Sunrise from our balcony
Chrani is a little village of a few hundred people on the eastern side of the Messini peninsula – the western most peninsula of the Pelopenese. The road is 200 yards back from the beach & all you can hear at night is the breaking of waves & the intermittant chrip of cicada. Most of the swallows & swifts have left for Africa & only bats patrol the beach front snapping up evening insects on the wing.
Many of the taverna's are forlornly empty although the best are still making a living. This is old world Greece where there's no entertainment & nothing specific to do. Its not the place for the feeble minded looking for holiday entertainment, its for people who go on holiday to be themselves & are capable of living their own lives amongst Greek people.
A typical day starts with toast & coffee on the balcony watching the sun rise, followed by a swim in the pool & a quiet read.
Many of the taverna's are forlornly empty although the best are still making a living. This is old world Greece where there's no entertainment & nothing specific to do. Its not the place for the feeble minded looking for holiday entertainment, its for people who go on holiday to be themselves & are capable of living their own lives amongst Greek people.
A typical day starts with toast & coffee on the balcony watching the sun rise, followed by a swim in the pool & a quiet read.
Beachside taverna
Then its a stroll along the beach to a beachside taverna (with free sunbeds & umbrellas) for a swim in the sea followed by an ouzo & Greek salad for lunch, then its more sea, sun, reading & perhaps a Mythos beer. Another stroll back along the waters edge, an iced coffee beside the pool, more reading & around 4.30pm a shower & change – nothing much to speak off, just pure bliss.
Evening dinner is the highlight of the day. Greek food is some of the best in the world & anyone who says otherwise is confusing it with something else, hasnt been to Greece or has only been to one of those all-inclusive places that cater for tourists & have nothing to do with the people of Greece.
A top taverna is a family run business that cooks for family, neighbours & visitors get to join in as well. Granny or mum are cooking in the kitchen dad runs the Bar-B-Q & the children serve tables. Because we liked everything on the menu at ‘The Garden’ we sometimes said – give us a plate of whatever’s on the go in the kitchen. This usually included fried feta, meatballs, stuffed vine leaves, pieces of melt in the mouth beef, luscious tomatos, the sweetest red onions imaginable, Kalamata olives and a few chips.
Evening dinner is the highlight of the day. Greek food is some of the best in the world & anyone who says otherwise is confusing it with something else, hasnt been to Greece or has only been to one of those all-inclusive places that cater for tourists & have nothing to do with the people of Greece.
A top taverna is a family run business that cooks for family, neighbours & visitors get to join in as well. Granny or mum are cooking in the kitchen dad runs the Bar-B-Q & the children serve tables. Because we liked everything on the menu at ‘The Garden’ we sometimes said – give us a plate of whatever’s on the go in the kitchen. This usually included fried feta, meatballs, stuffed vine leaves, pieces of melt in the mouth beef, luscious tomatos, the sweetest red onions imaginable, Kalamata olives and a few chips.
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