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 I could eat Greek salad every
day by mapakettle
Dolmades - vine leaves stuffed with rice and then rolled. Usually served cold as appetizers (I requested mine heated, and the request was not seemingly odd). Simple in appearance, this dish requires numerous cooking operations in order to achieve the hint of lemon flavor that is so important. It is sometimes served hot with an avgolemono sauce on top.(a thicker version of the soup, but more lemon flavoured)
Tiropites -Triangles of paper thin glazed phyllo pastry filled with feta cheese and served hot, containing, egg, butter, with an unforgettable flavor to whet the appetite.
Spanokopites - Baked spinach and feta cheese puffs in buttered phyllo pastry, with egg, onion, butter, olive oil, bread crumbs.
Tzataziki - A yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip to be served chilled on its own or with pita. Great on a gyro. In fact, a gyro is not a gyro without.
Avgolemono soup - A chicken soup containing a liberal amount of lemon juice and rice. Wonderful.
MAIN COURSES ...
Roast Lamb - Lamb prepared in the traditional Greek way with garlic and oregano.
Moussaka - A baked delicacy prepared with sliced eggplant, lean ground beef, onions, tomatoes, butter, eggs, milk, cheese and seasonings. The national dish of Greece.
Roast Chicken - Greek style, with garlic and oregano.
Gyro - Thin slices of barbecued meat specially seasoned with herbs and spices, served with tomatoes and onions on pita bread, and topped with tzadziki. Best off of a rotisserie. Served as a wrap alone, or as part of a platter.
Pastitsio - A Greek "lasagna" combining macaroni, ground meat, cheese and covered with béchamel sauce.(my favourite)
Greek salad - A tomato and cucumber salad seasoned with onion, olive oil, vinegar, and big chunks of fete cheese and oregano. Traditionally, there is no lettuce in a Greek Salad! (we ate Greek salad everyday)
Philifi- Fluffy rice simmered in butter, spices and rich chicken stock. Perfect with all dinner dishes. Leave a Comment
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 Clean Monday Kite over
Acropolis by janetanne
The easiest 'Clean Monday' tradition to explain is the custom of eating certain foods. It is well known that during the 40 days preceeding Easter, many Christians eliminate meat and oil from their diets. So, it doesn't seem strange that on the first day of this long fast, sea foods, among which are squid, octopus, oysters and other mussels and a special fish egg dip called 'tarama,' but excluding the actual fish as fish is not eaten! In addition, various assortments of pickles and unleavened bread should be eaten. On Clean Monday, it is thus the day that traditionally we 'clean out' our cupboards of any foods that should not be eaten during these 40 days. Leave a Comment
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 by physiar
This does not apply to shops, fast food outlets and similar places, although tipping would be greatly appreciated in public conveniencies and at the 'offerings box' found in some churches (not exactly tipping, I know, but it fits in here).
Always make sure you have not been charged for service before handing in a handsome tip! That said, tipping can be a good way to dispose of all those coins you won't be needing anymore (or won't be able to exchange) when you get back home.
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 Pidgeons on Parade by janetanne
Back to the pigeons! Is it only a coincidence that this group of feathery friends have congegrated in the platia just across from the City Hall of Athens??? Are they waiting for the Mayor to announce that the budget has been increased for stale bread for all pigeons? Or has she announced 'Let them eat Cake???'
Whatever the reason, pigeons like the centre platias of Athens. Watch you step! and don't walk under their perches without your hat. Leave a Comment
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 too thick for this Canuck by mapakettle
Melomakarona - Honey coaches sprinkled with a spice-nut mixture
Koulouria - (Also called Koulourakia) - Breaded butter cookies with a light sugar glaze. Perfect with coffee.
Baklava - Paper thin layers of nut filled glazed phyllo sheets of pastry soaked in pure honey make this the best known of pastry desserts. Every country in the Near East claims baklava is its own. (very sweet)
Kourabiedes - Sugar covered crescent shaped cakes that melt in one's mouth. They are served at weddings, at Christmas, and on special occasions, such as namedays and holidays.(these are great)
Diples - Honey rolls so thin and flaky that they crumble when they are bitten. In Greece this delicacy is often cooked and sold at the panigiria or fairs where arts and crafts from every region are proudly displayed for sale.
Kataifi - A delicious pastry made of shredded phyllo rolled with nuts and honey and sprinkled with syrup. Found throughout the Mediterranean.
Loukoumades - Feathery light honey tokens or sweet fritters deep fried to a golden brown and dipped in boiling honey.
