There is not much that excites me more than travelling. I daresay that it’s the most fun I have with my clothes on. This summer’s trip to Greece was booked five months in advance: I had time to get my body beach-ready, and invite good friends to enrich the experience. I was counting on Greece to ignite something in me that was lost dealing with the flurry of everyday life.
Crete
Thalasina Restaurant – The benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been touted for years and the proof is in the pudding in Greece. We didn’t have to go very far for the freshest seafood. The locals would befriend the owners of their favourite restaurants and this friendship provided them with the permission to walk into the kitchen to select the fish and have it at a friends and family discount. The fish we had for dinner was caught three hours ago and they had a secret method of preparation that made the flesh fall off the bone. It was hands down one of the best fish I ever had. So was their bowl of mussels in Greek white wine. Plump and juicy, they taste just like the sea. Speaking of the sea, I am a bit of a sea-urchin fiend and I had my first Greek sea-urchin here. The Greeks eat it with toasted bread and it’s a lot saltier and sea-water tasting than Japanese uni.
Bistro La Bhome – I never thought I would have one of the best Italian meals of my life in Crete and this is coming from someone who goes to Italy every year. But this place blew my mind with every dish. Their bruchettes were the best I ever had. The beauty about this little gem is how everything is freshly made-to-order. So you order a bottle of wine, start with some appetizers and converse while you wait. I was schooled in the beauty of simplicity here.
Santorini
Mystique Resort – With only 22 suites, this luxurious private resort is the perfect place for doing absolutely nothing but be one with your thoughts.
Kastro Oia – The sunset in Santorini is the stuff of legends. We hiked up here before 630pm to secure one of the prime seats, ordered a bottle of wine and waited. The sunset is so beautiful that people give standing ovations at the end of it.
Mykonos
Kounelas Fish Restaurant – The smell of fresh fish being grilled pulled us here where we were floored by the selection of fresh fish and the suggestive glass bottles that the after-dinner digestive comes in (the restaurant’s way of wishing you luck in all your endeavours for the night).
The full article was published in the Nov13 issue.
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