Trains, Planes and Automobiles

It is a long trip from Los Angeles to Athens, Greece; and due to jet lag, our arrival happened in a foggy, dream-like memory. It always makes us smile and relax after a bit of Greek hospitality. Such was the case upon our arrival in Athens. After such a long trip, we were greeted by a pre-arranged taxi driver, Lazaro, who wasn’t just on time and right there at our exit gate, but handed us ice-cold bottles of water, much needed after such a long journey.  During our ride into the city, he entertained us with information on current exhibitions on view and pointed out sites and buildings along the way.  He contacted our AirBNB host, advised her of our ETA, and she was waiting for us on the sidewalk. The pair of them kindly whisked away all of our bags and made sure we got safely into our new home in Athens!

We arrived late at night, approx. 11pm, to our cute apartment and the next day contacted Andrea’s Greek language teacher’s mother, who also is named Andrea!  Greek culture is well known for its warm hospitality.  In fact, there is a verb in Greek that means “to offer hospitality” and no one offers more charming and genuine hospitality than a Greek!  When you are invited to a lunch, it is a special occasion and you can expect a feast!  

We took the metro from Acropoli to its most Southern point at Elliniko (about 30 minutes) and then met our hostess and her assistant/taxi driver, Giorgos, at the metro station elevator.  We enjoyed a drive to the Andrea’s home where she had prepared a beautiful meal served with the formality of silver serving vessels and a beautifully set table with linens and china and glassware. 

The photo is of some of the food that we were served.  We had Pastichio, which is in the round dish.  It is a layered pasta based dish.  It is usually elbow or some other short hollow pasta mixed with meat sauce for the first layer.  Over this you add a layer of bechamel sauce and bake.  It is a very traditional Greek dish.  We also enjoyed baked goat with lemon sauce and baked eggplant marinara with cheese.

After lunch, we enjoyed the view of the Aegean sea from the balcony of our host’s home and enjoyed Greek coffees over conversation and gossip.

By then the rains, which we saw the first 3 days of our stay in Athens, had subsided; and we travelled together to the archaeological site of Sounion/Temple of Poseidon, enjoying the views and architecture, before bidding farewells now in great friendship, albeit having met only a few short hours earlier.

More soon.