COFFEE ...
Greek Style - This is a thick, powdered coffee that is made in a brickee (or brika), which is traditionally a small brass pot with a long handle. This is not instant coffee, and even though powdered, the coffee used does 'not' dissolve. The grounds settle to the bottom of the cup. Once served, do not stir.
When you order Greek coffee, you must specify plain, sweet or medium-sweet
(sketo, glyko or metrio in Greek, respectively). Leave a Comment
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 by physiar
Or you could see the same thing at all Cafes. While waiting for the bus. Window shopping. In front of the cinemas. In all parks. And squares too for that matter.
That is the Frappe': a drink to be enjoyed whether idyiallacly watching people go by or whether in a hurry to work. Even if you're already 30 minutes late, work can wait!
Made with instant coffree mixed with milk, water, lots of sugar and ice (my Frappes came with ancient coloumn-shaped ice), a frappe will provide you with a chemical buzz like caffeine, only more intense.
Its downside is that it really might be too strong. It simply is not for every tourist. But you can ask for it to be sketo (no sugar), metro (medium, around two teaspoons), or gliko (sweet). And for those who do not like coffee, you may enjoy a cold chocolate.
Trust me on this one, though - do not leave Athens until you've had your dose!
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 You can see the Frappe coffee
on the table by Lilasel
The younger generation prefers the long, cool frappe coffee. It's made with instant Nescafe mixed with water, ice, milk and lots of sugar. For many greeks it's a way of life. And personally I love it a lot... Leave a Comment
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 by Arial_27
Kalimera (KALEE-MERA)- Good morning
Kali-spera (KALEE-SPERA)- Good afternoon
Kalinichta (KALEE-NEECHTA)- Good night
Efharisto (EF-HAR-ISTO)- Thank you
Parakalo (PAR-AH-KAL-OH)- Please/you're welcome
Neh (NEY)- Yes
Ochi (OH-HEE)- No
Seegnome (SEEG-NO-MEE)- Excuse me
I-me xortofagos (EE-MEH-HORTO-FAGOS)- I am vegetarian
Dhen katalaveno (TEN-KATA-LAVENO)- I don't understand
Yassas (YASS-USS)- Hello/Goodbye (plural, formal)
Yassous (YASS-OOSE)-Hello/Goodbye (singular, informal)
Poli kala (POE LEE KAH-LAH) - Very well
Gala (GAH-LAH) - milk
Chai (CHEYE)- tea
Hellas (HELL-US)- Greece
Hellenika (HELL-EN-EEKA)- Greek
Pooennay (POO EE-NAY) - Where is...
Posso kani (POE-SO KAN-EE)- How much does this cost?
Olla (OH-LAH)- everything
Entaxi (EN TAX-EE) - Okay
Anglika (ANN-LEE-KA) - English
Xronia Polla (KRON-YA PO-LA) - Happy Birthday
Me lene.... (MEH LEH-NEH) - My name is...
Milate anglika? (MEE-LAT-EH AN-LEE-KA) - Do you speak English?
Ti ora ine? (TEE ORA EE-NEH) - What time is it?
This pretty much sums up my knowledge of the Greek language. I hope it will come of some use to someone! Leave a Comment
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 Clean Monday Kite over
Acropolis by janetanne
The easiest 'Clean Monday' tradition to explain is the custom of eating certain foods. It is well known that during the 40 days preceeding Easter, many Christians eliminate meat and oil from their diets. So, it doesn't seem strange that on the first day of this long fast, that certain foods should be eaten, among which are squid, octopus, oysters and other mussels and a special fish egg dip called 'tarama,' but excluding the actual fish as fish is not eaten! In addition, various assortments of pickles and unleavened bread should be eaten. On Clean Monday, it is thus the day that traditionally we 'clean out' our cupboards of any foods that should not be eaten during these 40 days. Leave a Comment
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 Athens - Evzones by Kuznetsov_Sergey
The Evzones is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, it refers to the members of the Proedriki Froura (Presidential Guard), an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier the Hellenic Parliament and the Presidential Mansion.
Their proven valour and peculiar dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier, especially among foreigners.
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1 Pentelis & Kolokotroni Streets Kefalari, Kifissia, Athens - Coral Hotel Athens
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26 Veranzerou Street Omonia Square, Athens - Hotel Moka
38, Stournari Street, Athens - Philippos Hotel
3 Mitseon Street, Athens - Airotel Parthenon
Makri 6, Athens
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