Why Athens Is Tops On My To-Do List!
When I was in grade school, we were assigned a Greek mythology book to read. I was hooked from the beginning. Gods and mortals. Villains and heroes. Love stories and stories of revenge. What's not to like?
Now that I'm in my forties, I have carried it with me all these years and still long to go there. It's making it's way farther up my priority list and may be a trip I take with my now twelve-year old son in the next two years. He's turned out to be a mythology buff too! As a food lover and also a current culinary student, I am head over heels in love with food. Specifically, over the past few years I have grown increasingly interested in Mediterranean foods and try to make them in my home as much as possible.
History
Athens is full of incredible history and is the origin of democracy. It is also considered the birthplace of Classical Greece and is referred to as the Historical Capital of Europe. Although historical, apparently there it wasn't a very tourist-friendly place prior to the 2004 Olympics. However, the Olympics brought in a lot of money to Athens and helped to transform and update it, making it an excellent choice for a historical visit.
When to Visit
Athens has a mild climate, but its summers are particularly hot so a visit is recommended in either the spring or the fall. By visiting at these times of the year, it is likely that you will have wonderful weather to explore the city and find all those yummy dishes you've been dreaming about.Top Attractions
It would be hard to appreciate Athens without taking in all the history it has to offer. There are so many things to see and do there. The good news is that wonderful food to go along with these top spots are usually close by. I've listed my top five spots to visit below.
- Acropolis - "Sacred Rock of Athens" & The Parthenon (Temple of Athena)
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Sounion - Poseidon's Temple
- Plaka (Athen's District) Tower of Winds
- Parliament of Greece
Ahhhhh, The Food!
- Pita bread stuffed with Souvlaki (grilled meat), Tzatziki (a creamy sauce made of yogurt, garlic and cucumber - delicious!), fresh vegetables, and Greek cheese (generally Feta).
- Spinach Pies (known as Spanokopita) or cheese pies
- Dolmades (Grape Leaves stuffed with rice, nuts, dill, mint & lemon)
- Mousaka (Eggplant Parmageon)
- Finish off your meal with a Frappe (cold coffee drink) or enjoy with Hima (House wine)
What is Greek Food......Besides Incredibly Yummy?
Greek food, and Mediterranean foods, are magical to me. The natural flavors and richness of the foods are evident in everything they do. As mentioned below, the appeal to me of this food is its simplicity and how well the ingredients they choose go together. Greek food is earthy and not too heavy on the palate. It is light and the addition of lemon or other lovely flavors balance their dishes nicely.
The site www.VisitGreece.com describes four different characteristics to Greek cuisines:
The site www.VisitGreece.com describes four different characteristics to Greek cuisines:
- Quality, fresh ingredients
- Correct use of flavorings/spices such as oregano, thyme, and mint
- Greek Olive Oil
- Simplicity
Those characteristics really seem to sum up why Greek food is so wonderful. The great news is that food is plentiful in Athens. Additionally, it is easy to find and also order since a larger number of merchants speak English. The restaurants are plentiful, but so is the street food. If you are looking for a true Greek food experience, your stay should combine restaurant meals as well as grabbing food on the go. That combination should give some insight in to the types of food and ingredients used as well as the wonderful flavors that accompany them.
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