The famously healthy cooking of Crete, with its use of olive oil, vegetables, fruit and yogurt, is popular in Athens, and Alatsi is the place to sample this cuisine at its finest. Watch for chef Dimitris Skarmoutsos’ dolmadakia (grape leaves stuffed with rice and Cretan herbs); gamopilafo, a pilaf made with chicken and lamb in a rich stock and ewe’s milk butter; snails boubouristi (fried in olive oil, vinegar and rosemary); and cabbage rice with smoked pork.
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Traveling the World in Search
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Greece
Overview
From Andrew Harper
The pleasures of Greece are simple but intense: diving from a yacht into water so limpid that you glimpse pebbles on the sea floor 50 feet beneath; turning over a fragment of white marble to find marks left by a chisel 2,500 years ago; sitting in the shade of a quayside awning to eat lightly grilled fish served with lemon, oil and fresh oregano; and watching the sun descend into the Aegean, with a glass of chilled white wine from Santorini and a dish of succulent olives from Kalamata. Ultimately, though, it is the intensity of the light that is incomparable. Greek sunlight endows the landscape with an atmosphere of numinous significance. Colors are supersaturated. And nowhere else in the world are the sea and the sky quite so flawlessly and fathomlessly blue.
CLIMATE: Santorini is indicative of the weather in the Greek islands, while Athens is typical of coastal Greece. May/June is the ideal time for a visit: The weather is settled and the Mediterranean has warmed to a pleasant temperature for swimming. July/August can be excessively hot, and the strong meltemi wind is tiresome, as well as potentially dangerous for those out at sea.
TIME: Seven hours ahead of New York (EST).
CURRENCY: Euro(€). Fluctuating rate valued at €1.00=US$1.30 as of December 2012.
U.S. EMBASSY: Athens, Tel. (210) 721-2951.
DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels and restaurants in Greece, dial 011 (international access) + 30 (Greece code) + city code and local numbers in listings.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport (valid for three months beyond end of stay). Visit www.travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, www.cdc.gov
GENERAL INFORMATION: Visit www.visitgreece.gr before your trip.
Hotels
All recommended hotels in Greece
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KatikiesStriking boutique hotel clinging to a steep hillside 300 feet above the sea. The 27 stylish and comfortable lodgings have private seaview verandas and are simply decorated with whitewashed walls and cotton-upholstered furniture. |
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The Tsitouras CollectionDistinctively appointed mansion- hotel on a breathtaking cliff 1,000 feet above the sea. Historian/art collector Dimitris Tsitouras has converted an 18th-century residence into five separate “houses.” |
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Zannos Melathron HotelElegant 18th- and 19th-century villa-hotel overlooking Santorini and the surrounding islands from a timeless medieval village. |
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Dining
All recommended restaurants in Greece
ALATSI
Vrasida 13
Athens
11528
Greece
US$50
ATHIRI
Chef Alexandros Kardasis presides over this deservedly popular restaurant in an attractive downtown location in a renovated house on fashionable Plateon Street. His menu changes regularly, but don’t miss the Santorini fava beans with caper leaves and caper oil, one of the best Greek salads in Athens, and the succulent stuffed squid with shrimp and vegetables. The grilled chicken with lemon marmalade and a carrot purée is delicious.
Plateon 15, Keramikos
Athens
10435
Greece
US$65
MAMACAS
Rather more stylish than the typical Athens taverna, this all-white restaurant decorated with twinkling lights attracts a well-heeled international crowd and serves very good Greek classics such as fava bean purée, stuffed grape leaves, and grilled lamb chops. The wine list demonstrates that there is much more to Greek vineyards than the ubiquitous Retsina. Request a terrace table when the weather is good.
Persefonis 41
Athens
11854
Greece
US$60
PAPADAKIS
Located in the city’s Lycabettus neighborhood, this excellent seafood restaurant has fine views of the Acropolis, and serves one of the best catch-of-the-day menus in Athens. Follow one of the outstanding starters — maybe Aegean shrimp sautéed in garlic, hot peppers and olive oil, or octopus cooked in sweet wine with shredded potatoes — with grilled grouper for two, plus a side of delicious boiled wild greens.
Fokilidou 15
Athens
Greece
US$75
VAROULKO
Many Athenians consider chef-owner Lefteris Lazarou’s establishment, with its stunning views of the Acropolis, to be the best seafood restaurant in the city. The catch of the day varies, of course, as does the menu, but look for dishes such as octopus salad with celeriac, beets and radishes; and shrimp in garlic sauce. Be forewarned that the fish here is sold according to weight, so it is usually wise to ask the price to avoid an unpleasant surprise.
Peiraios 80
Athens
10435
Greece
US$150
We are going to Mykonos for the day (early morning to late night) on Seabourn.
1. Is there a nice hotel with a fairly private beach that would organize a day trip for us? Use of sun beds, changing facility and nice restaurant for lunch?
2.Would you recommend a car and driver around the island for the day? Seabourn is recommending a public beach, but the photos make it look very crowded (Elia beach).
3.What are the best places for lunch and dinner? Best hotels?
Hello,
One of our travel office staff recently visited Mykonos with Seabourn and enjoyed the experience immensely. Favorite experiences included an excursion to Delos (an island with ruins rivaling Pompeii) and simply strolling around Mykonos Town itself.
We checked into a number of the luxury hotels on the island, and it looks like your best bet for a semi-private beach experience would be the Mykonos Grand Hotel & Spa. This hotel is located right on a beach, and it's not far from where your ship will dock. If you reserved your cruise through Andrew Harper, please contact your travel consultant, and he or she will be happy to try and help with arrangements at the hotel.
Matsuhisa Mykonos in the Belvedere Hotel, the first Nobu restaurant in Greece, has received a lot of buzz. Aqua Taverna in Little Venice features excellent views and more traditional Mediterranean cuisine.
Taxis were hard to come by, so if you plan on exploring more of the island than the main town near the ship, a car and driver would be useful. An excursion to fascinating Delos, however, can be arranged either as a shore excursion or with a ferry company on the harbor.
We hope this is helpful - have a wonderful time on your cruise!
Best Regards,
The Travel Office