Athens – Greece’s capital and a city that was once the lifeblood of an ancient and powerful empire.
Athens was our last stop in Greece before our ship sailed back to Italy. It was also the stop I’d been particularly looking forward to. It has been a long held dream of mine to climb the Acropolis. When you embark on something you’ve waited so long to do the hope is that it will live up to your expectations.
Santorini is a place I have always wanted to visit. Of all the Greek Islands I think it has the most allure.
At the distance viewed from my balcony on the morning our ship anchored the buildings looked almost miniature-like. Perched haphazardly on the cliff top the town looked every bit as charming as its many photographs portray. The cliff face was stunning, dramatic.
During our cruising of the Greek Islands our ship made a stop on Turkey’s western Aegean coast. Kusadasi, where our ship docked, is a popular resort town and a major stop for the cruise ships.
After departing Mykonos we cruised overnight to the island of Rhodes. This island holds fond memories. In fact the first holiday abroad I had with my husband many years ago was to Lindos, a town on the eastern side of Rhodes Island. It’s just under 50 miles from Rhodes Town, which is where our ship docked early morning.
Last week I took you to Italy where our Mediterranean cruise began and ended. After beginning with the end I thought it was timely to wind the clock back to our first excursion.
After thirty-six hours at sea sailing from the south of Italy to the Greek Islands we were looking forward to disembarking for a day in the Greek sunshine.
I thought it was high time I got around to writing about my recent travels through Europe. I’m going to blame my tardiness on the wintry weather. It’s been an effective distraction, keeping me holed up in the kitchen cooking comfort food.
In contrast to an excellent night out at Chef’s Table (see my previous blog), last weekend was much quieter with a Saturday night spent in.
When I was younger, the prospect of spending a Saturday night at home was scandalous, embarrassing. Admitting you had no plans for a Saturday night left you feeling depressed and friendless. (Remember those fraught teenage years? Getting older isn’t all bad, you know).
As much as everyone looks forward to summer and the wonderful fruit and berries that are plentiful at that time of year, winter is not without its own list of delicious produce.
A trip to the United Kingdom would not be complete without a few – or many – trips to the pub. Each time I visit I am reminded of how much character and tradition they add to the country. To my knowledge I’ve never visited an English village that doesn’t boast a charming local or two. There is something extremely satisfying about settling in a warm, cosy pub and ordering a plate of hearty pub grub.
Everyone loves a dinner party. Some enjoy hosting them while others prefer to only ever attend as a guest.
Despite our lives being made ever easier by shortcuts in the kitchen the idea of cooking for a dinner party still manages to instil dread in a lot of people. Perhaps it is the uncertainty, the lack of consistency that plagues them.
Tracey O'Brien 
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