are enormous comprising several swimming pools and have been purpose-built to fulfil their guests’ every need. The "All-inclusive" deals at these hotels often cover the use of deluxe sports facilities such as tennis courts, gymnasiums and spas.

The Golden Coast Hotel Beach

The Golden Coast Hotel has been my favourite hotel in the area since it was built in 1986. Every summer, I spend at least a weekend there. Following tradition, I spent this weekend at The Golden Coast which also boasts one of the island's most attractive bays. This is where I look forward to having the first swim of the year in early June which marks the beginning of summer.

The Golden Coast Beach

It was a quiet and peaceful weekend during which I had the chance to relax and unwind after a hectic week at work.  Last night, after dinner, Alkis and I had the pleasure to watch the fire show right on the beach. It was an impressive show with real fire and excellent dancers. I really can't wait to go back to the Golden Coast Hotel, hopefully soon.

Fire Show on the Beach - The Golden Coast Hotel

The amazing fire show at the Golden Coast Hotel

Photos and Video by Anastasia Marou

Blogging in the Sunshine

Having spent a wonderful holiday in Serres and Thessaloniki, here I am relaxing at home on this last day of the Easter break. Since Alkis and I flew back home on Thursday, I've been looking at all the photos we took, bringing back so many wonderful moments of what was probably the best Easter holiday I've ever spent in recent years. 

I slept in today and missed most of the sunshine that flooded my terrace, but I did enjoy breakfast outside and blogging in the remaining sunshine of this bright Sunday in Larnaca.  Since we came back from Greece, I've been mostly sleeping or lazing around, unpacking and doing the laundry. It's funny how much laundry can pile up after a week away!  I don't have a tumble drier, so I was really thankful for the sunshine today which, apart from drying up laundry, also inspired this post!!

 

Exploring the Greek Islands

Blue Caves - Zakynthos 2002

Since my childhood, I've been fascinated by the unique beauty of the Greek islands and seduced by their magic charm which I can't really define. Is it the immense blue of the Aegean, the amazing archaeological sites, the secluded sandy bays you can only reach by boat, the seaside tavernas where you can choose the fish from the fisherman's basket, the breathtaking views of white houses perched on evergreen hills and overlooking a golden beach, the hospitality of the islanders ? Whatever it is, I can't imagine choosing a different destination for a summer holiday.

 
Agios Nicolaos - Crete 2005

Greece and the Greek Islands

Skiathos 2005

Rhodes 2006

Kefalonia 2008

There are over 6000 islands and islets in Greece but only 227 are inhabited - 78 of those islands count 100 inhabitants. Some Greek islands have become the pole of attraction for many celebrities from all over the world - Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Skiathos but also Crete and Rhodes. In the last ten years or so, Alkis and I have been to five islands but also in Halkidiki and twice in Alexandroupolis in mainland Greece.

Halkidiki 2003

Alexandroupolis 2007

Alkis and I are soon heading for yet another Greek island. I won't disclose the destination right now, but I promise to tell you everything once we are back and show you lots of photos and, hopefully, a video.

Have you ever been to a Greek island? What did you like about it? What didn't you like? 

Relaxing in Protaras

Protaras is by far my most favourite summer resort in Cyprus and, more generally, in the eastern Mediterranean. With 300 days of sunshine, golden sandy beaches, clear waters, great hotels and a myriad of restaurants and bars, it's no wonder why European holidaymakers flock to Protaras every summer. For the party animals, Ayia Napa nearby (about 16 km) boasts the best clubs where you can dance into the small hours.

Situated at about 64 km east of Larnaca, Protaras is a tourist village - just a breath away from Ammochostos (Famagusta) - illegally occupied by Turkish forces for 37 years now.  Protaras occupies about 5km of the golden Ammochostos coastline. Having lost Kyrenia and Ammochostos - our two greatest summer resorts during the Turkish Invasion in July 1974, we had to do something in order to revive our economy which largely depends on tourism. Or else we'd die. The Greek miracle happened again and Protaras was created in the early 80s out of nothing in those difficult years following what I call "the war of the cowards." The Turks,you see, unlike Hitler, did not declare war!!!

The main reason why Protaras is my favourite summer resort in Cyprus is because it reminds me of my beloved Ammochostos where I used to spend my summer holidays as a child and as an adolescent. What's more, after a long school year and long hours at work, I took the time to relax and unwind and enjoy the sun and the sea and those gorgeous sandy beaches!