Eating Greek Style

Mealtimes are still a family event in Greece. Most families get together for at least one meal of the day, although this does depend on work schedules, school and so on. Some things can always be found on a Greek table, depending on what is on the agenda for the day. One thing I was not used to when I first came to Greece, was the fact that no matter what the meal was there was always bread on the table. When I was younger, in the UK, bread was something I associated with sandwiches, toast, and soup. Here in Greece though it is a standard part of the Greek meal, as well as salad which varies according to what is in season. Feta cheese and olives are also a must on the table, depending on what the meal is. We usually have olives when we cook pulses, like the traditional bean casserole, or lentils. Daily meal planning can be a bit hectic, but once you get the hang of it, everything can go to plan. Now the Greeks do have days on which they don't eat meat. Wednesdays and Fridays are religiously connected to our eating habits. Wednesday, being the day of the last supper, and Friday, the day on which Christ was crucified, have been marked as days of fasting. This means that on these days we do not eat any animal produce or oil. Of course, this is something which is upheld in the smaller communities in Greece, but apart from the religious aspect, this is also one of the reasons the Greek diet is one of the healthiest in the world. Apart from this, Greek housewives like to have a varied menu. As in other parts of the world, roast dinners, and meat dinners are usually planned for weekends, when most people are at home, and have the time to prepare such meals, and also enjoy them. Past, rice dishes, and potato based dishes are usually cooked once a week, and also fish is something there is plenty of in this country, so most households cook it once or twice a week. Another thing that Greeks like to do is use vegetables in a variety of ways, so during the summer months you will see aubergines, courgettes, peppers, runner beans and okra cooked in a variety of ways. As for meat, you will find that this also has special treatment, and the ways of cooking it vary from place to place, and season to season. I must admit, that growing up with the Greek cuisine has had a delightful effect on my taste buds, as the herbs and spices mingled with vegetables and meat appear to trigger the appetite and make you want to try a bit of everything. The Greek cu sine, much like the Greek people has been influenced by other factors as well as religion. The refugees from Asia Minor brought with them their middle eastern gastronomical delights, and so we have our syrup based desserts. The shepherds and farmers also played an important role in cooking habits, as they used whatever was in season and available in the mountainous regions they travelled through with their herds. Therefore, when visiting Greece, it is essential to try out authentic Greek cooking, although souvlaki and tzatziki are a tempting delight. On the other hand, good old fish and chips with plenty of salt and vinegar is definitely something I miss living here.....

Perdika...past, present ...what about the future....

I thought I'd write a little more about my village today. It seemed the obvious choice this morning, as the grey skies had cleared, and the waters had got their sea blue colour back. Over the last decade, we have seen a change in our village, as more tourists visit, especially over the months of July and August. The change is not enough to give us the title of "holiday resort", as not having at least a six month season does not give the locals the chance to expand their businesses, but it is enough for people to have a job in the tourist industry, at least for three months of the year. The funny thing is that we are very close to some of the biggest resorts in our area Parga and Sivota, but because of the uniqueness of the area, a plus in my mind, it is not chosen as a holiday destination. Let me explain. The village is actually set in the mountains, overlooking the Ionian sea. The islands of Paxos and Corfu can be seen in the distance, and it is about 6 km from the coastline. Our beaches are about a fifteen minute drive...nothing really...and we have the clearest waters on this side of Greece. I think it is perfect. A smooth combination of nature, sun, sand and sea. There are hotels on all the beaches, small, family run businesses, but also very professional. There are also many rented rooms, a campsite which cater for every one's needs. It does actually provide something for all ages and all tastes. The hotels are in areas where peace and tranquility reign, but the village has plenty of authentic Greek restaurants, offering Greek specialities as well as international cuisine. Fast food outlets provide the traditional souvlaki and pita. Fishermen sell their catch every day, so fresh fish is always available. There are cafes offering coffee, drinks, ice cream, open all day every day of the year. A local cake shop brimming with fresh desserts is a must, and well at night you will always find one of the two bars playing any music you ask for, so you can dance syrtaki until your feet drop off. All this in the same area. Yesterday I wrote about the other facilities available, so I won't go into detail again, but apart from the other shops here, there are also plenty of places to buy souvenirs and anything else you may want. You really have to see it, to actually understand it. The small churches hidden within the forests are worth searching for, so trekking along the road to the beaches is a journey with surprises along the way. Personally, I love it, but I also know that once somebody visits, it does become a place you want to come back to.

Greek women

Now, over the years I have seen a tremendous change in Greek women. Their style, look, aura all seem to have gone through a makeover, and to be honest, the results are astonishing. Wen I was younger, I remember vacations spent with relatives, always left me in a bit of a muddle. My aunts were always either dressed in black, in mourning, or wore shapeless skirts and dresses. My cousins, having no real contact with the fashion world, except for magazines, tended to be dressed in whatever was handed down from others, or made by mothers and grandmothers. This seemed to be the case wherever I went, apart from in Athens, where it seemed fashion started and ended. Nowadays, times having changed, and boutiques opening up left, right and centre, there is no longer a problem of not being trendy, but rather one of being a bit OTT. More skin, less cloth appears to be the message, especially in the hot summer months, and believe me, the frumpy, pear shaped bodies have quickly disappeared, and in their place we now see beautiful long legged, tanned Greek women strutting around, and they are not to be ignored. In the evenings, when I have time to sit and have a coffee in the village square, I find myself surprised at the ways things have changed. When I was 18, on holiday from the UK, the foreign relative, I remember the local women looking me up and down, as I walked along the streets in my mini skirt, or my extra short shorts. All I could hear was tut tut and a "koitaxe tin...den ntrepete" which for those non Greeks out their is loosely translated as "look at her...shame on her". Today, as I watch their daughters and granddaughters wearing even shorter skirts, and high heeled stilettos, I wonder if they have even noticed them as they leave the house, and I am sure that if they have, their only reaction would be to give them a clove of garlic to carry around with them, so as to ward off the "evil eye". Times have changed though. I remember that to have a haircut or even styled the nearest hairdressers was an hours drive. Now, well, now two of my best friends own one of the three salons within walking distance from my house. Anna and Rania ... great stylists, modern salon, a good place to go even if you' re just a bit down, and a need something to pick you up. Head massages while you have your hair washed are a must, especially if you feel tired. Then there are the clothes shops. Again, in just a few minutes you can pop in and find current fashions, for men women and children. Also, another friend has accessories from bags to bangles, whatever you fancy. Gone are the days of just being a mother, a wife, a housekeeper. Gone are the overalls. No more facial hair, no more bland makeupless faces, discreet clothing, flat shoes. Greece and Greek women are making their mark in the world, becoming more like Greek goddesses each day, even in small villages like this.....