Skip to main content

Athens made me fat

Dear sirs: Saw a reflection of myself and was appalled. What with Friday's gut-busting eat-a-thon, the Λοστρέ κουζίνα's beetroot spread with yogurt and walnuts, and its kontosouvli chunks of grilled pork (Pitheou 32), chased by a Greek salad and plate of fried shrimp at Margara (126 Chatzikiriakou in Piraeus), I am feeling attacked. Not to mention the free desserts. I will not be placated by these furry dining companions you keep sending me. You will be hearing from my lawyers.







Next

Previous

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Parting observations

The city has a   lovely, decaying quality — both doomed and beautiful. I suspect that inheritors of many properties are waiting for just the right offer. Athens is the size of Chicago but in many ways remains a village. As for the rest of Greece? After emerging from bankruptcy, it is back in the EU's good graces. Yet prices are uncomfortably high, tax evasion is real problem, and people continue to arrive on little boats.  The capital is an intoxicating place. Waiting for an elevator that is just wide enough for my elbows, I hear Arabic and Indian music leaking from my neighbors' doors. I want so much for them to invite me inside, offer me tea and an uncommon biscuit. Yes, I have an active fantasy life. So many dogs to pet! I home in on the handsomest breed, telling this guy his beagle was well-marked. "Thank you. But he is a little crazy." You don't say! Half the traffic in the city center involves small-displacement motorcycles carrying puffy tourquoise food...
Post a Comment
Read more

Plateia Syntagma

I came to Athens' busiest square only to find out where the X95 bus left for the airport. While I was here, a changing of the guard broke out in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Parliament building.  I had a passing familiarity with the evzone soldiers' fustanella skirts (400 pleats ― one for each year under Turkish rule) and pompommed shoes, but the slow high-kick choreography? No, I was not prepared for this level of Balkan/oriental strangeness. Two and half weeks ago this was the site of a pitched battle as police dodged firebombs during a protest over soaring energy costs. Greek politics are wild. Check out Costa-Gavras' 1969 movie "Z" if you haven't already. It's in French for some reason. Anyway, if you have an early flight, here's where to catch the bus. (The metro doesn't start running till 5 a.m. and a taxi ride before then will cost $70.) A guy in this kiosk will sell you a ticket for 6E or so. It's in front of the Chin...
Post a Comment
Read more

I arrive

Next
Post a Comment
Read more