I've been in Athens for just under a week now, and thought I would write a brief travelogue post to keep you all informed. I'm nice like that! The first 3 days in Athens were a bit of a roller-coaster ride, with so many new things going on at once. This started from leaving my house back in England, organising a few additional things on the way to Gatwick in the car, and finding I only had five pounds in in my pocket at the airport. I had to make a quick choice between a beer or a McDonalds. Which do you think won out?
3 Days in Athens
Apart from the excitement of arriving in Greece, moving in to the flat, and a few other things (which I won't go into here!), there were two other events which made my first 3 days in Athens busy and fun. The first, was visiting the HORECA Expo, which is a trade fair for the hospitality and food service industry. What were we doing there, you might ask?
3 reasons really – We had free tickets, it was a good way to sample cheese, breads and meats from around the country, and wonderfully, quite wonderfully, there were plenty of free beers to sample. Pinch me now!
The trade fair was a busy place, and whilst some of the things such as industrial coffee making machines surprisingly didn't interest me, sampling some of the food and drink that Greece produces did. Some of the stand-out foods were a honey mixed with cinnamon, and a couple of hams. The freshly made pitta bread was nice as well. One stand that really caught my eye was a spice retailer, and in particular this section of chilli's.
Lets not forget the beer of course! There were dozens to choose from, and whilst the large brand names such as Amstel were represented, it was the small Greek microbreweries which appealed to me more. Some of the lagers were a little nondescript, but rather surprisingly, there were some very good porters and ales. Perhaps my favourite was the Voreia India Pale Ale from the Siris Microbrewery. They were obviously impressed with my impeccable taste, as they gave us a few bottles to take home! I'm not too sure how easy it would be to find within Greece, let alone outside Greece, but add it on to your ‘beers I must try list'!
It was no good drinking too much to get a hangover though, because the following day, we went on a mountain hike! We were part of a group of 70 people, who were a mix of locals, couchsurfing hosts and guests, students on exchange, and randoms. I suppose I fell into the random category! The weather held out well for us, and there were some stunning views from the top of Ymittos.
We covered over 12 kms hiking up and down the mountain, and finished off the day by having a shared meal in a taverna. There were 27 of us in there, which was a fun experience to have, and we had a negotiated deal for food and drink for 10 euros each. Lovely!
So, the first 3 days in Athens were pretty full, and if they are any indication of what my life in the Greek capitol may be like, I should be in for a good time!
And finally, although the Greeks have a fascination for coffee, I have discovered how to get a good cup of tea…
… But you do have to make it yourself!
Bailey K. says
I’d love to try some Grecian beer!! 🙂
Dave Briggs says
I’ve had one or two now, and some of the micro-brewery beers are outstanding!
Kate says
I spent three days in Athens but it wasn’t nearly enough time. Go to Monastiraki for lots of cool cafes and markets. There’s a great local bar in that area called Drunk Sinatra that you should try too. The hike you did sounds awesome and the photo is great. I hope you continue to enjoy your time there
Michele TravelwithMrsT says
I love Athens. I married a Greek and we actually lived there for 4 years; I continue to visit quite regularly! I was just telling friends in the Netherlands that tea is much harder to find in Greece!
Howard @ Backroad Planet says
Not a beer drinker, but would love to visit Greece. I recently finished a unit on Ancient Greece with my 6th-grade students, and for the first time we had a Greek boy in our class. It was great to have an insider share on a daily basis.
Jenna says
I loved Athens! Sounds like you’ve been having a great time. The hike and the trade show sound great!
Carol Colborn says
Beer rocks! Although I am more of a wine-lover, I can understand why a drink won over food! Have fun in your days ahead in Athens. WE haven’t been there but maybe 2016!!!
Brenda says
Athens is a great town, and it seems that there is no shortage of beer. Thanks for a fun ride.
Rechito says
I love tasting local beers when I travel also
Betsy Wuebker | PassingThru says
There is no better way to get to know a place than through food and drink. The trade show looks like a very fine idea. Hope the rest of your stay is fun!
Sue Reddel says
The HORECA Expo sounds like something we should check out. Exploring the many tastes of Greece sounds like a great idea. Enjoy your time in Athens.
Vanessa says
You’ve got quite good taste in beers 😛
Anna says
If you’re still in Athens, go to “To Tsai” (meaning The Tea) for a tea…they have a huge selection. It’s located in Alexandrou Soutsou street in Kolonaki. I also have a round up of a couple of places for tea on my blog
Dave Briggs says
Hi Anna,
I’m in Athens for the foreseeable future, so I will be sure to check it out 🙂