Get Him To The Greece!!

We had an uneventful flight to Athens on a half empty plane.   A decent dinner meal service. I got the ravioli. This is what was promised.  

And this is what was delivered.

A flavorful sauce and surprisingly delicate pasta.  Breakfast was a quick service type meal with a breakfast sandwich with egg white and swiss cheese between a toasted English muffin along with some fruit.  Very tasty as we finalized the approach to Athens and landed.  

After getting our checked bag we met our driver Demetrius.   Instead of having him take us directly to the hotel, we had him give us a little tour of the southern tip of Athens.  We were able to see the Temple of Poseidon. 

Also some great views of the coast.

Demetrius said he had a great local restaurant that made lots of homemade Greek dishes.  Sounded like a match. It was a small restaurant in a seaside village.  

A great assortment of dishes on the menu.

Started off with some fresh bread and delicious olive oil. 

Then we ordered.  First was the pie of the day. This was spinach pie.

So amazingly flaky and crispy.  Especially when you consider how much water is in spinach.  

If you have been following this blog, you know I will always order the grilled octopus. And it was a really good one. 

it had been both marinated and then rubbed with some dry spices including rosemary.  Crispy and definitely the meatiest octopus I have eaten. 

Next was the kabob. 

Seasoned beef and lamb on top of the best pita bread I have ever had.  Fluffy and flavorful.  Served with some Greek yogurt and fresh tomatoes.  

Finally was the moussaka.  

If you have never had it, this is best described as a Greek lasagna and shepherd's pie had a baby where eggplant makes up the layers.  Lots of ground beef and lamb and on top is a creamy, seasoned mashed potatoes.  

Tried a local beer.   This was like most European lagers I have had.  A bit skunky but was cold and refreshing.  

For dessert, they had a list of things you could try. We were pretty full so they brought out a plate of sliced watermelon which was a great way to end the meal. 

We have made it to Greece!!   We are here for two more weeks and will definitely be trying more things.